Education: How to Schedule a Tour

Download our Tour Brochure here (pdf format).

All docent-let tours must be scheduled by the 15th of the month before your desired tour date.

Tours can be scheduled mornings or afternoons, Monday through Sunday.

• Tours are one hour long unless otherwise noted.

• For youth tour, we provide one docent for every 6 students.

• For adult tours, we provide one docent for every 10 adults.

• Tours given rain or shine.

Student groups must provide one chaperone for every 6 students.
Student groups without adequate number of chaperones may be denied admittance.

If you wish to visit the Garden without arranging a docent-led tour, please call 510-643-2755 in advance so that we may help to facilitate your group's visit to the Garden.

Tour Fees

Adults $9
Seniors (65+) $6
Children $6
College Students $6
Additional Fee of $3 per docent scheduled for your tour

In-school Program Fees

In-school programs $65.00 for one class;
$50.00 each for two class presentations given on the same day.

To arrange for a tour, please call the Tour Scheduler at 510-643-7265 by the 15th of the month prior to your visit.

For individuals: With paid admission, we offer free docent-led tours year-round on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 PM.

Join docents for our Waterwise Gardening Tour Third Thursday and the following Saturday and Sunday of each month, 1:30 PM. Free

The Garden Education staff and docents have created several self-guided tours and accompanying tour brochures. Click here to learn more about available options.

Free tours are not for organized groups due to limited space.

NOTE:
In order to minimize the impact on the plant collection, ensure the safety of visitors, and to provide your group with the best educational experience we do not admit groups larger than 18 students (+3 chaperones) on our “First Free Thursdays.” We ask that you to choose one of the following options:

* Arrange for a docent-led tour on a day other than our First Free Thursday. Tours are offered year-round, must be booked by the 15^th of the previous month, and tour fees are $6 per child and include Garden admission; chaperones & teachers are free. Our docents go through a 26-week training in the Garden and are equipped to and provide the best education about the collection.

* Schedule in advance a self-guided tour of the Garden (not on the First Free Thursday). Your group will have to pay the admission fees and provide the required number of chaperones (1 for every 6 students). Groups will be charged a fee of $20 for a staff-led introduction, required for all student groups.

* Submit a request for a gratis tour or admission available to organizations with demonstrable financial need. The Garden grants a limited number of these per year. You may write an e-mail to the Tour Coordinator using the guidelines on the back of this letter.