School & Teacher Programs
At Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, we believe the best science education occurs not through a text book, but with real world experiences. That is why we strive to be a premier provider of environmental, horticultural, and sustainability education in Western Pennsylvania. Phipps offers many unique opportunities, from classes at the Conservatory to programs in your classroom, to inspire and educate students with the beauty and importance of the fascinating world of plants.
Classes
Want to spend some time in a beautiful environment while your students get an up-close look at plants? Come to Phipps and experience the amazing ecosystems of the world—from tropical forests to deserts to everything in between—without ever leaving Pittsburgh.
Our programs will help students learn across subjects, and meet state guidelines in the areas of Environment & Ecology and Science & Technology. School programs generally include 45 to 60 minutes in the classroom and time to explore the Conservatory.
Tours
In addition to your class, you may choose an hour long docent-led tour or a self-guided visit. On docent-led tours, trained volunteers share a wealth of knowledge about the history of Phipps and its plants, while self-guided visits allow you to move at your own pace through the Conservatory. If you are interested in a self-guided tour but would like more information about the Conservatory's plants, download a free self-guided tour map of the Conservatory.
Self-guided visits are recommended for pre-school and kindergarten groups. Docent-led tours require at least 4 weeks advanced registration and are subject to docent availability.
Green & Growing Outreach
Let Phipps come to you! Green & Growing programs are a fantastic way to provide students with an introduction into the world of plants and the environment around them. These programs are especially well-suited to young children or groups that find it difficult to travel off school grounds. Programs run 45 to 60 minutes in length and are available at different school levels.
Phipps is pleased to offer a limited amount of scholarships for Green & Growing programs through the support of Emily's Fund, The Richard Finegold Family Green & Growing Scholarship Fund, and the Murrysville Junior Garden Club. In addition, these programs are made possible through the generous support of Giant Eagle, Inc.
Phipps is also excited to offer educational bins for preschoolers and kindergarteners that can be rented on a limited basis. The bins include fun and informative lessons, songs, activities, puppets, stories, snack ideas, and more!
Middle & High School
Phipps' middle and high school program, The Fairchild Challenge, offers unique ways to meet state academic standards across the curriculum while using the environment as an integrated context for learning. Building on these classroom experiences, the High School Internship Program provides real world experiences in the fields of plant and environmental sciences.
Homeschoolers
Phipps welcomes homeschooled students in groups of eight or more. Phipps school programs adapt readily to groups with a wide age range of students. Choose from any of the listed school programs for your homeschooled group.
Teacher Continuing Education
At Phipps, we believe that environmental education is essential to a well-rounded and balanced classroom curriculum. Our in-services and Act 48 classes are designed to provide you with the tools to bring science to life in and outside your classroom and to integrate science education into your social studies, reading and math curricula.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education has granted Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens APPROVED PROVIDER STATUS for Act 48 Continuing Professional Education. Phipps' programs incorporate Pennsylvania State Standards in Science & Technology and Environment & Ecology.
