Self-guided Scout Visit

The Wildflower Center offers backpacks for various Scout levels filled with the materials, tools and activities needed to help scouts earn badges. Packs are only available for Self-guided Scout Visits with advanced registration.

 

 

DETAILS

Available: Year-round, Monday – Sunday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Packs are available by reservation only.
Group size:
Five Scout minimum to qualify
Cost: $5 per Pack, $5 per student, $12 per adult/chaperone. Troops with 15 or more scouts receive 1 free troop leader admission. 5:1 ratio of students to chaperones required.*

*Member benefits/free admission does not apply for group rates.

REQUEST A FIELD TRIP

Contact education coordinator Julie Graham at [email protected] or 512.232.0249.

Available Packs Themes

Flowers Scout Pack – For Junior Girl Scouts (fourth and fifth grade, ages 9 to 11)
There’s more to flowers than just good looks; without flowers, plants could not make seeds! This kit has activities to help fulfill the requirements for the Junior Girl Scout Flowers Legacy Badge.

Trees Scout Pack – For Girl Scout Cadettes (sixth to eighth grade; ages 11 to 14) or Webelos Scouts (fourth grade or 10 years old)
Help Scouts to learn to identify plants and trees and how they differ. This kit has activities to help fulfill the requirements for the Girl Scouts Cadette Trees Legacy Badge or the Webelos Scout Into the Woods Badge.

Outdoor Art Marker Scout Pack – For Daisy Girl Scouts (kindergarten and first grade, ages 5 to 7)
Explore the outdoors and use what you see and hear to make different kinds of art projects. This kit has activities to help fulfill the requirements for the Daisy Outdoor Art Maker Girl Scout Badge.

Bug Scout Pack – For Brownie Girl Scouts (second and third grade, ages 7 to 9)
Explore the world of bugs and learn more about these little creatures that do so much. This kit has activities to help fulfill the requirements for the Brownie Bug Girl Scout Badge.

Fur, Feathers, and Ferns Scout Pack – For Bear Scouts (third grade, ages 8 and 9)
Bears will explore the outdoor world of mammals, birds, plants and more! This kit has activities to help fulfill the requirements for the Fur, Feathers and Ferns Bear Badge.

Please note: Packs are only available by reservation as part of the Self-guided Scout Visits and require preregistration.

 

Additional Information & Policies

Drop Off & Parking

The bus passenger drop-off area is in front of the Admissions Kiosk. Buses may unload and load passengers in this zone. Buses should proceed to the bus parking area near the parking lot exit or to La Crosse Avenue for parking.

Running early or later? Please let us know by calling 512.232.0100 (press 8 to speak with someone).

Check-in

Please check in at the Admissions Kiosk. All remaining fees are payable at the kiosk via credit card only. Only one payment is accepted per group. Any additional payments are charged full-price admission.

Garden Etiquette 

Please review the Garden Etiquette rules before you arrive and communicate those to your leaders and scouts.

Chaperones

Leaders and chaperones are required for all visits. The recommended chaperone to student ratio is:

  • One chaperone per five pre-K to elementary school students
  • One chaperone per 12 middle to high school students

Additional chaperones may join the group at the general admission fee. All scout group reservations must be paid in one payment to qualify for the group rate. Payments are final and non-refundable. Coupons and member benefits (free admission) do not apply to group visits.

Food & Picnics

There are two designated areas with one in the parking area and one in the gardens. Tables, inside and outside, for the Wildflower Café are for restaurant customers only. Picnic areas are first come, first served. All trash generated from school lunches and picnics must be packed up and removed by the group. The Wildflower Center would like to encourage all scout groups to generate as little trash as possible during their visit.

Cancellation and No-show Policy

Cancellations should be made no less than ten business days before the reserved date to avoid the $30 cancellation fee. Groups that do not show up for the reserved date will be assessed a $30 no-show fee. Fee must be paid within 30 days of cancellation or no-show date.

Rescheduling

If you must reschedule or make changes, please contact us as soon as possible and preferably no later than 10 business days before your scheduled visit. Trips canceled due to weather can be rescheduled depending upon available dates.

Rain Policy

Field trips may be canceled due to weather by either the Wildflower Center or school staff. Generally field trips are held as scheduled as long as the weather is free of thunder, lightning, and heavy rains.  f it should be raining on the day of your scheduled visit, here are our guidelines: As long as it is only drizzling and there is no thunder and lightning, come on out. Bring rain ponchos and have a great time. Schools should check the radar and use their own discretion whether they want to go ahead and visit.

Please call 512.232.0100 (press 8 to speak with someone) and let us know if you decide to not visit due to rain.

Weapons Policy

Please review the Weapons Policy here.

 

Kids with bug masks

Educator Resources

Upcoming events and seminars for educators

Roadrunner bus

Youth Programs

Classes and programs designed especially for children

Young children explore the Theme Gardens

Family Programs

Nature-inspired programs designed for participants of all ages