Illinois teachers get into the Chicago Botanic Garden free. The garden’s own page says Illinois primary and secondary educators receive free parking and admission for one educator per visit, and you show your educator ID at the entry gatehouse. If you’re bringing a class, self-guided school trips cost $0 per bus, parking and admission included.
The Chicago Botanic Garden is a public garden in Glencoe, Illinois, made up of themed gardens, a seasonal Model Railroad Garden and Butterflies & Blooms exhibit, and a school and teacher programs arm. It’s a regular field trip destination for Chicago-area schools. See more entertainment discounts for teachers for other places with a teacher rate.
How To Get The Chicago Botanic Garden Teacher Discount
The garden’s free admission opportunities page has an Illinois Educators section. It says: “Illinois primary and secondary educators receive free parking and admission for one educator per visit.” Bring your valid educator ID. You’ll show it at the entry gatehouse and again at the entrance to the Visitor Center, and the offer is one educator per car. It doesn’t apply to ticketed events such as Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns and Lightscape.
If you’re leading students, use the On Your Own field trip page. Trips run weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the fee is $0 per bus, with one ticket per bus covering parking and admission. Teachers, chaperones and bus drivers should each carry a copy of the entry ticket. The page says small chaperoned groups can also visit the Model Railroad Garden and Butterflies & Blooms free, first-come, first-served, so expect a wait on busy days.
Cash Back
We didn’t find a cash back route for the garden. TopCashback and Fluz had no page at the addresses we tried, and Rakuten’s address returned only its home page. Since admission is free for Illinois educators, there wouldn’t be much to earn on it anyway.
What We Couldn’t Confirm
The educator offer is written for Illinois educators, and the page doesn’t say whether a teacher from another state qualifies, so call the garden at (847) 835-6801 before you drive in from out of state. It also doesn’t say which kinds of educator ID are accepted beyond “valid educator ID.”
Q&A
Do teachers get free admission at the Chicago Botanic Garden?
Illinois primary and secondary educators do, with free parking, for one educator per visit.
What do I need to bring?
A valid educator ID, shown at the entry gatehouse and at the Visitor Center entrance.
Does it work for evening events?
No. The garden lists Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns and Lightscape as not included.
What does a school field trip cost?
Self-guided On Your Own trips are $0 per bus, including parking and admission, on weekdays.
Who do I call with questions?
The garden lists its Registrar’s Office at (847) 835-6801.
More Information:
Confirmed against the Chicago Botanic Garden’s own pages as they loaded when we checked. Offers and event exclusions change, so check the garden’s site before you go. More entertainment discounts for teachers are listed too.
