Take a Child Outside Week
Unlocking the Arboretum
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 – Tuesday, September 30, 2025, during garden open hours
It's Take a Child Outside week!
Bring your family out to explore the gardens and participate in Take a Child Outside week. We know that being outside provides so many good benefits, from reducing stress and anxiety to promoting creativity to increasing connection with the natural world, so let's get outside!
We're celebrating TACO week this year with an "Unlocking the Arboretum" scavenger hunt! Participate in this self-guided scavenger hunt by scanning QR Codes throughout the Arboretum.
Start at the Visitor Center, where you 'll find the first QR code and instructions to begin your journey. Follow the clues to discover hidden gems across our gardens and learn something new along the way. By successfully completing the hunt and "unlocking" the Arboretum, you can earn a small prize; our way of celebrating your effort to connect with the Arboretum and spend time outside. Make it a group thing and invite friends to meet you for your adventure! Pack a snack or picnic lunch and be sure to bring your water bottle. There is no cost for the activity, but please consider a donation to help support this program and others like them for everyone to enjoy. Contributions will support the JC Raulston Arboretum Children's Program. A donation box will be set up to collect what you're able to contribute.
Take a Child Outside, September 24–30
An initiative of The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and inspired by Richard Louv's book Last Child in the Woods, Take a Child Outside week was founded to help connect children with nature.
Visit the Museum's Web site to find out more about this annual week and other locations to go explore the outdoors with your children.
Funds collected for the JC Raulston Arboretum Children's Program are collected and managed by The North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit, tax id 56-6049304.
- Age
- All ages welcome.
- Cost
- There is no cost for the activity, but please consider a donation to help support this program and others like them and the gardens for everyone to enjoy.
- Registration
- No registration is required for this self-guided activity.
- Location
- Start at the Bobby G. Wilder Visitor Center, JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University, 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh, NC 27606.
- Directions
- Need directions? Click here.
- Parking
- Free parking is available at the JC Raulston Arboretum and along Beryl Road.
- Questions
- Contact the JCRA Education Team at jcraprograms@ncsu.edu for more information about this program.