Taltree Arboretum & Gardens

Taltree offers interpretive hikes through prairie, woods, and wetland areas where students can gain firsthand experience with the varied habitats and ecology of the region. Trained Docents guide students as individual classes or in groups. Hikes last one and a half to two hours, depending on whether or not an optional 30-minute activity is chosen. Guided hikes must be scheduled one month in advance, by calling (219) 462-0025 or emailing info@taltree.org. Leaders may also fill out the Interpretive Hike Form. Taltree can accommodate groups of up to 125 participants, with a minimum of 10 individuals. Large groups are divided into 25 persons. Fees for youth groups are $2 per child and $5 per adult chaperone. Teachers are free!

Attention Teachers! Please feel free to download our 2013 Student Hike Journal! This journal will provide your students will interactive games, questions, and activities before, during, and after your scheduled hike.  If you have any questions, please call 219-462-0025.

Field Trip Options

Woodland Exploration

Join us to explore the Taltree woodlands surrounding the Heron Pond and along the Owl Trail. Learn the history of the woodlands and how to identify trees by their bark, leaves and fruit. We will see oak, hickory, aspen, hawthorn, cottonwood, black cherry, and more. Depending upon the time of year you might see Jack in the pulpit, Trillium and violets.

Offered to Grades K-8. Indiana Science Standards Met: K.1.1, K.1.2, K.2.3, K.3.1, K.3.2, K.3.3, 1.3.4, 3.3.1, 4.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.3.3, 4.3.4, 5.3.1, 5.3.2, 6.3.1, 6.3.2, 6.3.3, 6.3.4.

A Walk by the Wetlands

Walk along Taltree’s Savanna Wetland and observe the beaver lodge and dam, spot geese families, and perhaps the Great Blue Heron. Learn about the restoration of this wetland and the wide range of plants and animals that live here. This field trip is ideal for younger students, but is applicable to all ages.

Offered to Grades K-8. Indiana Science Standards Met: K.1.1, K.1.2, K.2.3, K.3.1, K.3.2, K.3.3, 1.3.1, 1.3.4, 2.3.2, 3.3.1, 4.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.3.3, 4.3.4, 5.3.1, 5.3.2, 6.3.1, 6.3.3, 6.3.4.

Prairie Investigations

Taltree has recreated its own tall grass prairie that once covered much of the Midwest. See the big and little bluestem grasses, Indian grass, and switchgrass. Look for purple coneflowers, rattlesnake master and black-eyed Susans. Learn about the animals living in the prairie, like white-tail deer, coyote, ground squirrels, voles, foxes and chipmunks. You might spot American goldfinch, bobolink, bobwhite, common grackle, dickcissel, eastern bluebird, grasshopper sparrow, pheasant, red-winged blackbird and northern cardinal. A prairie is a most interesting place, alive with diversity of flora and fauna.

Offered to Grades K-8. Indiana Science Standards Met: K.1.1, K.1.2, K.2.3, K.3.1, K.3.2, K.3.3, 1.3.4, 3.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.3.4, 5.3.2, 6.3.3, 6.3.4.

Taltree Railway Garden

The Taltree Railway Garden is an outdoor G (Garden)-scale model railway garden that offers learning experiences in horticulture and history. The garden features 750 tons of limestone crafted into mountains, valleys and tunnels that support seven unique rail tracks where trains continually run through nine historical vignettes from the early steam era in U.S. history, including President Lincoln’s funeral, prairie towns, limestone quarries, and the Civil War. Offered to K-12.  Standards Met: Middle and High School History Standards.

Winter Expeditions

Students will hike and investigate our three ecosystems in the winter season!  They will identify animal tracks in the snow, look for scat, learn how to identify trees, take part in a scavenger hunt, games, and fun in the snow!   Offered to Grades K-8, Indiana Science Standards Met:  K.1.1, K.1.2, K.2.3, K.3.1, K.3.2, 1.3.1, 1.3.4, 1.3.5, 2.1.4, 4.3.3, 4.3.4, 5.3.1, 6.3.5

 Children’s Adventure Garden

Taltree’s newest garden hosts a variety of fun choices for visitors of all ages.  Students will learn about Seed to Table, in which they will explore a vegetable, fruit, and herb garden.  The Children’s Adventure Garden is also home to five unique breeds of Bantam chickens, some of which lay colored eggs, have blue ears and black skin, and beards! Other features include loose parts play areas in our miniature Oak Islands, Prairie ABC trail, and a woodland path that leads to a hidden music garden.  Offered to K-8, Science Standards Met: K.1.1, K.1.2, K.2.3, K.3.1, K,.3.2, K.3.3, 1.3.3, 1.3.4, 3.2.5, 3.2.6, 3.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.3.4, 5.3.2, 6.3.4

Science Olympiad Training

During the winter months, Taltree offers Science Olympiad training where students can participate in mock testing sessions or be introduced to the events they have chosen to study.  Teachers and Taltree education staff will tailor the trip to events chosen for that school year. Students will have hands-on experience in both our indoor and outdoor classrooms. We offer after-school and Saturday sessions. Offered to Grades 6-12 (B and C Level).

Special 30-minute activities can be incorporated at no additional cost when requested and include these optional Project Learning Tree Activities.

Educators and parents can download and print our Student Hike Journal as a precursor or subsequent to a Taltree hike.