Field Trip Registration Form

Would you like to bring your students on a field trip to The Morton Arboretum? Fill out this registration form today!


Spring 2025 field trips run from March 31st - May 30th.

Summer 2025 self-guided field trips run from June 2nd through August 29th.

Fall 2025 field trips run from Sept 2nd - Nov 7th. Registration opens August 1st

Winter 2025-2026 self-guided field trips and school programs run Dec 1st - March 27th. Registration opens October 1st


Questions? Call the registrar's office 630-719-2468 (M-F 9 A.M. - 4 P.M.) or email them at registrar-ed@mortonarb.org


Please understand that processing your registration can take up to 3 weeks, though you will typically receive a confirmation in 5-7 business days.


One (1) half-day GUIDED adventure (1.5 hours): $10 per student + $15 registration fee

One (1) full-day GUIDED adventure (3.0 hours): $14 per student + $30 registration fee

Two (2) half-day GUIDED adventures (3.0 hours): $14 per student + $30 registration fee

One (1) SELF-GUIDED adventure: $8 per student + $15 registration fee

One (1) SELF-GUIDED & one (1) GUIDED adventure: $14 per student + $30 registration fee

By clicking the box below you understand that by filling out this registration form, a non-refundable registration fee will be invoiced to you. If you have inquiries about a field trip or availability, please contact the registrar's office at registrar-ed@mortonarb.org (630) 719-2468, or the School Programs Specialist at mkuhl-horbin@mortonarb.org. Please visit our website for more information about our field trip offerings, fees, and policies: https://mortonarb.org/educators/field-trips

Which season are you registering your field trip for?*

Please note that guided field trip programs as well as self-guided backpacks are not available during the winter or summer.

Contact Information

This is where your confirmation, invoice, and other communication regarding your field trip will be sent.

Include the NAMES & EMAILS of the other teachers or staff we should contact if you are not available on the day of the field trip, or if there are other teachers attending the field trip.


If you are the teacher identified on this form and will NOT be attending the field trip, please let us know below.


If you don't provide an email, we have no way of including them on this communication.

Logistical Information

We require at least 3 weeks to process your request, so please choose 3 different dates for your field trip that are at least 3 weeks from today's date.

Payment is due three weeks before your field trip date along with your final student & chaperone count. The Morton Arboretum does not give a refund for students absent the day of their field trip.

We allot 3 free teacher/adult chaperones for every 20 students attending the field trip.

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State-required one-on-one aides are free and are not considered chaperones, but they must be registered and reflected on your booking confirmation.

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(In addition to the required chaperones and the state-required aides.) There will be an admission fee charged for additional adults. Additional adults are charged the current admission fee.

Knowing the diverse needs of your individual students allows us to best accommodate your entire group for an inclusive experience. Please select all that apply.

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Please specify accommodation or offer additional information based on the information you selected above, including the number of students and their need (i.e. a wheelchair accessible table at lunch/lab, a private room for a mother to pump, etc.).

Transportation

Please note, the transportation that you use to come to The Morton Arboretum will be expected to stay on the grounds for the duration of your trip as it is often used to transport students to different areas on the ground (we are 1,700+ acres!) and offers safety in case of emergency or inclement weather when in the field. We encourage groups to secure their transportation as early as possible and to keep us informed of adjustments, changes, or cancellations prior to their field trip date.

The confirmed and final count should be communicated when payment is due, 21 days before your trip.

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The size of your bus (regular, mini, coach) can affect where we can park your buses, so it is helpful to know ahead of time.


The confirmed and final count should be communicated when payment is due, 21 days before your field trip.

The confirmed and final count should be communicated when payment is due, 21 days before your field trip.

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The confirmed and final count should be communicated when payment is due, 21 days before your field trip.

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By clicking the box below you understand that you must communicate with your bus driver/company that the bus or vehicles transporting students are expected to stay onsite for the students' safety.


If you are participating in a guided program and the bus cannot stay onsite, you are asked to communicate this with the School Programs Specialist (mkuhl-horbin@mortonarb.org) in order to plan for adjustments in your programming so that the students can have an enjoyable and memorable experience (many of our programs require transportation to other areas throughout the day). By clicking the box below, you understand this expectation.

Your Visit

The gatehouse attendants and education staff need to know when to anticipate your arrival and departure. For guided programs, arrival time should be approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of your program. If you anticipate a late arrival or early departure, please indicate that information below.

NOTE: Morning guided programs will begin at 9:45 A.M. Afternoon guided programs will begin at 11:45 A.M. We encourage groups to schedule their arrival no more than 15 minutes before their program's start time.


If you are self-guided, please identify your anticipated arrival time. (NOTE: The Children's Garden opens at 10:00 AM.)


If you plan on arriving more than 15 minutes before these guided program start times, you will need to schedule a self-guided field trip with your guided field trip experience.


This is a number-response ONLY.

NOTE: Morning guided programs will end at 11:15 A.M., and afternoon guided programs end at 1:15 P.M. If you are self-guided, please identify your anticipated departure time.


If you plan on staying more than 15 minutes after these guided program end times, you will need to schedule a self-guided field trip with your guided field trip experience.


This is a number-response ONLY.

For GUIDED programs, lunch will be located outdoors either at picnic tables or on provided tarps on the lawn. Guided programs will have reserved tables/tarps in the Thornhill Picnic Area depending on the size of your group. Other groups may be assigned within the vicinity of your groups' lunch location. Priority for reserved lunch space will be given to full-day programs. Students will be expected to sit ten students to a picnic table. The number of picnic tables reserved for your group will be determined by the size of your group.


For SELF-GUIDED programs, lunch locations are NOT reserved at Meadow Lake Picnic Area and are first-come, first-served. You might be within the vicinity of other groups during your scheduled lunch period.

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By clicking below you understand that there is no place to store lunches onsite.


For guided programs, lunches are expected to stay on the bus or in vehicles during the guided program. It is helpful if they're stored in bins or a large bag since chaperones will be retrieving them from the bus/vehicles. If you cannot adhere to these expectations for a guided field trip, please coordinate alternate plans with the School Programs Specialist at mkuhl-horbin@mortonarb.org.

Field Trip Programs

Please choose which programs you are interested in participating. Each half-day guided program is an hour and a half in length (1.25 for PreK programs).


Guided programs include an Education Program Guide leading your students through a standards-based program. (1 guide per 20 students; students will be sorted into groups of 20 students or less.)


Self-guided programs do not include the Arboretum staff in your field trip.

Please note that our GUIDED programs are aligned to grade-specific standards. Some of our self-guided field trips are also grade-level specific (i.e. Children's Garden is open to PreK through third grade). Please visit our website to see which programs are available for your grade level(s).

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How are you looking to plan your day?*

GUIDED programs have pre-determined start times (9:45 or 11:45) and pre-determined end times (11:15 or 1:15) and are led by Arboretum staff. If you plan to arrive or stay more than 15 minutes past these pre-determined times, you must also register for a self-guided program. If you'd like to explore a "late start schedule" (full-day programs only), please specify in the Comments/Questions section below or contact the School Programs Specialist at mkuhl-horbin@mortonarb.org.


SELF-GUIDED programs have flexible start/end times and are led by the teacher (no Arboretum staff attached).

Please select 1 for half-day field trips, or 1-2 for full-day field trips.

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Please select 1 for half-day field trips, or 1-2 for full-day field trips.

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Please select 1 for half-day field trips, or 1-2 for full-day field trips.

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i.e. ecosystems, insects, animal homes, interdependence, tree identification, etc.

Please note that Self-Guided backpack programs are not available during the summer or winter seasons.

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Please note that Self-Guided backpack programs are not available during the summer or winter seasons.

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Please note that Self-Guided backpack programs are not available during the summer or winter seasons.

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Do you have comments or questions about your program choices? Would you like to supply additional information about your schedule or preference in programming?

Comments or Questions

Select all that apply.

Due to the input from educators like you, we have already created The Planted Podcast, Canopy Career Chronicles, Education Discovery Bins, Virtual Learning Bundles, Teacher Tuesdays, and Virtual Outreach Programs. How else can we help you as an educator? What nature-based or life-science based resources can we make available to you?

Have you used any of these other educator resources we offer at The Morton Arboretum? Select all that apply. Check out our website for more information: https://mortonarb.org/educators

Agree to Terms

By checking the box below, you understand that depending on the volume of students on a given day, picnic tables may or may not be available to your group. However, groups are welcome to bring tarps and enjoy a picnic-style lunch if tables are not available.

By checking the box below, you understand that our field trips take place outdoors and are not cancelled due to rain or inclement weather. Students and chaperones are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes, appropriate for walking on wood-chip trails. You understand that participants on your field trip should also bring jackets, raincoats, ponchos, etc., as appropriate for the weather on the day of your trip.

By checking the box below, you understand that you are accountable for all fees and payments. You are responsible for the non-refundable registration and processing fee even if you choose to cancel your program registration ($15 for half-day program, $30 for full-day program). You understand that processing your registration could take up to 3 weeks.

By checking the box below, you understand that final student attendance numbers and payment is due 3 weeks in advance of your field trip date. You also understand that if payment is not received 3 weeks prior to the field trip date, The Morton Arboretum may cancel your field trip. You understand that The Morton Arboretum does not refund for students who are absent on the day of their field trip. If you require an alternate arrangement, please contact the Registrar's Office (630) 719-2468 or registrar-ed@mortonarb.org.

Photography Consent*

You are aware that registration for your field trip serves as consent for the photography of students and parents/chaperones participating in the field trip. The Morton Arboretum will not identify photos with school name or grade level, but may use these photos for publication or promotional purposes. For concerns or questions, please contact the School Programs Specialist (630-725-2118 or mkuhl-horbin@mortonarb.org).

Are you interested in more information about our Youth Science Education Outreach scholarship program for the 2024-2025 school year?

This scholarship program is available for schools that serve 40% or more low-income families according to the most recent data in the Illinois Report Card. The application opens yearly in June and closes when all funds have been allocated. The funding covers the cost of a field trip or other school program (virtual program, school visit); and there is some funding for transportation.


As of January 2025, we no longer have funding left in the YSEO grant for the 2024-2025 school year.

Guided fall field trip registration opens August 1, 2025. If you're looking to book a self-guided field trip during Summer 2025, Fall 2025, or Winter 2025-2026, please fill out a Spring 2025 field trip form or contact the Registrar's Office.


For questions, please contact the registrar's office at registrar-ed@mortonarb.org or 630-719-2468 (M-F 9:00-4;00), or contact the School Programs Specialist at mkuhl-horbin@mortonarb.org or at 630-725-2118.

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