Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary

Field Trips

Garden Naturalists at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden host field trips from early May through mid-October for groups of children including preschools, homeschool groups, day care centers, after school groups, summer camps and more! Field trips are organized by age-appropriate topics.

Space is limited, please schedule your field trip at least two weeks in advance.

Our one-hour field trips cost $5 per student. Adults/chaperones are free. We ask that there be one adult per 10 students (teachers count as one chaperone).

We will be outside for our programs! Please dress for the weather and to walk outdoors.

How long are field trips?

Field trips last one hour. We ask that groups plan to arrive 10-15 minutes before the program start time for a brief orientation.

How big will our groups be?

We aim for a ratio of 10 students per Garden Naturalist. Groups may be larger or smaller, but no larger than 15 students per Naturalist. Our minimum is five students per field trip. Due to staffing, we typically keep groups to a maximum of 20 participants. School groups are allowed to bring one full classroom of students — up to 30.

Who will lead our field trip?

Our knowledgeable and experienced Garden Naturalists will lead your field trip. It’s no exaggeration to say our experts bring their passion and excitement to the Garden every day!

Our Programs

Our field trips programs are arranged below by age. There’s something for everyone!

Pre-K – Kindergarten: Cultivating Curiosity

• Sensory Nature Hike (Botany)
  Use your senses to explore the natural world! We might see exploding seeds, feel fuzzy leaves, sniff a sweet-smelling flower, or hear a hooting owl. We’ll do a nature quest while we hike and explore colors in nature.
• Feathered Friends (Ornithology)
  The Garden is a ‘hotspot’ for birding in the Twin Cities, with great opportunities to see many types of birds—woodpeckers, goldfinches, and warblers, and more! We’ll learn to use binoculars, hear bird calls, and learn about feathers.

1st – 3rd Grade: Laying the Foundation

• Tree-ology (Botany)
  In this program, students learn about the tree life cycle. We’ll hike the Garden to find trees in different stages of life, discover animals that might live in a tree, and play a tree game to learn the parts of a tree!
• Birding 101 (Ornithology)
  How can we tell the difference between a cardinal and robin? In this class, you will find out! Learn the basics of birding while using binoculars, listening to bird calls, and checking out different types of nests.
• Food Web Frenzy (Ecology)
  Dive into the dynamic world of food webs! We’ll explore the Garden to uncover the connections between plants, animals, and fungi, embark on a scavenger hunt to spot key players, and build a giant food web to see how it all comes together.

4th – 6th Grade: Igniting Critical Thinking

• Wildflower Wonders (Botany)
  Get up close and personal with wildflowers! Learn about the parts of a flower by sketching plants in your own nature journal (provided). Compare different types of flowers and look for the animal pollinators.
• Be a Bird (Ornithology)
  How (and why?) do birds come in all shapes and sizes? Let’s find out! We’ll learn about different adaptations by looking at types of bird beaks, go for a birding hike with binoculars, and check out different birdcalls.

4th – 12th Grade: Quaking Bog Ecology

• Quaking Bog Adventure
  Learn about the unique ecosystem of one of Minnesota’s southernmost bogs. We’ll learn how a bog forms over time and explore the unusual plants specially adapted to the harsh conditions of life in a bog

7th – 12th Grade: Becoming Stewards

• Stewarding Biodiversity (Botany)
  Come learn about managing a landscape to maximize plant diversity. We’ll learn about various strategies to keep introduced species at bay and native species flourishing in the Garden and surrounding areas.
• Count Your Birds (Ornithology)
  Learn how to use a field guide to identify bird species. Students will divide into groups to count birds in the Garden. Garden Naturalists will teach students how to submit the data collected to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Additional Information

Can I apply for a scholarship or funding?

Yes! Some scholarships are available to reduce the cost per student or to subsidize bus transportation costs. Please note if a reduced program fee is being requested in the ‘special requests’ section of the Special Tour Interest Form. You may also fill out a request for transportation expense assistance for school groups. The transportation grants are offered by the Friends of the Wildflower Garden.

Transportation Funding Assistance

To apply for transportation funding assistance, please complete the form below.

Transportation Funding Assistant Request

Homeschool Groups

There is a $5 fee per person for additional adult participants. For larger groups, extra naturalists are assigned to ensure a high-quality, personalized experience for everyone.

Cost and Scheduling

Tours last one hour and are offered Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday with starting times between 10:30am-4:30pm, from early May to mid-October.

Please schedule your group’s visit at least two weeks in advance.

The cost of a guided tour is $10 per participant.

Guided tours last one hour. We ask that groups plan to arrive 10 minutes before the program start time to ensure the tour begins at the scheduled time.

Garden Naturalists

A knowledgeable Garden Naturalist will lead your guided tour.

What to Expect on a Guided Tour

A Garden Naturalist will greet your group at the Garden’s front gate. During your guided tour, the Naturalist will share information about the Garden’s history, point out the best places to see what is currently in bloom, and answer questions you might have along the way.

Preparing for Your Visit

All tours take place outdoors.

Please encourage participants to wear sturdy shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather. The Garden is often cooler than expected and it’s a good idea to have an extra layer of clothing available in the spring and autumn months.

Tours are cancelled only in the case of severe weather.

The trails of the Garden are narrow and covered with fine, shredded woodchips. Due to the topography of the Garden, some of our trails can be steep and rugged. If individuals in your group require assistance walking, please contact us. Rustic outhouses are located near the front gate. Running water and drinking fountains are seasonably available. There are no picnic facilities within the Garden. Picnic areas are located near the Garden in Theodore Wirth Park across from the Wirth Lake Beach parking lot, off Glenwood Avenue (about ¼ mile from the Garden)

The Garden Through the Seasons

The 18 acres within the Garden gates consist of three garden areas: woodland, wetland and meadow. Each garden area is full of interesting plants from our region that are planted and maintained in a naturalistic style.

Each area has a peak flowering season when the majority of the flowering plant species found in that habitat are in bloom.

Throughout the seasons the Garden changes dramatically and each visit will be a unique experience with new discoveries.

Garden Area/Peak Flowering Seasons

Woodland: early April until early June

Wetland: mid-June until late September

Meadow: late July until early October

Program Information

Group Size

We can accommodate groups of 5 to 20 participants.

To ensure the best experience, one Naturalist is scheduled for every ten participants.

Please bring one chaperone for every five scouts.

Cost and Scheduling

Girl Scout badge programs are 75-minute programs.

The cost is $5 per participant. Chaperones are free.

Additional adults may participate for a fee of $5/person. For larger groups, extra naturalists are assigned to ensure a high-quality, personalized experience for everyone.

Garden Naturalists

Our Garden Naturalists will lead your program. It’s no exaggeration to say our experts bring their passion and excitement to the Garden every day!

Girl Scout Badges

Girl Scout Badges

Each 75-minute program will meet the badge requirements for your troop.

Choose from the following badge programs:

Daisy Programs

Eco Learner

Nature gives us many gifts—learn some ways to give back by protecting nature.

• Be prepared to protect nature before you go outdoors
• Keep living things safe when you walk in nature
• Learn how to protect nature from trash

Outdoor Art Maker

Explore the outdoors and use what you see and hear to make art projects.

• See the colors of nature
• Hear the sounds of nature
• Share your outdoor art

Brownie Programs

Senses

You have five senses that work together to let you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch the world around you. Try using all five in this badge!

• Look around
• Listen to the world
• Put your nose to work
• Take a taste test
• Touch and feel

Bugs

Explore the world of bugs and learn more about these tiny creatures.

• Draw a bug poster
• Try a bug craft
• See bugs in action
• Explore bug homes
• Take a bug field trip

Junior Programs

Flowers

Discover there’s more to flowers than just their good looks.

• Uncover the science of one flower
• Look under the petals
• Find out how flowers help people
• Have fun with flowers
• Send a message in flower code

Gardener

Find out how to plant your own garden, no matter where you live.

• Visit a garden
• Explore garden design
• Learn how to choose garden plants
• Experiment with seeds
• Grow your own garden

Cadette Programs

Trees

Find out all about trees: from their shade to their science, the fruits of the forest, and the legends of lumber industry.

• Try some tree fun
• Dig into the amazing science of trees
• Make a creative project starring trees
• Explore the connection between people and trees
• Help trees thrive

Senior Programs

Eco Explorer (partial badge)

Become an eco explorer as you get hands-on experience while learning about environmental issues that make positive changes to the environment.

• Meet an eco explorer
• Explore biodiversity
• Investigate a global ecosystem issue

Outdoor Art Expert

Learn to see nature with an artist’s eye and create a project that’s helpful to the environment.

• Explore art outdoors
• Make something!
• Create or share music inspired by nature
• Capture nature digitally
• Design outdoors

Amenities

• Botanic Garden
• Visitor Shelter
• Free 45-space parking lot
• Drinking fountains (May-September)
• Rustic restrooms
  ADA-accessible temporary toilet (in the parking lot)
• Walking paths
• Public art

Good to Know

The 18-acre garden is home to more than 600 plant species and 130 bird species and receives 40,000-60,000 visitors each year.

Wirth Lake Beach, picnic shelters, and additional hiking trails located just outside the garden’s gate.

Other gardens in Theodore Wirth Regional Park:

• JD Rivers’ Children’s Garden
• Quaking Bog

Glorious Gardens

From grand expanses to hidden gems, gardens throughout the park system offer flowers, history, sculpture, community hubs and more.

This garden will be affected by an improvement project. View Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden Operations and Visitor Comfort Improvements.

• 2016-2020 Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden Management Plan [PDF]

Peak Display Times

April and May (Woodland)
Bloodroot, wild ginger, trillium, bluebells, trout lilies

June and July (Wetland)
Showy lady’s-slippers, native irises, cardinal flowers

Mid-to Late-Summer (Meadow)
Asters, sunflowers, blazing stars, goldenrods

Fall (throughout)
Late-season flowers and autumn leaves

Wildflower Garden Informal Docent Volunteer Opportunities 

Docent Volunteers are an important part of the Wildflower Garden community. They welcome visitors to the Garden and Visitor Shelter, share information about programs and Garden resources, answer questions about plants in bloom, and assist with other similar tasks.

Docent volunteers provide these services to visitors at the Welcome Kiosk and in the Martha Crone Visitor Shelter on weekdays and weekends, primarily in the mid-morning to early afternoon hours. Shifts are generally 2.5-3 hours long. Each season, Garden staff and volunteers have over 50,000 engagements and conversations with visitors!

Requirements:

• Required training sessions are held in the spring each year.
• Volunteers must be 18+ years old and pass a background check.
• Other requirements are enthusiasm about the natural world, good people skills, and the ability to volunteer a minimum of 8 shifts per season April through October.

Are you interested in volunteering in this program?

Please send an email to the Friends Volunteer Coordinator at: volunteers@friendsofeloisebutler.org

This program is coordinated by volunteers from the Friends of the Wildflower Garden with support from Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) staff. MPRB staff provide training and support for volunteers during volunteer shifts.

Wildflower Garden Field-Based Volunteer Opportunities 

Greater Eloise Volunteer Stewards

The work of dedicated volunteers from this long-standing volunteer program has transformed the natural areas of South Theodore Wirth Regional Park surrounding the Wildflower Garden.

Join the Greater Eloise Stewards for regularly scheduled events throughout the year.

Meet others who are interested in the natural world while actively assisting with bringing natural areas in South Wirth Park into greater ecological health.

A trained volunteer leads drop-in volunteers on evenings and weekends to assist with removing weedy plants, hauling brush, planting, seeding and other activities. Your name will be added to the Friends’ Greater Eloise email list and you will be contacted via email periodically with information about future events. Then simply show up, learn about the activities of the day, and get started!

This program is coordinated and led by volunteers from the Friends of the Wildflower Garden.

Interested? Please send an email to the Friends Volunteer Coordinator at: volunteers@friendsofeloisebutler.org.

You can also visit the Eloise Butler invasive plant volunteer information webpage to learn more and click “Add your name to our email list” to be notified of volunteer opportunities with the Friends of the Wildflower Garden.

Group Service Projects

Bring your group together to assist Garden staff with projects like trail mulching and weeding in the entrance meadow! Groups ranging in size from 5-20 volunteers can take part in one-time service projects here that support the health and beauty of the Wildflower Garden.

For more information on options for your group at the Wildflower Garden, reach out to Sarah Woutat, Environmental Volunteer Groups Coordinator for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board at swoutat@minneapolisparks.org