Free Drop-In Activities  

We invite you to come wander in our whimsical woodland garden, The Ramble. Our 1.5-acre children’s Garden is the perfect place for the entire family to play, learn, explore, and make discoveries in nature.

Join us for drop-in activities during scheduled Nature Play Days or download some of our free resources and explore on your own.

Purchase your tickets online today or in person at the Garden. View more of our family and youth resources and programs.

NATURE PLAY DAYS
Drop-in for FREE fun family activities this season. Join us each week as we explore different nature topics and have fun each day at our activity stations.

Please note that Nature Play Days are drop-in style and are included with general admission unless otherwise noted. Nature Play Days will resume outdoors in The Ramble on April 28 with daily activities to enjoy.

We would love to hear about your Nature Play Day experience! Click here to fill out our 2-minute surveys and let us know your feedback.

Two children stand next to the turtle pond in the Winter Garden using Discovery Backpacks.

Discovery Backpacks | Ages 3-12 
Daily, 10AM – 5PM
Borrow a backpack filled with exciting activities and tools for exploring. 
*Year-round, available at the front desk, first come, first served  

rainbow xylophone

Nature’s Studio | Ages 3-8
Mondays, 12 – 2PM
Embrace your inner artist while you make music, play with paint, and get creative in the Garden.
*April 22nd through October 31st

Children listen to a nature story in the Ramble during Nature Play Days.

Nature Storytime | Ages 2-8
Tuesdays, 11AM – 12PM
Join us for exciting stories about plants, animals, nature, and more.
*April 22nd through October 31st

Two children play dress up in The Ramble.

Imagination Station | Ages 3-10
Wednesdays, 12 – 2PM
Stop by for imaginative play as we dress up and create magical worlds together.
*April 22nd through October 31st

A child uses gardening tools to work in a vegetable garden bed.

Farm to Market | Ages 4-8
Thursdays, 11AM – 12PM
Stop by our Climate Garden to see what’s growing, lend a hand, and play at our farm stand.
*April 22nd through October 31st

Exploration Station | Ages 3-10
Fridays, 12 – 2PM
Visit our pop-up Discovery Carts to learn about plants, animals, seasons, and more.
*April 22nd through October 31st

The design elements and features in the Garden support interactive hands-on nature exploration and play, cultivating an early appreciation for the environment. Education programs leverage the garden’s unique features and diverse plantings to engage children in STEAM principles (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), and teach about the value of plants in our ecosystem.

Learn more here.

Enhance your visit to New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill with these free downloadable scavenger hunts and activity ideas. Visit our Teacher Resources page for other crafts, exploration topics, and more scavenger hunts!