Named Gardens
Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden
We are delighted to be able to aid in teaching life and Earth science to school children, teachers and families through the experience of a connection to nature. Come experience the wonder!
On this page:
Daily Programs | Activities | Explore the Garden |
Video Overview | Accolades | Email Signup

Admission Pricing to the Children’s Garden
Regular Admission | $3 |
Family + Adventure Garden Members | FREE |
Membership benefits include free visits to the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. Explore memberships
On this page:
Daily Programs | Activities | Explore the Garden | Video Overview | Accolades | E-mail Signup
Programs in the Children’s Adventure Garden

Special Programming
All Things Apples
September 24–25
We celebrate All Things Apples this weekend in honor of Johnny Appleseed Day and his commitment to spreading and preserving the apple tree! Join us for apple tastings, a special Johnny Appleseed Puppet Show and apple inspired STEM stops.
Monarch Tagging with Melissa Martin
October 8–9
Explore the fantastic fluttering butterfly as it migrates south for the winter. Take part in Monarch tagging on the incredible Moody Oasis, which is filled with an array of gorgeous flowers and butterflies. Learn why Monarch butterflies migrate and what other animals pollinate the many flowers you see.
Silkworms with Michael Cook
October 15–16
Meet Michael Cook and his silkworms. Learn about these incredible creatures and how they are raised. See some beautiful products made out of silk, such as embroidery, tablet weaving and saganishiki.
Sticker Treating
October 24–31
Join us all week for Sticker Treating in the Children’s Adventure Garden! Dress up in your favorite costume and collect fun stickers from various spots throughout the garden.
Trick or Treating @ Night
October 28–29
Don’t miss out on a special spooky night at the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden with tricks and treats at every turn. Come dressed to impress for the costume contest. Check the website for costume guidelines.
Registration available soon.
Kelley Family Days
November 11–13
Thanks to a gift from the Kelley Family, guests with general garden admission also receive free entrance to the Children’s Adventure Garden on these special days throughout the year! Share with your friends and family, and see why your adventure starts here—where nature and fun become one.

Walne Family Discovery Lab
Every day at 11am, 1pm & 3pm
The Walne Family Discovery Lab is a unique, in-depth opportunity to experience hands-on STEM learning in the Exploration Center. Stop by the counter and try your hand at daily experiments and explorations led by an experienced Arboretum educator. With multiple chances to learn each day and rotating experiments every week, there’s always something new to learn. Please note that the Walne Family Discovery Lab is for ages 6 & up.
Worm Investigations
August 8–14
As you investigate worms, you will learn how they help create nutrient, rich soils that plants thrive in.
Bird Magnetism
August 15–21
North, South, East, West? How do birds figure out which direction is best?
Build a Bird
August 22–28
Join us to create your very own bird! In this lab, we will dive into the colorful genetics of birds.
Good Vibrations
August 29–September 4
Learn the science behind music when you create your own sounds and explore how sound travels in vibrations.
Marvelous Maize
September 5–11
Did you know that maize, or corn, was grown in ancient Mexico? In this lab, you will investigate viscosity using a corn product commonly found in the food you eat.
Seed Dispersal
September 17–18
Join us in learning about native Texas plants and their importance in our environment. Create your own seed bomb to take home and plant.
Dry Ice Dragons
September 19–23
Create a smoking dragon while learning about the phases and sublimation of matter.
Johnny Appleseed Lab
September 24–25
Let’s experiment with the oxidation process of apples.
Going Green
September 26–October 2
Reduce plastic waste by creating drinkable paper straws to take home.
Magnetic Monarchs
October 3–10
Discover how Monarchs use the power of magnetism during migration to and from Mexico.
Layers of the Earth Lab
October 11–16
Learn about the different layers that compose our planet while creating your own 3-D model of the Earth.
Fizzy Dino Lab
October 17–23
Bubbles and dust make for a fun excavating lab experience.
Monster Molecule Mist
October 24–31
Make a putrid potion of magical matter that shifts form a solid to a gas. Be amazed by the monster molecule mist.
Jack and the Beanstalk: Plant Life Cycle
November 1–6
Journey up the beanstalk with Jack as you learn about the different stages of a plant’s life cycle.

STEM Stops
Every day at 12pm, 1:30pm & 3:30pm
STEM Stops are your chance to stop and experience in-depth science and STEM learning in the Children’s Adventure Garden! Join facilitators throughout various galleries as they share fun experiments and real scientific specimens for you to explore that relate to topic of each gallery. STEM Stops are “come-n-go,” so each experience is guided by YOU and your discovery journey.
Summer STEM STOPS
12 p.m. Texas Native Wetlands
1:30 p.m. Exploration Center Plaza
3:30 p.m. Exploration Center Plaza
Bird Buffet
August 8–14
12 p.m. | It’s the Pond Life: Live Pond investigation
1:30 p.m. | What’s in the Worm Bin? Look inside a worm bin and explore decomposition. What will you find?
3:30 p.m. | Bird Beaks – Explore why varied species of birds have diverse types of beaks in this STEM Stop.
Take Off!
August 15–19
12 p.m. | It’s the Pond Life: Live Pond investigation
1:30 p.m. | Paper Airplane Investigations – Discover aerodynamics and see whose plane can soar the longest.
3:30 p.m. | Bird Silhouettes – Learn all about wing shapes, beak shapes, and more as we understand how birds are adapted for their habitat.
Birds of a Feather, Flock Together
August 22–28
12 p.m. | It’s the Pond Life: Live Pond investigation
1:30 p.m. | Texas Birds- Study local feathers up close and learn about the birds native to Texas’ ecosystems.
3:30 p.m. | Feathered Friends- Take a close look at some amazing feather features at this STEM Stop.
Music to My Ears
August 29–September4
12 p.m. | It’s the Pond Life: Live Pond investigation
1:30 p.m. | Fruit Tunes – Many birds love to eat fruit. Can you make music with a piece of fruit?
3:30 p.m. | DIY Kazoo – Create your own kazoo out of household objects. Exploration Center
Hispanic Heritage Programs
September 5–9
12 p.m. | It’s the Pond Life: Live Pond investigation
1:30 p.m. | Fruits and Veggies -Explore the fruits and vegetables from Central and South America.
3:30 p.m. | Papel picado – Create your own punched paper decoration.
Fall STEM STOPS
12:00 p.m. Exploration Center Plaza
1:30 p.m. Texas Native Wetlands
3:30 p.m. Exploration Center Plaza
Busy Bugs
September 17–18
12 p.m. | The Honeybee & the Hexagon: Have you ever wondered why honeybees build their hives using hexagons? Learn the importance of the hexagonal shape to the architecture of the honeybee hive.
1:30 p.m. | It’s the Pond Life: Live Pond investigation
3:30 p.m. | Bold Bugs: Discover how the ant is a super strong insect, and test the limits of how much weight your own ant creation can handle.
A Secret Growing Garden
September 19–23
12 p.m. | Life Cycle of an Apple Tree: Learn how the apple tree’s life cycle is dependent upon the four seasons and their varying climates to grow different delicious and nutritious apples.
1:30 p.m. | It’s the Pond Life: Live Pond investigation
3:30 p.m. | Design a Garden: Discover how to make your own backyard garden a bird’s paradise.
Fairy Wonderland
September 26–10/2
12 p.m. | Fairy Dust: Fairy dust can get everywhere. Join us in a glittery experiment that explores how proper hand hygiene can keep those pesky fairies from following you around the garden.
1:30 p.m. | It’s the Pond Life: Live Pond investigation
3:30 p.m. | Watercolor Fairy Wings: The science of soap soap makes it do amazing things, join us to make foamy watercolor fairy wings and talk about surface tension and bubbles.
Pollinator Magic
October 3–10
12 p.m. | Monarch Migration: In anticipation for the great migration of Monarch Butterflies, learn how to identify and tag Monarchs.
1:30 p.m. | It’s the Pond Life: Live Pond investigation
3:30 p.m. | Pollinator BINGO: Learn about common pollinators and their roles in a garden. Explore and identify these pollinators in their natural habitat.
Bug Besties
October 11–16
12 p.m. | Lifecycle of a Ladybug: Find out about ladybugs and their life cycles. Discover how their life processes help them survive within their environments.
1:30 p.m. | It’s the Pond Life: Live Pond investigation
3:30 p.m. | Pest Patrol: Learn about the benefits of natural pesticides versus chemical ones and how these natural alternatives can help reduce the amount of pollution in our environments.
Crazy Chemistry
October 17–23
12 p.m. | Nails for Breakfast: Learn about the importance of iron in a healthy diet and why it is sometimes added to foods such as breakfast cereals.
1:30 p.m. | It’s the Pond Life: Live Pond investigation
3:30 p.m. | Alka Seltzer Rockets: A little air pressure goes a long way. Using Alka-Seltzer to create air pressure, we can launch a rocket up into the air.
Spooky Science
October 24–31
12 p.m. | Pumpkin Party: Investigate the structure and parts of a pumpkin, and get a chance to plant your own pumpkin seed to take home.
1:30 p.m. | It’s the Pond Life: Live Pond investigation
3:30 p.m. | Insane Acid Rain: Acid rain can be detrimental to many different types of environments. Where does acid rain come from? Find out using an experiment involving chalk and vinegar.
Plant Party
November 1–6
12 p.m. | Tree Talk: Join us for a walk along the Texas Skywalk to learn the basic parts of a tree.
1:30 p.m. | It’s the Pond Life: Live Pond investigation
3:30 p.m. | Sister Planting: Learn about the Three Sisters Planting, a traditional agricultural practice used by Indigenous Peoples where corn, beans and squash are planted in a symbiotic triad to enhance soil fertility and plant growth.

OmniGlobe
Every day at 11:30am & 2:30pm
The OmniGlobe is an “out of this world” experience in the Exploration Center you’ll have to see to believe! This six-foot sphere is illuminated by two projectors inside which can create expansive images of planets, the Sun, and even the Earth’s weather patterns, ocean currents and so much more. Take a midday cool-off break and join us at 11:30am daily for OmniOutlook, featuring current weather or space events.
Daily | 2:30 p.m.
August 8–4: Shakin’ & Quakin’ in My Boots
August 15–19: Starry Night
August 22–28: Mother Earth
August 29–September 2: Hurricanes, Cyclones, & Typhoons
September 6–9: Wonderous Weather
September 17–25: Tour of the Solar System
September 26–October 2: Out at Sea
October 3–10: Monarch Migration
October 11–16: Starry Night
October 17–23: Shakin’ & Quakin’ in My Boots
October 24–31: World Beyond My Sun
November 1–6: Which Biome is my Home?

The Glade Puppet Story Time
Weekdays at 10:30 a.m.
At The Glade Puppet Story Time, we explore seasonal storybooks with the help of puppets. During this 10-15 minute program, for tiniest guest (0-5 years) will explore concepts related to nature, science, or holidays.
August 8–12: Whoever Heard of a Flying Bird by David Cunliffe
August 15–19: Flight School by Lita Judge
August 22–26: Feathers, Not Just for Flying by Melissa Stewart
August 29–September 2: Violet’s Music by Angela Johnson
September 17–25: Tour of the Solar System
September 26–October 2: Out at Sea
October 3–9: Monarch Migration
October 10–16: Starry Night
October 17–23: Shakin’ & Quakin’ in My Boots
October 24–31: World Beyond My Sun
November 1–6: Which Biome is my Home?

The Glade Puppet Show
Weekends at 10:30am
The Glade Puppet Show is a fun, interactive performance designed for learners ages 7 and under. Explore grade level appropriate topics such as seasons, metamorphosis, habitats and more as you meet Arboretum Andy and their crew of furry friends from around the Children’s Adventure Garden.
August 6–7: Marvelous Metamorphosis
August 13–14: Finding My Way Home
August 27–28: Marvelous Metamorphosis
September 3–4: Finding My Way Home
September 17–18: Purpose of Pollinating
September 24–25: The Story of Johnny Appleseed
October 1–2: Marvelous Metamorphosis
October 8–10: Finding My Way Home
October 15–16: Purpose of Pollinating
October 22–23: Finding My Way Home
October 29–31: Marvelous Metamorphosis
November 5–6: Purpose of Pollinating
Special Activities in the Children’s Adventure Garden
Countless Ways to Explore
The Children’s Garden encompasses several galleries, each designed to be age-specific, but not age-restrictive.
Learn more about the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden
Daily Programming is designed to inspire young minds to explore a world of educational adventure!
Other Accolades
- Thea Award recipient for Outstanding Achievement as a Science/Discovery Garden.
- Certified as a Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation.
- A certified Monarch Waystation
- A Texas Aquatic Science certified field site
The Dallas Arboretum’s Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden is a truly spectacular addition to this community—brilliantly conceived and beautifully executed. Kids of all ages will have an engaging and entertaining experience, all while learning more about the wonders of our planet.
– Boyd Matson, Host, National Geographic Weekend
I’m excited about the hands-on learning experience that the next generation of geologists and engineers will have in the Energy Learning Center. Challenging young minds is the way we will adapt to the future energy demands.
– Dr. Gerald Turner, President of Southern Methodist University
Sponsors





Start Your Adventure Here
With so many paths to take, visiting the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden is one of the most intriguing ways in all of Dallas to spend a day outdoors with children.