Education
In a world dominated by screens, children need places where they can run, explore, and connect with nature. Studies show that time spent outdoors improves physical, emotional, and cognitive health – and lays the foundation for future environmental stewardship. At McKee, learning is embedded in every leaf, ripple, and bloom. Adults, and children alike benefit from a garden that is as educational as it is enchanting.
Classes At McKee
Details
The Jungle Experience: A Path to Stillness
Step beneath the canopy of McKee’s historic jungle garden, where filtered light, quiet water, and lush tropical plantings create a serene and restorative jungle sanctuary.
This guided sensory walk invites you to slow down, move quietly and restore mental clarity by engaging with the sights, sounds, and scents that define this unique landscape.
Rooted in the principles of forest bathing, the experience is designed to calm the nervous system, reduce stress, boost the immune system and restore a sense of balance, offering a rare moment of stillness within the Garden’s timeless setting.
What to Expect
A gentle, guided stroll focused on mindfulness and sensory awareness. This immersive experience will end with a reflective Tea Ceremony with the group.
Preparation
Wear comfortable clothing and flat shoes. Guests are asked to leave cellphones behind or turned off during this tour. You may wish to bring a small towel or mat. Please arrive 10–15 minutes early.
Your journey along The Jungle Experience: A Path to Stillness is guided by Kate Pisacreta, one of McKee’s most knowledgeable and intuitive Garden guides. Kate’s connection to plants is lifelong, rooted in childhood, shaped through hands-on work in residential landscape installations, and deepened during a decade in the Caribbean working with tropical plants and trees. She later cultivated an eight-acre garden in Southern California before making her home in Vero Beach. It was here that McKee Botanical Garden spoke to her enduring belief in the healing power of nature. Through The Jungle Experience: A Path to Stillness, Kate shares that sensibility, inviting visitors to experience the quiet, restorative beauty of McKee’s historic jungle garden in a deeply personal way.
Details
Discover the beauty of one of the world’s oldest photographic printing processes in this three-part cyanotype workshop series led by photographer and visual artist Amy Saville. Using a light-sensitive solution, natural botanicals, and the power of sunlight, you’ll create stunning blue-and-white prints inspired by the gardens around you.
Each class begins with an introduction to the cyanotype process before students are invited to explore the beautiful grounds of McKee Botanical Garden to gather leaves, flowers, and other natural materials for their designs. Students are also welcome to bring their own specimens to print with. Translucent materials such as snake skin, butterfly wings (ethically sourced), lace, feathers, and delicate seed pods can reveal beautiful detail, while opaque objects will print only as silhouettes – so keep the shape of the leaves and botanicals you choose in mind. Throughout the series, participants will create artwork on premium watercolor paper, a cotton tote bag, and wearable natural-fiber clothing.
No prior experience is necessary – just a willingness to experiment, slow down, and embrace the unexpected. Making a cyanotype print requires a bit of patience and a lot of magic, and no two are ever alike.
Class 1: Botanical Wall Art on Watercolor Paper
September 12
Create your own botanical masterpiece on premium 11″ × 14″ watercolor paper.
Class 2: Cyanotype Cotton Tote Bag
September 26
Turn an everyday tote into a functional work of art.
Class 3: Wearable Cyanotype
October 10
Transform your clothing into a one-of-a-kind wearable work of art using the cyanotype process
Cost:
Series (3 classes) Members – $150
Series (3 classes) Non-Members – $200
*Individual Classes sold upon availability day of only, drop in rates: Members: $60 | Nonmembers: $80
- Starting October 6
- Every Tuesday 10:30am
Details
Join a guided stroll through McKee’s historic garden every Tuesday and discover the remarkable story behind this tropical oasis. Learn how plant explorers brought back exotic specimens in 1926, which landscape architect William Lyman Phillips wove into his visionary design, and how the garden’s architectural icons came to be. Hear how Vero’s first visitor attraction was saved from development, meticulously restored and reopened as the beloved community treasure it is today. Not intended for groups or school tours.
Details
Experience the calming practice of Tai Chi and Qi Gong surrounded by the peaceful setting of McKee Botanical Garden. Led by certified instructor Michelle Cooper, these classes focus on slow, mindful movement designed to support overall well-being.
Each session emphasizes:
- Reducing stress and physical tension
- Improving flexibility, strength, and balance
- Enhancing body awareness and mental focus
- Supporting relaxation and nervous system regulation
Classes are held in the climate-controlled Education Building and are performed entirely in standing positions—no floor work is required, and mats are not needed. This program is appropriate for all levels, and no prior experience is necessary.
Location: Education Building (indoors)
Dates & Times:
• October 6, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
• October 13, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
• October 20, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
• October 27, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Cost:
Series (4 classes) Members – $80
Series (4 classes) Non-Members – $130
*Individual Classes sold upon availability day of only, drop in rates: Members: $25 | Nonmembers: $45
Details
Join Rochelle Wolberg, Executive Director of McKee Botanical Garden, for an inspiring look at one of America’s most remarkable historic gardens as it celebrates the release of its commemorative book The Jungle Garden: Preserving a Tropical Landscape.
In this special presentation, Rochelle will share the garden’s fascinating history, from its origins as a celebrated Florida attraction to its dramatic preservation and transformation into a nationally recognized botanical garden. She will also discuss McKee’s evolution over the past quarter-century, its recent recognition with the Garden Conservancy’s Greene Prize for Excellence in American Gardening and the vision guiding its future. The webinar will highlight McKee Botanical Garden’s newly published book, The Jungle Garden: Preserving a Tropical Landscape, written by Heather O’Shea, with photography by Ngoc Minh Ngo. Order your copy now
Cost: $15 (Non-Garden Conservancy Member)
Camp McKee
McKee's Experts
Education Programs for Educators
Eco Internship
The School District of Indian River County has launched a promising new partnership with McKee bringing real-world science learning to advanced and gifted sixth-graders at Gifford Middle School, a Title I School. Beginning last January and continuing through April, 88 students participate in a newly created Eco Internship that brings science standards to life through authentic, hands-on study. The program combines weekly classroom instruction with monthly immersive visits to the Garden, exploring botany, garden ecosystems, plant and animal adaptations, and broader environmental science topics. District leaders anticipate a meaningful and lasting impact on students. McKee’s Director of Education, Diane Robaina, presented the concept to the SDIRC and is leading the weekly classroom and hands-on instruction.
Seed Detective
McKee has introduced generations of students to its historic jungle and one of Florida’s original native hammocks, often a child’s first experience of a true jungle.
This year, McKee expanded its Seed Detectives program so entire schools can visit on the same day, rotating through guided education stations that explore how plants disperse their seeds through wind, water, animals, hitch-hiking, and explosion. The program supports Florida first-grade science standards while immersing students in hands-on learning beneath a living jungle canopy.
McKee’s goal is to reach every first grader in Indian River County. This ambitious initiative is made possible through the generous support of the Benedict Foundation, with funding covering transportation, admission, lunch, and the educational materials required for each Discovery Station.
Sensory Inclusive Experience through FAU Partnership
In partnership with Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) to expand sensory-inclusive experiences for children and adults with autism and sensory sensitivities. Beginning in April, visitors may check out complimentary sensory backpacks equipped with polarized sunglasses, noise canceling headphones, and calming fidgets to support a more comfortable Garden visit. Families can prepare in advance using social stories available on McKee’s website, while sensory maps will identify quiet, restorative spaces through the Garden. Built to ADA standards, McKee’s Children’s Garden and this new CARD initiative reflect the Garden’s ongoing commitment to accessibility and welcoming all visitors.
Explorer Backpacks
Make your visit to McKee Botanical Garden even more engaging with our Explorer Backpacks designed to turn a walk through the Garden into an interactive adventure!
Guests can choose from five themed backpacks:
- Survival
- Things with Wings
- Bugs
- Plants
- Garden Explorer
Each backpack is filled with tools and materials to help you explore, observe, and discover the wonders of the Garden in a hands-on way. Follow the included step-by-step activity plans for a guided learning experience or create your own adventure as you and your group explore the Garden and record your discoveries along the way.
Perfect for families, school groups, and curious minds of all ages, Explorer Backpacks encourage visitors to slow down, look closely, and connect with nature in a fun and meaningful way.
Guided Group Tours
Guided tours are available for groups, offering a deeper look into the Garden’s rich history and remarkable plant collections. Led by knowledgeable guides, each tour shares fascinating stories about McKee’s origins, restoration, and unique design features, while highlighting interesting facts about our incredible collection of tropical plants from around the world.
Our guided tours provide an engaging and educational experience for school groups that brings the beauty and history of McKee Botanical Garden to life.