Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Virginia lists a $20 admission rate for full-time educators, against $24 for adults. It also takes $20 off any general membership level for full-time educators.
That’s $4 off each visit at the ticket desk, or $20 off a membership that’s good for 12 months if you’d rather come back through the seasons. The garden’s pages don’t say how you prove you’re a full-time educator, so this page sticks to what they do say and points out where to ask.
How To Get The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Teacher Discount
The admission page lists regular garden admission with adults at $24, and seniors (age 65+), military, first responders and full-time educators at $20. Youth (age 4-17) are $14, and children age 3 and under are free. The page says you can get your tickets online in advance or walk in and purchase tickets at the Guest Services desk.
Full-time is the word to notice. The admission page lists only the label Full-Time Educators and doesn’t define it. The membership FAQ is the only page that spells it out, and it’s written about the membership discount: it lists current full-time teachers, including Pre-K through high school teachers, university professors, and home educators authorized by a county superintendent.
Neither page says what proof of educator status to show, so we can’t tell you what to bring. If you want to be sure before the trip, you can ask the garden at 804.262.9887.
One more thing to check before you buy. The admission page says special events such as Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights and other special ticketed events outside of regular garden admission may have a different ticket price.
The Membership Discount
The membership options page says the garden offers a $20 discount on all general membership levels for seniors (age 65+), active or retired military, full-time educators, first responders and out-of-town residents (50+ miles from the Garden). The Individual level lists at $120. The FAQ lists what an eligible member pays: Individual $100, Dual $130, Family $155 and Friends $230.
The Individual level carries all the previous benefits, which start with daily admission for one adult, plus two free guest passes. Dual lists daily admission for two adults, Family lists two adults and six children under 18, and Friends lists four adults and eight children under 18. A 10% discount in the Garden Shop is on the list too.
For one adult, five visits at the $20 educator admission rate come to $100, the discounted Individual price.
A few rules apply. All memberships are good for 12 months, and the FAQ says memberships and gifts of membership are nonrefundable. The options page says a cardholder must be present to take advantage of membership benefits. The FAQ also says memberships are designed to cover one family in the same household, and that groups or organizations such as scout groups and schools aren’t included, so a membership won’t cover a class trip.
If you buy in person on the day of a ticketed visit, the FAQ says guests who purchase admission tickets receive 15% off their membership purchase if they sign up in-person on the same day as their visit. Members also receive discounts on tickets and free admission on select Member Nights during Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights.
School Group Trips
The Teachers & Schools page lists Preschool Groups, Elementary School Groups, Middle School Groups and High School Groups, plus Winter Independent Garden Exploration, Teacher Workshops and Resources and Work-based Learning. It opens with a note about extremely limited availability, and it says the garden isn’t offering programming for homeschool groups at this time.
The text we read on that page lists no discount, free admission or price, so ask the garden before you plan on group pricing.
What We Couldn’t Confirm
The pages we read don’t say what to show to get the educator admission rate or the membership discount. The admission page doesn’t define Full-Time Educators, and the only definition is on the membership FAQ, so we can’t say whether substitutes or part-time teachers qualify. The admission page doesn’t mention a residency requirement for the educator rate. We also couldn’t tell whether the 15% same-day membership offer can be combined with the $20 educator discount, because the FAQ doesn’t say.
Q&A
Is there a teacher discount at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden?
Yes. The admission page lists $20 for Full-Time Educators, against $24 for adults.
Who counts as a full-time educator?
The admission page doesn’t say. The membership FAQ lists current full-time teachers, including Pre-K through high school teachers, university professors, and home educators authorized by a county superintendent.
What do I need to show?
The pages we read don’t say. You can ask the garden at 804.262.9887 before you go.
How much does the membership discount save?
It’s $20 off any general membership level. The FAQ lists Individual $100, Dual $130, Family $155 and Friends $230 for eligible members.
Can a class use a membership?
No. The FAQ says groups or organizations such as scout groups and schools aren’t included.
Can I get a refund on a membership?
No. The FAQ says memberships and gifts of membership are nonrefundable.
Does the educator rate apply to GardenFest of Lights?
The admission page says special events such as Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights may have a different ticket price, so check before you buy.
More Information:
The details above come from Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s own website as it loaded when we checked, and its offers change through the year. See more entertainment discounts for teachers.