Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden
Admission
| Regular Admission | $3 |
| Family + Adventure Garden Members | FREE |
Membership benefits include free visits to the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. Explore memberships
The OmniGlobe is currently closed for repair!
On this page:
Daily Programs | Activities | Explore the Garden | Video Overview | Accolades | E-mail Sign up
Programs in the Children’s Adventure Garden
Walne Family Discovery Lab
The Walne Family Discovery Lab
Daily at 10am, 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.
10am, 1pm, 3pm • Exploration Center
9/18-24 Stomp Rockets featuring Hidden Figures
9/25-10/1 Wondrous Sounds
10/2-11 Magnetic Monarchs
10/12-15 Paper Animatronics: Dancing Astronauts
10/16-22 Shiny Shimmer Lab
10/23-26 Whooooting Owl Pellets
10/27-31 Monster Molecule Mist
11/1-5 Seed Dispersal Lab: Planting Bluebonnets
OmniGlobe
OmniGlobe
Closed For Repair
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 break and join us at 11:00am daily for OmniOutlook, featuring current weather or space events.
11am • OmniOutlook – Current Weather and Space Events
2:30pm • OmniGlobe Presentation
Little Adventurers Activities
See Children’s Adventure Garden maps for exact locations and times.
Join us during the week for storytime, where we explore seasonal and thematic storybooks. During this 10-15 minute program, our tiniest guests (0-5years) will explore concepts related to nature, science, and holidays.
On the weekends, join us for Puppet Shows in the Glade, where we will join some garden critters as they share their experiences in the natural world around us.
Storytime
Location: First Adventure
Weekdays at 10:30am
9/18-22 The Night Gardener by The Fan Brothers
9/25-29 The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
10/2-6 Monarch Butterfly by Gail Gibbons
10/9-11 Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr.
10/12-15* Totality by Jeff Bennett
10/16-20 Butterfly, Butterfly by Petr Horáček
10/23-26 Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert
10/27-31 Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell
11/1-5 The Little Scarecrow Boy by Margaret Wise Brown
*Note: This storytime is Thursday-Sunday in Habitats Nest.
Puppet Show
Weekends • 10:30 & 11:30am • The Glade
9/30-10/1 Finding My Way Home: Join a turtle, a toad and a butterfly as they find their way to the right habitat to call home.
10/7-8 The Purpose of Pollinating: What is a pollinator? How can they help the Apple Tree spread seeds? Find out!
10/21-22 Marvelous Metamorphosis: Join Olivia as she discovers that some critters go through metamorphosis!
STEM Stops
STEM Stops
Daily 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 the topic of each gallery. STEM Stops are “come-n-go,” so each experience is guided by YOU and your discovery journey.
Sounds of the Garden
September 18 – October 1
Exploration Center
12pm DIY Kazoos
1:30pm Boomwhackers
3:30pm Coding: Musical Fruit
Monarch Madness
October 2 – 11 and October 16 – 26
The Moody Oasis
12pm, 1:30pm & 3:30pm
Monarchs on the Move: Monarch Tagging
Halloweekend
October 27 – 31
Exploration Center Plaza
12pm Bats and Boos
1:30pm Creepy Crawlies
3:30pm Pumpkin Party
Awesome Autumn
November 1 – 5
Habitats
12pm Migrate, Hibernate, Adapt
1:30pm Squirrel Science
3:30pm Camouflage Creatures
Special Activities in the Children’s Adventure Garden
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Learn More about Kelley Family Days ![]()
Located at Children’s Adventure Garden
Through a generous gift from the Kelley Family, complimentary admission to the Children’s Adventure Garden will be offered on select dates.More Details about Kelley Family DaysKelley Family Days
Thursday, October 12 at – -
Learn More about Kelley Family Days ![]()
Located at Children’s Adventure Garden
Through a generous gift from the Kelley Family, complimentary admission to the Children’s Adventure Garden will be offered on select dates.More Details about Kelley Family DaysKelley Family Days
Friday, October 13 at – -
Learn More about Kelley Family Days ![]()
Located at Children’s Adventure Garden
Through a generous gift from the Kelley Family, complimentary admission to the Children’s Adventure Garden will be offered on select dates.More Details about Kelley Family DaysKelley Family Days
Saturday, October 14 at – -
Learn More about Kelley Family Days ![]()
Located at Children’s Adventure Garden
Through a generous gift from the Kelley Family, complimentary admission to the Children’s Adventure Garden will be offered on select dates.More Details about Kelley Family DaysKelley Family Days
Sunday, October 15 at – -
Learn More about Halloween Spooktacular Nights ![]()
Located at Rory Meyers Childrens Adventure Garden
Trick or Treating @ Night in the Children’s Adventure Garden with select galleries open. Come in costume for candy stops, carnival games, a spooky maze, glow activities, and so much more! For the safety and enjoyment of all guests, costume masks and props weapons are not allowed in the garden. *This event is not recommended for persons with sensory processing disorders.*More Details about Halloween Spooktacular NightsHalloween Spooktacular Nights
Friday, October 27 at – -
Learn More about Halloween Spooktacular Nights ![]()
Located at Rory Meyers Childrens Adventure Garden
Trick or Treating @ Night in the Children’s Adventure Garden with select galleries open. Come in costume for candy stops, carnival games, a spooky maze, glow activities, and so much more! For the safety and enjoyment of all guests, costume masks and props weapons are not allowed in the garden. *This event is not recommended for persons with sensory processing disorders.*More Details about Halloween Spooktacular NightsHalloween Spooktacular Nights
Saturday, October 28 at – -
Learn More about Kelley Family Days ![]()
Located at Children’s Adventure Garden
Through a generous gift from the Kelley Family, complimentary admission to the Children’s Adventure Garden will be offered on select dates.More Details about Kelley Family DaysKelley Family Days
Saturday, November 11 at – -
Learn More about Kelley Family Days ![]()
Located at Children’s Adventure Garden
Through a generous gift from the Kelley Family, complimentary admission to the Children’s Adventure Garden will be offered on select dates.More Details about Kelley Family DaysKelley Family Days
Sunday, November 12 at – -
Learn More about Kelley Family Days ![]()
Located at Children’s Adventure Garden
Through a generous gift from the Kelley Family, complimentary admission to the Children’s Adventure Garden will be offered on select dates.More Details about Kelley Family DaysKelley Family Days
Monday, November 13 at –
Countless Ways to Explore
The Children’s Garden encompasses several galleries, each designed to be age-specific, but not age-restrictive.
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![Entry signage]()
Entry Plaza
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![Ant sculpture outdoors]()
First Adventure
This walled garden allows the youngest visitors to play in natural settings and be introduced to science. Its safe and enchanting features include a caterpillar maze, a sandbox, giant acorns and insects, mushroom seats and tables, a potting shed, a tree house, a babbling brook and a plant petting zoo.
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![children outdoors spinning an interactive food wheel]()
The Incredible Edible Garden
Vegetables, grains and interactive exhibits help children, particularly urban children, learn that food comes from plants. In this garden, they learn about good nutrition, the multicultural aspects of food and economic botany.
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![grapes on a vine]()
The Orchard and Vineyard
This area is a beautiful extension of the Incredible Edible Garden, which teaches that food also comes from trees, shrubs and vines.
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![Children outdoors playing with an interactive display]()
Plants are Alive
An inside look at the life of plants that helps young children discover how plants live and grow. In this area the plants are large, including 16-foot-tall flower-filled pots. Activities include a plant-part scavenger hunt and an area that teaches the parts of a flower by assembling a 3-D flower puzzle.
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![Children outdoors looking through a giant kaleidoscope]()
Kaleidoscope
Located in a horticulturally beautiful area focused on plant formation and structures, it includes two kaleidoscopes—one of which is 6 feet long— to show patterns and shapes, refraction and reflection. The rest of the gallery shows the world of patterns, shapes and structures in nature and integrates concepts of science, math, art and architecture. Children also learn about fractals, tessellations, symmetry and the Fibonacci sequence.
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![Outdoor area overlooking a pond]()
The Oasis
A rooftop display garden that is beautiful in every season, the Oasis offers a lovely high spot in the center of the garden for visitors to relax and view the nearby learning galleries. Programming changes with the horticultural display.
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![outdoor conopy of trees with architectural skywalk]()
Texas Skywalk
An elevated walk that’s 240 feet long through the tree canopy in the heart of the children’s garden, The Skywalk invites visitors to discover the benefits of trees and demonstrates what lives in the treetops.
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![fountain area with architectural undulating canopy]()
Pure Energy
Here, children investigate how energy from the natural sources of wind, sun and water can be transformed into electricity for our use. An energy tower, shooting water pistols and sun blasters are additional features that teach these concepts.
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![child looking at a field of grass up close]()
Living Cycles
In this learning room, children observe change and the circle of life, from changing seasons and plant and animal life cycles to pollination, metamorphosis and decomposition.
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![signage that says space in front of a large climbing tower]()
Habitats
This 500-linear-foot trail through a woodland ecosystem helps children learn about the interconnections among people, plants and animals. An adventure bridge, a 30-foot tree snag and a canopy walk above the habitat trail add excitement and challenge.
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![Children with their hands in the water at an interactive exhibit]()
Earth Cycles
Children actively explore a cave, rock and water cycles, a weather station, fossils and the solar system. There are many interactive exhibits that teach weathering, erosion, decomposition, water cycle patterns, interactive weather forces, and the interactions of the sun, moon and earth.
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![trail through vegetation]()
The Walk on the Wild Side
This discovery trail includes switchbacks with tracks in the path along the way to help visitors guess which native animal or plant is hiding around the next turn.
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![Indoor area with chairs]()
Exploration Center with OmniGlobe
This 9,100-square-foot building employs innovative exhibits and interactive technology to engage children in all aspects of life and earth science exploration. Features include a plant lab for experiments, smart tables, CSI Mysteries to solve, a soil lab and the signature feature, the OmniGlobe.
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![girl in front of weather device in a hedge maze]()
Amazing Secret Garden
This maze offers children engaging rewards along the way to the secret garden. Changeable panels make the maze either more or less challenging for different age groups, and questions at turning points speed children to their goal.
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.