Matthaei Botanical Gardens is available for tours year round. Tours are offered Tuesday through Friday from 10 am until 12 pm. If you would like to reserve a date or check on availability, please call Jan Stearns at 734-647-7860 or email her at
jand@umich.edu.
Reminder: Docents lead tours outdoors in all weather including snow and light rain. Please be sure your students are dressed for weather conditions.
There is a non-refundable deposit which will vary in price depending upon the size of your group. The amount of your deposit will be indicated in a confirmation letter mailed out within days of booking your tour. This deposit will be credited towards your admission fee on the day of your tour. However, a cancellation of your tour less than 24 hours in advance, will result in the loss of your deposit.
| Tour Type |
Time |
Price Per Student |
Price Per Adult |
| Conservatory Only |
one hour |
$3.00 |
$6.00 |
| Outdoor Trail Only |
one hour |
$2.00 |
$2.00 |
| Combined Tour (Trail & Conservatory) |
two hours |
$5.00 |
$8.00 |
Matthaei Botanical Gardens has limited funding to support the school tour program in the form of partial reimbursement for bus transportation. Our subsidy is $50.00 per bus. NOTE: only registered 501 (c)(3) organizations or Public Schools are eligible. In order to participate in this program, this completed application must be received with your tour confirmation.
Click here to download the form.
We require one adult chaperone for every eight students. This is true for elementary, middle and high school students.
Chaperones are expected to maintain discipline, but are still welcome to engage and participate in the tour with the students. Cell phone use is prohibited while on docent led tours.
For further information about planning a field trip to our facilities, please click here to use our interactive comment form to submit your inquiry.
