general visit information

Prior to Your Visit

• Review the behavior guidelines listed below with your students and adult chaperones. 
• Encourage your students to come dressed for the outdoors and quickly changing weather.  Layers of clothing, sturdy shoes, a hat, sunscreen and a water bottle are highly recommended.
• All groups are required to bring one adult for every five students. Please coordinate this in advance as Denver Botanic Gardens reserves the right to refuse admittance to groups with too few adults.
   

Upon Arrival at Denver Botanic Gardens

• Buses may park in the pullout located alongside the west side of York Street between 9th and 11th Avenues.  If this space is full, buses should drop students off at the RTD bus stop and then park elsewhere.
• One teacher should check in at the Bonfils-Stanton Visitor Center, while students remain on the bus, to provide information regarding the group and payment if necessary. Please have an accurate count of all students and adults before checking in. Please note that we cannot accept individual payments for school groups. 
• When finished checking in, return to the bus to unload students. Students should walk quietly down the sidewalk and into the group entrance south of the Visitor Center. Students should not enter through the Visitor Center.
• When picking up Discovery Backpacks, students should remain outside while some of the adult chaperones come to the Lobby Desk inside the main Education Building to pick up the backpacks.
• Lunches may be kept in the colored bins located on the balcony overlooking the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory. Please leave students outside while adults bring the lunches to this location.
   

During Your Visit

• Denver Botanic Gardens is not a park or playground, but rather a living and growing museum. Please respect the plants and the hard work of our staff by following these behavior guidelines:  
  • Respect our plant life by staying on paths and out of gardens at all times. Even areas which appear to be bare may have newly planted seeds.
  • Gardens are for looking and enjoying -- please do not pick or collect plants.
  • It is okay to touch plants, as long as gentle hands are used.
  • Rocks are habitats for plants -- do not climb on rocks.
  • Respect our local wildlife by leaving them alone and not feeding them.
  • Safety comes first -- please walk, don't run, wherever you go.
  • Gardens are a place for people to find peace and serenity -- please use quiet voices.
  • Please respect the artwork located throughout the Gardens by not climbing, hanging on or kicking the artwork. 
• Groups not following the behavior guidelines may be asked to leave.
• Please respect the people who work in our Education Building by limiting the number of students inside the building at any one time. Do not use the lobby as a central meeting area.
• All students (regardless of age) must be under constant adult supervision. A ratio of one adult for every five students must be observed at all times.
• Lunch can be eaten in the Amphitheater (the large sunken grassy area). Please make sure students clean up after themselves and leave no trash behind. Large trash bags are available at the Visitor Center.
• Sack lunches may not be eaten in Offshoots in the Gardens café. Seating in this area is for paying café guests only.
• Restrooms are located inside the Education Building and in the Gates Montane Garden.
• The Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory is a small space. Staff may ask you to come back later if there are too many people inside.
• Students may browse the The Shop at the Gardens gift shop only if accompanied by an adult and if all backpacks are left outside the gift shop.