Learn · Groups & Rentals
Bring your group
School classes, college courses, garden clubs and mission-aligned organizations: one place to plan a group visit, a custom program or a space on campus.
Groups of 10+ let us knowCollege classes year-roundCustom programs on and off site
Start here
What kind of group?
Choose the closest match and we’ll take you to the right section.
01 · Visiting on your own
Groups of ten or more
We love welcoming groups. The Nature Center is small, so it can hold about ten people at a time, and walk-in groups explore on their own rather than on a guided tour. A little planning makes the day easy for everyone.
How big is your group?
Let us know
Any party of 10 or more counts as a visiting group. No reservation is needed, but please send us a quick notification before you come, using the form below.
Split up
Divide into groups of 10 or fewer and rotate between the Botanical Gardens, the Nature Center (when open) and Sunset Rock.
Drop off at the Sto Pavilion
Please don’t use the Nature Center driveway for drop-off or pick-up. Parking there is very limited and can’t take group vehicles. Use the Sto Pavilion at North Campus instead.
Tell us you’re coming
While you don’t need a reservation, we ask all groups to fill out this short form so we know you’re coming. It helps us avoid crowding in the Nature Center and gives everyone the best possible visit. Thank you!
02 · College & university classes
A living laboratory
Bring your students to one of the most biodiverse corners of North America. HBS offers field sites, equipped labs, housing and expert support, all on a campus in the heart of the southern Blue Ridge.
Housing
Stay on campus
Cabins and dorm-style rooms sleep both students and faculty. Every unit has a kitchen, Wi-Fi and shared gathering space, so your group stays focused for the whole visit. Space is limited, especially for larger groups.
Housing options →Teaching & labs
Room to work
Equipped teaching labs, lecture space and specimen-prep areas with microscopes, dissection tools and field-course essentials, plus outdoor classrooms for moving easily between fieldwork and discussion.
Labs & resources →Library & collections
E. E. Reinke Library
Books, journals and field guides focused on Appalachian ecology and natural history. Classes can also request access to HBS’s preserved biological collections for teaching.
The library →Field sites nearby
03 · Custom programs & tours
Programs built for your group
We offer private, customized programs on and off site, led by our staff and tailored to your group’s interests, ages and experience, whether that’s local flora, amphibians or broader ecological topics.
For garden walks open to everyone, see our guided tours.
04 · Reserve a space
Reserve a space
Public groups whose activities support HBS’s mission can rent some of our outdoor spaces. Get in touch about availability, capacity and fees.
Amphitheater
Five grassy, stone-lined terraces just behind the Nature Center, suited to presentations and outdoor teaching.
Cook Pavilion
A covered shelter at the edge of the meadow, ready for any weather.
“Sto” Teaching Pavilion
An outdoor classroom above Lindenwood Lake, often reserved by classes and research groups.
TK: confirm facility-use policy wording; the Foundation Events page says private functions can’t be hosted in Station facilities TK: capacity and fees per space
05 · Plan with us
Plan with us
Send us the basics and we’ll follow up.