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1927 Map of the Arboretum

Family Activities

A teacher and student examine insects

The Arnold Arboretum is a free, safe environment to experience the wonder of nature with children. Explore the Arboretum with a variety of self-guided family activities.

Tree of the Month Download: Pussy Willow

Salix gracilistyla (rose-gold pussy willow) heralds the arrival of Spring. This unique willow is one of the first plants to break bud in late winter.

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Wonder Spots

Wonder Spots give Arboretum families an opportunity to explore the landscape through seasonal investigations about the natural world. Learn about plants and animals in locations throughout the Arboretum, getting to know our grounds while discovering and observing living things in new ways.

Grid of Children's Book Covers

StoryWalks

StoryWalks are a wonderful way for families to read and talk about nature in the Arboretum landscape. Walk from page to page, learning about seasons, plants, and animals from a children’s book.

Arboretum Haiku and You

Take a Haiku Hike then write your own haiku. Find out about haiku, and what you can do to submit your own haiku to be included on the Arboretum’s Haiku page. You may just be a poet and don’t know it!

Photo Hunt

A new twist on the scavenger hunt. Grab your digital camera or cell phone camera and start the photo hunt! Caregivers can download the instruction guide plus maps for your kids.

Wildlife Bingo

The Arboretum is a great place to observe wildlife. Check out the wildlife image galleries, then print Wildlife Bingo cards and search for critters in the landscape. As you find each item on your bingo card, cross off the square. The first person to cross off four in a row, wins! Remember, please do not disturb plants or wildlife when you visit.

Discovery Packs

Check out the Arboretum’s free Discovery Packs, supported by a gift from the Arnold Arboretum Committee. Join the Explorer’s Club and go on an adventure in the Arboretum. Living Museum or Science Lab backpacks can be borrowed from the Visitor Center and are suitable for families with kids over the age of three.

Be an Engineer

Check out the newest addition to the Visitor Center! This backpack is for the budding engineer. Let your imagination and creative mind guide your way as you build a creation with bamboo sticks and stick-lets. This backpack can be borrowed from the Visitor Center and is suitable for families with kids over the age of three.

2022 Tournament of Trees

In honor of our sesquicentennial, we curated 16 contenders that help tell our story. That is one plant per decade since 1872, including a species still under production in our greenhouses. Each tree chosen represents a milestone in the Arboretum’s history. Together, they bring to life stories of plant discovery, collection, and collaboration across time and space.