The Explorer’s Backpack Program

The Explorer's Backpack is a science program involving elementary-age children and their families in hands-on, discovery-oriented learning in the Native Plant Garden of the New Hanover County Arboretum. Each backpack includes a field journal filled with activities for the children to investigate in the garden. These activities are investigations that botanists would do in their everyday work. All the tools needed for the activities are included in the backpacks. Backpacks are available for checkout on weekdays between 10 am to 3 pm at the Plant Clinic located inside the Hutaff Building.

There are nine Explorer's Backpacks: three "Eye Spy" Backpacks; three Bird Backpacks; and three Native Plants Backpacks. The description and contents of each backpack are given below.

The "Eye Spy" Explorer's Backpack

The family goes on a scavenger hunt observing living things.

Tools include:

• Field Journal
• Two Magnifying Glasses
• Two Clipboards
• Colored Pencils
• Pencil Sharpener

The Bird Explorer's Backpack

The family explores a bird's habitat and observes birds or signs of birds in the garden.

Tools include:

• Field Journal
• Two Binoculars
• Colored Pencils
• Two Clipboards
• Bird Guide
• Pencil Sharpener

The Native Plants Explorer's Backpack

The family reads a book and discovers parts of a plant in the garden.

Tools include:

• Field Journal
• Two Magnifying Glasses
• Two Clipboards
• Colored Pencils
• Ruler
• Pencil Sharpener
• Mechanical Pencil
• From Seed to Plant Book