Group Visits and Field Trips
With over 300 acres to explore, the Gabis Arboretum is the perfect destination for environmental education!
Choose from Guided Youth Field Trips, Guided Adult Tours or Self-Guided Tours
We are updating our field-trip offerings in 2026. Please check back for updates soon!
The Gabis Arboretum has a great diversity of natural resources. Taking your students on a field trip to see some of them can be a wonderful experience and can help you incorporate Indiana Academic Science Standards in your teaching.
Field trips include a one and a half hour hike led by a trained naturalist or docent. Groups are welcome to come early or stay longer once the guided experience concludes. Hikes cover a vast array of environmental education concepts.
They are general in nature but inherently include some of the Indiana State Environmental Science Curriculum.
Cost
Guided Field Trips are $4 per person in addition to the admission fee. Teachers and up to three chaperones per class are admitted free.
Admission Fees
- $10 per non-member carload (includes cars, vans, RVs and motorcycles)
- $25 per minibus (9 to 16 passengers)
- $45 per tour bus or school bus (17+ passengers)
Groups can choose to add the Railway Garden exhibit to their field trip. The Railway Garden is open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (May 1 through October 31). Arrangements can be made to open on other days throughout the week for an additional fee of $5 per person with a minimum of 20 people. Email us for more information.
Guided adult tours are a great opportunity for garden clubs, model train clubs, or employee-appreciation events!
Trained volunteer naturalists will lead your group through your choice of gardens and landscapes.
Guided experiences are one and a half hours and take place outdoors. Large groups will be divided into groups of approximately 25 people.
Cost
Guided tours are $4 per person in addition to the admission fee.
Admission Fees
- $10 per non-member carload (includes cars, vans, RVs and motorcycles)
- $25 per minibus (9 to 16 passengers)
- $45 per tour bus or school bus (17+ passengers)
*The Railway Garden is open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (May 1 through October 31). Arrangements can be made to open on other days throughout the week for an additional fee of $5 per person, with a minimum of 20 people. Email us for more information.
Self-guided groups can deepen their understanding of their natural surroundings while enjoying a visit to the arboretum! Self-exploration guides are available for download. Please print the guides before arriving, as the arboretum does not have every guide available on-site.
Heron Pond Woodland Tree Walk
Explore the woodland trees along Heron Pond.
Tallgrass Prairie Guide
Take a self-guided tallgrass prairie tour.
Prairie Insects Guide
Learn about the different types of prairie insects.
Prairie Plants Guide
Explore the different types of prairie plants.
Reservations and Rentals
Reservations are required for groups larger than 16 at least one month before your visit.
Looking to reserve a youth field trip? We are updating our offerings—please check back for updates soon!
Outdoor picnic areas are available throughout the arboretum. There is no fee for usage, but areas must be reserved in advance. You must remove your own trash. Please indicate that you need a picnic area in your reservation request.
Explore nature with our naturalist backpack!
Gabis Arboretum is excited to join the Backpacks for Naturalists program, an initiative led by Indiana Dunes Tourism!
This program is designed to enrich your outdoor adventures by giving you the tools to discover, learn and connect with nature in a hands-on way.
What’s inside the backpack?
The naturalist backpack is filled with fun and educational tools for explorers of all ages, including:
- Bird guide
- Reptile and amphibian guide
- Tree guide
- Wildflower guide
- Adult and child binoculars
- Scat cards
- Adventure cards
- Shirley Heinze Land Trust guidebook
Where to Rent It
You can rent the backpack from our Train Depot Building on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. from May 1 to October 31.
Please note: If the weather is poor and the Railway Garden trains aren’t running, staff may not be available for rentals.
During the other half of the year (November through April), you can contact us at gabisarboretum@pnw.edu to request to rent the backpack. Please give us a 48-hour notice before you would like to rent the backpack.
Rental Details
We don’t charge a fee to rent the backpack, but a state ID or driver’s license is required as a deposit.
The backpack must be returned by 3 p.m.
The backpack is rented out on a first-come, first-served basis. We kindly ask that you return the backpack within 2 hours so others can enjoy the experience too!
Don’t let the snow keep you indoors! Gabis Arboretum offers a unique winter experience by providing snowshoe rentals, allowing you to explore the serene woods and vast prairies blanketed in white.
How to Rent
Contact us at gabisarboretum@pnw.edu to request the number of snowshoes you would like to rent. Please contact us at least 48 hours prior to the rental.
Availability
Rentals are generally provided on a first-come, first-served basis and may be for up to a 4-hour period. We have 3 pairs of adult snowshoes and 3 pairs of kids’ snowshoes available.
The Experience
Snowshoeing offers a quiet, peaceful way to see the arboretum’s trees and wildlife up close in their winter state, providing access to trails that would be difficult to hike in deep snow.
To request a disability-related accommodation, please contact the Office for Civil Rights at civilrights@pnw.edu or (219) 989-2163 five days prior to the event.
In accordance with Purdue policies, all persons have equal access to Purdue University’s educational programs, services and activities, without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability or status as a veteran. See Purdue’s Nondiscrimination Policy Statement. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these policies, please contact the Office for Civil Rights at civilrights@pnw.edu or (219) 989-2337.
Devin Pritchard
Administrative Assistant, College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences
(219) 989-2401
Devin Pritchard
Administrative Assistant, College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences
(219) 989-2401