Tours with the Arboretum

Guided Tours and Group Visits

Group visitors often want to include a free guided tour as part of their educational or recreational arboretum visit. Group free tours are offered when a Tour Reservation Request Form, downloadable from this page, is submitted electronically or by fax with fourteen days advance notice, for groups of six or more. Groups requesting tours vary and may be entire classes or grade levels for public schools, community agencies, civic groups, garden clubs, homeschool groups, or elder hostels.

Visitors of all ages learn about nature, botany, horticulture, ecology, and plant and tree species native to the Appalachians. Tours normally are given on the arboretum grounds, but each spring a guided field trip showcasing notable wildflower sites, and each fall a guided field trip showcasing remarkable trees are also offered.

Children's educational tours include:

  • The Forest Web
    Discover how living and non-living organisms coexist and thrive in the forest ecology. While learning how to identify forest species, students will also explore how animals and plants work with each other to fully utilize all the resources that a forest can offer. Also covered in this tour will be how humans can best impact the forest and its wildlife
    Peak Times: Year-Round

  • Virginia Natives
    Learn to identify a variety of native plants and trees and explore how the Native Americans of Virginia used these plants for food, tools, and medicine. This activity pairs well with crafts and hands-on activities.
    Peak Times: Spring ~ Fall

  • Woodland Walk
    Take a stroll around the Arboretum and learn to identify numerous wildflowers. Learn what makes wildflowers unique, and explore how nature may inspire creative works of poetry and prose. Write about the wonder of wildflowers in the shade of our Poet Tree, the magnificent Salix babylonica.
    Peak Times: Spring, Summer

  • Natural Direction
    Become oriented to the forest by observing nature, watching birds and animals, and studying the clues in trees and plants. Learn how to map a forest and provide natural, woodland-based directions to friends. Understand how to make ecologically sound choices that can positively direct the future of forest lands.
    Peak Times: Year-Round

  • The Edible Forest
    Which mushrooms are edible? What types of tree bark are used to relieve headaches? Learn the answers to these and other questions by exploring plants, fruits, and nuts in the forest. Classes will also see some of the forest foods that only animals can eat.
    Peak Times: Summer ~ Winter

  • Specialized Programs
    The staff at the EJC Arboretum can design a program to suit specialized or classroom-based education needs. Though programs at the Arboretum usually have a plant or ecology focus, these specialized programs can incorporate animals and more ideas.
    Please e-mail the Education Coordinator, Cathy Copeland, at copelaca@jmu.edu.

Tours with the Arboretum

Event and season-based tours are offered each year for Historic Garden Week, and Arbor Day and are provided on a walk-up basis, free of charge, without advance reservation, and without any tour form being submitted.

To make reservations for a guided tour call (540) 568-3194,
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday - Friday

School Field Trips and Guided Tours:
Tour Brochure

Tour Reservation and Group Visit Form:
Tour Reservation and Group Visit Form

Please download, fillout digitally or print and return to copelaca@jmu.edu
or fax (540) 568-5115.