Education Program
Geek out on gardening and nerd out on nature with us!
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens offers hands-on workshops, wildlife walks, botanical lectures, nature challenges, and more—inviting curiosity at every turn.
Education is woven into the fabric of the Gardens, which serves both local and visiting communities as a living museum and research resource. Through exhibits, docent-led tours, interpretive materials, workshops, and nationally recognized collections, we cultivate environmental awareness and inspire a conservation-minded outlook in visitors of all ages.
When you join a workshop or walk, you directly support this mission—helping provide free school field trips and expanding opportunities for people of all backgrounds to build lasting connections with plants and the natural world.
Workshops & Classes
Ongoing Opportunites
Select weekends in 2026
1st Saturday monthly at 9AM
and 3rd Wednesday of each month (time varies with season)
3rd Friday of each month from 10:00 AM to 12: 00 PM
Please contact administration@gardenbythesea.org with any accessibility questions.
Member Discounts
All Gardens Members receive free or discounted access to our workshops and walks. Find out more about these perks and consider becoming a Member today!
Educational Group Visits & Tours
The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens welcomes charter tours, community organizations, educational organizations, and more to enjoy the beauty of our 47-acre garden by the sea. Educational/student groups of all ages receive free admission if scheduled in advance with our administrative offices. We do require that you organize your group visit or guided tour at least 3 weeks in advance. Learn more about our docent-guided tours and request free admission as an Educational Organization.
Sprouts Self-Guided Exploration
Grab a Sprouts backpack at the Gardens entrance and take the whole family on a relaxing journey through the Gardens as you learn to "breathe like a tree" from your leaves to your roots or practice "Bunny Breathing".
More about Sprouts
Get outside and learn with SPROUTS! Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is offering a series of self-guided learning opportunities for children (best suited for K-6). Sprouts activities include handouts and sometimes fun tools to help kids dive into a variety of topics, including birdwatching, nature breathing, whale watching, pulley systems, getting to know trees, and more. All activities will be available in English and Spanish. These activities are available with regular Gardens admission.
Sprouts Program Sponsors
Adventist Health Mendocino Coast, Coast Hardware & Radio Shack, Community First Credit Union, DeLucia Family Fund of The Community Foundation of Mendocino County, Linda and Paul Dutcher, Harvest Market, Kay and Bruce Leaman, Kate Erickson LPL Financial, Liz O’Hara and Steve Lane, Out of This World, Redwood Investments, Savings Bank of Mendocino County, Soroptimist International of Fort Bragg, Marilynn Thorpe
The Quail Trail
Follow Quincy the Quail on a journey through the special—and sometimes hidden—corners of Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. This colorful, family-friendly guide is available at the entrance, or you may print a copy before your visit.
Listen for Quincy’s cheerful call, “Chi-ca-go, Chi-ca-go,” as you make your way along the trail. Numbered black quail markers lead families and school groups to 15 highlighted locations, inviting young explorers to look a little closer and discover something new at every stop.
The Quail Trail was originally developed and funded in 2008 by longtime volunteer Ruth Sparks, a Master Gardener and former kindergarten teacher, with support from Joe Sparks. In celebration of its tenth anniversary, the guide and trail markers were thoughtfully refreshed to continue delighting new generations.
Follow Quincy and uncover the nooks and crannies of our garden by the sea. The Quail Trail offers a playful, child’s-eye view of the landscape—proof that big discoveries often begin with small footsteps.
Download the Quail Trail Guide and start your adventure.
Birdwatching Resources
There are more than 225 species of birds that can be seen at the Gardens throughout the year. The Gardens offers a range of habitats for breeding, nesting, and feeding. Learn more about the birds that visit and monthly educational opportunities. Download the Mendocino Coast Audubon Society's checklist of birds found at our garden by the sea!
Educational Videos
Take a virtual tour of the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and learn something new. Visit the MCBG YouTube Channel!
Sculpture Exhibit
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens partners with the Arts Council of Mendocino County to present this biennial exhibition of sculptures placed throughout the Gardens. Check out the sculptures in the current exhibit and search for art amongst the blooms on your next visit!
MCBG Farmhouse & Education Center
At the east edge of the Vegetable Garden stands a historic farmhouse that now serves as the Gardens’ Education Center. Originally built in the 1890s, the more than century-old building has been thoughtfully adapted into a welcoming space for learning and gathering. The first floor is fully ADA accessible and features a spacious meeting area designed to host a wide range of educational experiences.
Today, the Farmhouse and Education Center is a hub for workshops, lectures, and hands-on programs that invite visitors to deepen their connection with plants, ecology, and the natural world. Support from the William and Inez Mabie Family Foundation has helped the Gardens expand educational opportunities for the community, ensuring that this historic building continues to inspire curiosity and discovery for generations to come.
Be sure to check the calendar and join us for one of the upcoming educational opportunities in the charming farmhouse.
A little history...
The land now occupied by the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens was made available for settlement through the provisions of the Homestead Act of 1862, which opened coastal parcels in Mendocino County to private ownership in the late 19th century.
In 1893, David Franklin Parrish, his wife Sarah Linebough Parrish, and their ten children traveled to Fort Bragg to establish a farm on the coastal bluffs, where they grew crops such as potatoes and peas.
With help from his sons, David Parrish built the family farmhouse on the property. Today, that historic farmhouse has been carefully restored and now serves as an education center for the Gardens, continuing its long tradition as a place of work, learning, and community.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about our Education Program or classes, call us at 707-964-4352 ext 113 or email education@gardenbythesea.org. Please contact administration@gardenbythesea.org with any accessibility questions.
