School Field Trips and Girl Scout Badge Programs
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The School Field Trip web pages were recently updated. Please read all sections thoroughly.
Self-guided programs are no longer available for school groups.
Brookgreen Gardens is committed to sharing its resources through scheduled guided programs with students and teachers by offering a wide range of topics specifically geared to the student group from Kindergarten to 12th Grade. The beautifully landscaped sculpture gardens; the Wall Lowcountry Center; The Lowcountry Zoo; the Creek Excursion; a Ricefield Overlook, and the Lowcountry Trail provide students with opportunities to view plants and animals in their native settings and to learn about Brookgreen’s rich plantation history.
Registration is required at least three weeks in advance of the field trip date. For a current list of educational programs, please go to School Programs.
Registration is complete only when a confirmation letter – with a confirmation number – has been received by the school via postal mail, fax, or email. To reserve your field trip click here for the Registration Form. Complete the form, save it as a Word document, then click on the email address at the bottom of the registration form and attach the saved Word document; or print and complete the form and mail to: Coordinator for Education Programs, Brookgreen Gardens, P.O. Box 3368, Pawleys Island, SC 29585; or fax it to Coordinator for Education Programs at 843-235-6045.
Special Needs: Brookgreen Gardens welcomes special needs students. Special needs classes can be accommodated in some programs. Please inquire upon registration. For special needs students in regular classes, advance notice is required in order to ensure a quality educational experience.
Group Size: To ensure quality of programs and safety, Brookgreen Gardens can effectively handle a maximum of 100 students per school per day. Each Art, Nature, and History educational program accommodates a maximum of 25 students and 3 adults. Students must be divided into groups of 25, but not less than 10 (minimum of 15 for “Creek Excursion”), and assigned to an educational program prior to arrival at Brookgreen.
Fees: All fees will be collected at the Admissions Plaza or may be prepaid by school check or credit card. The Admissions Plaza can accommodate cash, school checks, credit cards, and purchase orders. School checks and purchase orders must be made for an amount sufficient to cover the confirmed number of students, teachers, and chaperones. Only one form of payment can be accepted at time of arrival.
Admission: Admission fees are $2 per student. There will be no admission fee for the required number of adults. We require one adult per 10 students (or fraction thereof). ONLY ONE (1) EXTRA ADULT PER FIELD TRIP MAY ATTEND THE SCHOOL PROGRAMS and must pay a $12 one day garden admission. Additional adults and additional drivers that may be needed to transport students are welcome to visit Brookgreen and also must pay the regular garden admission but are not permitted to participate in the school programs.
Art, History, and Nature Programs: Program Fees are $2 per student and extra adult, unless otherwise noted. The maximum number of students per class is 25, and the minimum number is 10. All art, history and nature programs are 50 minutes in length and correlate to South Carolina Teaching Standards.
Creek Excursion: Fees are $7 for all adults and Grades 7-12 and $4 for Grades 3-6. A $50 deposit per Creek Excursion is required at least one week in advance. The maximum capacity is 48 passengers (43 students and 5 adults) per “Excursion,” and the minimum is 15.
Cultural Performances: Fees are $2 per student and Extra Adult. The maximum attendance is 125, and the minimum is 10.
Arrival: School groups should arrive at Brookgreen Gardens in sufficient time to process through the Admissions Plaza and arrive at the first scheduled program on time. Late arrivals will necessitate the first scheduled program length be shortened. It is IMPERATIVE that teachers identify and assign students to each of their selected programs or performances prior to arrival at Brookgreen, in order to avoid delays in program start times.
Departure: Groups will depart upon completion of scheduled activities (programs, performances, lunch).
Cancellations: Cancellation of a field trip must be called in to the Coordinator for Education Programs at 843-235-6049 at least 24 hours in advance. Schools failing to do so will not be refunded. Outdoor programs will not be canceled because of light rain. Outdoor programs will be canceled or postponed due to acts of God, torrential rains, or thunderstorms.
Important Additional Information: Brookgreen does not permit self-guided tours for school field trips. School groups are not allowed to go to any areas other than their scheduled programs. NO EXCEPTIONS. Chaperones are responsible for monitoring the conduct of the field trip students and are not to bring other children. School groups are not permitted to ride on the public shuttle. Adults/Chaperones who are Members of Brookgreen must comply with the school field trip policies and be included in the final count for attendance and costs for all programs, including the 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. “Creek Excursion” rides.
