Bring your students to Bookworm Gardens for a nature-based field trip experience!

Our field trips are fully outdoor, hands-on, age appropriate, student-based experiences that incorporate both literature and nature in the Gardens. Field trips take place at the Gardens during the months of May, June, September, and October in the mornings (AM) and afternoons (PM).

Interested in a Summer Field Trip? We have transitioned into a new Summer field trip model — Summer Field Days!

Field Trip Registration

If you have a group of over 10 students, then you qualify for a field trip. We do not allow schools to attend without a reservation and we do not allow self-guided tours. We can accommodate groups from 10 to 200 students. Field trips last 2 hours.

  • Cost per student is $6.00

  • Educators + Chaperones essential for travel will be complimentary.

  • Chaperones must be 18+ and are not allowed to bring any other child/sibling along on the field trip with them.

  • We require two chaperones (parent or teacher) per group of 20 students. Any additional chaperones must pay $12 per person.

  • Field trips can request a 30 minute picnic slot for their students to eat. Picnic locations are chosen by Bookworm Gardens' staff members and are outdoors. All trash must be taken back out with the group. Any group that leaves trash behind will be fined $100.

  • Field trips will happen rain or shine! We will cancel or reschedule in the case of severe storms.

  • Please review our frequently asked questions below for additional details.

We are currently sold out for Spring 2025!

Field Trip Sign up:

  • Fall 2025 field trips will go live on April 1, 2025

  • Spring 2026 Field Trips will go live on August 1, 2025


Waitlist Informaton

We encourage any school to put their name/contact information on our waitlist in case there’s any last minute changes and a spot becomes available. Once we receive your request, we will contact you only if an opening occurs.

You are only on the waitlist for the slot (season and year) you select. Spots will NOT be carried through to the next season.

Waitlist for Spring 2025


Frequently asked questions:

  • Yes, a limited number of scholarships are available for schools who have 50% or more students who participate in Wisconsin’s Free + Reduced Lunch Program.

    Please secure a field trip date prior to applying for a scholarship. You are welcome to let us know that you are interested in our scholarships. Click here for additional information and application.

  • We understand that you might not have the exact number of students while filling out a field trip request form—that is alright! Do your best to give us an estimated size of your class. We require final numbers to be confirmed (via email) 14 days in advance of your field trip experience.

    In the case of a significant number decrease within two weeks of your field trip Bookworm Gardens reserves the right to charge the original amount invoiced.

  • Yes! Bookworm Garden field trips are rain, snow or shine! Please make sure your class is dressed appropriately. We encourage rain boots, waterproof jackets/ponchos on rain days.

    In the case of inclement or severe weather, we will cancel your field trip. We will try our best to reschedule the experience for your learners but cannot promise that we can make a date work for your group. If the weather is extreme by your school, please call and cancel if it is dangerous to drive. We will do our best to reschedule your field trip.

  • Classes are broken into smaller groups (20 students or less) to move through the Gardens. Per smaller group, we require two chaperones (including educators). Bookworm defines chaperones as educators, aides, school staff, parents or guardians. Chaperones must be 18+ years of age. We do not allow younger (or older) siblings to accompany chaperones on the field trip.

    If you choose to bring additional chaperones, they would each need to pay $12. This money must be collected by the school and paid with the field trip balance. We will not individually collect money from each chaperone on the day of the field trip.

    Please note that we have noticed the more chaperones in a group, the harder it is for the students to focus and engage on the field trip.

    Bookworm Gardens allows chaperones and educators necessary for travel to attend for free.

  • We do not allow self-guided field trips at Bookworm Gardens for the safety of both the gardens and its visitors. All non-family groups of 10 or more people must have a field trip reservation. Bookworm Gardens reserves the right to refuse entry to any groups that show up without a field trip reservation.

    We also do not allow groups to explore independently prior/after a field trip at Bookworm Gardens.

  • Yes! Educators can request a 30 minute picnic slot for their students to eat. Picnic locations are chosen by Bookworm Gardens' staff members and are outdoors. We cannot guarantee picnic locations are shaded.

    We do not have any cooler/fridge space for your classroom lunches.

    Bookworm Gardens has a carry in, carry out trash policy. All garbage and recycling must be taken back out with your school group. Any trash left behind or thrown into Bookworm Gardens private dumpsters will be fined $100.

  • Yes! Restrooms and paths are handicap accessible.

  • We have 5 family-style restrooms—not separate men and women restrooms. We have two restrooms located near the entrance and three restrooms located near the bridge (on the side further from the pond).

    Therefore restroom capacity is limited! Large groups, please plan to take children out a few at a time to use the restrooms.

  • There is parking available for vans and buses. Groups can be dropped off at the entrance to the Gardens and park in the open areas of the parking bays.

additional Questions?

Contact Jordan at jordan@bookwormgardens.org with any questions regarding school groups or field trips.