General Information for Plains Conservation Center School Groups

Location and Directions

21901 E. Hampden Avenue, Aurora, CO 80013

Prior to Your Visit

• Payment is due one week prior to the date of the program. See payment instructions below.
• Review the safety and behavior guidelines listed below with your students and adult chaperones.
• Encourage your students to come dressed for the outdoors and quickly changing weather conditions. Layers of clothing, sturdy shoes, a hat, sunscreen and a water bottle are highly recommended. There is no access to drinking fountains or water refill stations onsite, and very little shade is available on the trails.
• The Plains Conservation Center is located at 21901 E. Hampden Avenue, Aurora, CO 80013. Please use the main entrance to the property at the intersection on E Hampden Avenue.

Pre-Payment for All School Groups Visits

• We require advance payment for all school groups visits. Final payment is due one week before the program. Additional children or chaperones will result in additional cost the day of the program. Bringing fewer students does not result in a refund because we must prepare for your final number of students.
• You may pay by check or with credit card. Payments are not accepted the day of.
• When paying by check, make the check out to Denver Botanic Gardens. Mail it to 909 York Street, Denver, CO 80206; Attn: School Programs with the confirmation number in the memo.
• When paying by credit card, call our Resource Center at 720-865-3500 or use the secure payment link that was emailed to you.

Cancellations and Rescheduling

• Cancellations with less than one week’s notice are non-refundable. If you must reschedule or make other changes, please do so as early as possible because our dates often fill. To make changes to your program please call our registration assistant at: 720-865-3656.

Arrival at the Plains Conservation Center

• The only entrance to the Plains Conservation Center is on E Hampden Ave at the intersection of Hampden and Picadilly.
• Upon arrival, a staff member will meet your bus (or cars) and direct you to the parking area. Separate handicap parking is located in front of the visitor center building.
• Once parked, unload students to the outdoor picnic tables and your program guide will give you further instructions.

Behavior Expectations

• Chaperones are responsible for the behavior and safety of their assigned group of students. Teachers, please discuss chaperone expectations before arrival to the Plains Conservation Center (PCC).  All groups are required to bring at least one adult for every 10 students. Up to one adult chaperone per five students is admitted free of charge. Please coordinate chaperones in advance as Denver Botanic Gardens reserves the right to refuse admittance to groups with too few adult chaperones. Adults with small children and/or on their phones will not be considered chaperones for the purpose of this field trip and will be asked to wait in the picnic area or visitor center.
• Please come prepared to be outdoors for much of the day. The PCC is a natural prairie, not a groomed park, which has inherent dangers including, but not limited to, cactus, uneven terrain, rattlesnakes or wildlife, unmarked objects and hazards that may not be visible. Wear closed-toe shoes only, like sneakers or boots. No flip-flops, sandals, dress shoes, heels, etc. Please explain to both children and adults in your group that they should plan on a day that includes a lot of walking and outside activity.
• Colorado weather is notoriously unpredictable, so we encourage everyone to dress in layers. A hat, sunscreen and a water bottle are also strongly encouraged on hot and/or sunny days. The staff will carefully plan for safety, but neither Denver Botanic Gardens nor The City of Aurora Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces (PROS) Department nor their employees can be held responsible for accidents or weather-related incidents.
• Inclement weather: If the weather is uncooperative, we will adjust to move some activities indoors and may not be able to use the wagons. If the wagons cannot be used for any reason, we will explore on foot or may ask your bus driver to drive the students across the site. In some weather situations, we may not be able to get to or use certain areas of the PCC property and will adjust programming accordingly. In the case of severe weather causing the cancellation of the program, every attempt will be made to reschedule on a mutually agreeable date.