At Sarah P. Duke Gardens, visitors of all ages can enjoy a variety of landscapes, seasonal beauty, and educational and recreational activities. Through its education and research programs, the Gardens provides an interdisciplinary living laboratory for students and community members alike. From the formal terraces and statuary of the historic terrace gardens to the natural beauty of the woodlands, ponds, and streams, the Gardens provides a tranquil oasis in the bustling city of Durham.
In addition to its horticultural excellence, Sarah P. Duke Gardens is committed to engaging the community through its vibrant programming. Through classes, tours, lectures, and special events, the Gardens offers unique opportunities to explore, learn, and connect with nature. By nurturing an environment of learning, inspiration, and enjoyment, Sarah P. Duke Gardens is a vibrant center of education, cultural exchange, and community engagement.
Exploring Duke Gardens can be fun for the whole family during our monthly garden walks. Each month a naturalist will guide you through a different area of Duke Gardens with activities that engage family members of every age. These programs will involve traveling on unpaved and at-times uneven surfaces for close to an hour; not all surfaces are ideal for strollers. Service dogs are welcome but please leave family pets at home. Program will not occur during inclement weather. Capacity is limited to 10 families of four individuals; families with more than four individuals should register as two or more groups.
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Naturalist Classes for 6- to 9-year-olds
Explore gardening and how plants grow, and learn about which animals may be living in Duke Gardens and using the plants to survive. Each session will have hands-on activities and interactive lessons that inspire curiosity and encourage connections with the natural world. Children can be dropped off for the 1.5-hour lesson and will be guided by two educators while they explore the Gardens.
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Nature Babies (March)
Connect with plants, your baby and other adults with little ones as you explore the plant world with all five senses, learn uses of common plants and experience simple ways to introduce your babies to the natural world around us. We’ll use sight, touch, taste, feeling and smell to be present in our bodies and to move at nature’s pace.