Go2Gardens Free Shuttle Program
The Clinton Family Fund Go2Gardens Free Shuttle Program is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year! Over the last decade, the program has become the cornerstone of Denver Botanic Gardens’ commitment to equity and accessibility. Together, we connect people with plants by removing barriers to access, building meaningful partnerships, and co-creating culturally relevant experiences that nurture belonging, learning, and care for the natural world. This program is supported by a generous grant from the Clinton Family Fund and provides free admission and transportation between various Denver metro area cultural organizations, community centers and residences to Denver Botanic Gardens at York Street, Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms and Plains Conservation Center.
Program Includes*
- Free general admission
- Free shuttle service or Lyft credits to/from Denver Botanic Gardens sites
- Free optional programs and activities on select dates, including but not limited to:
- Guided tours
- Bilingual yoga
- Therapeutic horticulture
* This program is for groups composed of families (children accompanied by adults) and/or adults. For school groups and children’s groups, contact our Schools & Teachers Programs or Children & Family Programs.
Eligibility Requirements
501(c)(3) nonprofits, cultural organizations, community groups and residential care facilities in the Denver metro area are eligible to participate.
For more information, review our eligibility requirements.
Eligibility Requirements (en Español)
Scheduling
After reviewing the eligibility requirements above, you may submit an inquiry form to request a visit for your group. Please allow 7-10 business days for review and confirmation. Requests are considered on a first-come, first-served basis until all slots are filled. Space is limited.
Please note that submitting an inquiry form does not automatically guarantee participation.
If you have additional questions or would like to receive updates about free and accessible programming, please contact community@botanicgardens.org.
Additional Ways to Visit the Gardens
There are several opportunities to visit the Gardens at little or no cost to you.
- SCFD Free Days – The Gardens participates in the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) Free Day program, offering select days each year when admission is free. Check our SCFD Free Day schedule for upcoming dates.
- SNAP EBT Reduced Admission – Guests who participate in SNAP benefits can receive discounted admission.
- Denver Great Kids Head Start (Five by Five) – Families enrolled in the Five by Five program receive special admission access.
- Denver CityPASS® – Visitors with a Denver CityPASS® can enjoy discounted admission as part of their pass.
For more details on discounted admission prices and information on how to plan your visit, please visit our admissions page.
FAQ
Who can attend? What is the intended age range?
This program is for groups composed of families (adults accompanied by children) and/or adults. All ages are welcome, but children and youth under 16 must be accompanied by an appropriate number of adults. For school groups, please visit our Schools & Teachers Programs webpage.
How many Free Shuttle Program visits can I sign up for?
In order to give all organizations equal opportunity to visit, each group may sign up for one visit per calendar year. Multiple visits may be scheduled at the discretion of the program coordinator based on availability and funding.
How does the shuttle service work?
Free transportation can be requested through our visit inquiry form and is granted on a first-come, first-served basis pending availability. ADA vehicles with wheelchair lifts or storage for mobility devices are available with advanced notice.
How do Lyft credits work?
Lyft credits may be recommended by the program coordinator based on your group’s needs. Lyft credits function similar to a coupon code and provide attendees with a designated amount to cover transportation to and from Denver Botanic Gardens sites.
Attendees must have the Lyft app installed to use this credit. Lyft rides are not recommended for attendees under the age of 18 and are often not wheelchair accessible.
How long does a visit typically last?
We recommend reserving about 2 hours to explore the Gardens. Visits that include a guided program or activity may consider increasing their visit by 1-2 hours. For groups using the free shuttle service to/from the Gardens, vehicles can be reserved for a maximum of 5 hours. This includes transportation to and from your location.
Will there be any cost?
Thanks to a generous grant by the Clinton Family Fund, there is no cost for you to participate. The program will cover the cost of admission, transportation, and any supplies associated with guided programs and activities.
Can I charge attendees to participate in my Free Shuttle Program visit?
No. The Free Shuttle Program is made possible by a generous grant from the Clinton Family Fund. Charging attendees could jeopardize future funding for this program.
Visits and associated programming are offered completely free of charge to qualifying community groups, so it is imperative that these experiences are also offered free of charge to all attendees. If your organization charges attendees, you will not be eligible for future Free Shuttle Program visits.
Can I create my own marketing materials for my Free Shuttle Program visit?
Yes, you can create flyers and events on your social media platforms. If you plan to promote your visit, we kindly ask that you contact the program coordinator in advance so that they can share the correct logo and marketing materials.
Can I cancel or reschedule my Free Shuttle Program visit?
We require a 14-day notice for trip rescheduling and cancellations to inform the instructors, staff and drivers. Please contact the program coordinator to cancel your visit or to help you reschedule your visit for a future date. Failure to notify us within the 14-day window could disqualify your organization from rescheduling.
What if it rains during my visit or guided activity?
In the event of inclement weather, outdoor activities may be canceled. The program coordinator will be in touch with rescheduling options, if and when they are available.
What accommodations are available for guests with mobility devices?
Transportation with wheelchair lifts or storage for mobility devices are available with advanced notice. Please allow 8 weeks’ notice for trips that require transportation for mobility devices.
Most of our indoor and outdoor gardens and facilities, including restrooms and classrooms, are wheelchair accessible at our York Street location. Some areas in the Gardens are not wheelchair accessible without assistance. Wheelchairs are available to borrow during your visit. Please check with Visitor Services staff upon entry to the Gardens if you need clarification on accessible routes or to borrow a wheelchair.
Our Visitor Center, restrooms and several paved pathways are wheelchair accessible at Chatfield Farms. Some indoor and outdoor areas, including the historical Hildebrand Ranch, are not wheelchair accessible. Please let the program coordinator know if you have any questions or concerns about accessibility at Chatfield Farms. There are a limited number of wheelchairs available to borrow at the Visitor Center.
Plains Conservation Center is not wheelchair accessible.
Do you offer programs in languages other than English?
Yes! There are several guided programs and activities offered in Spanish or bilingually. Interpretation services are also available upon request. Please make requests for interpretation at least 8 weeks in advance.
What food options are available?
At our York Street location, food is available for purchase at Offshoots Café (open year-round), the Hive Garden Bistro (season-dependent) or Copper Door Coffee Roasters. Visitors can also bring their own food/beverages, however we ask that outside food is not consumed at the restaurant tables. Limited storage is available with advanced notice for coolers with packed lunches. Refrigeration is not available onsite.
Chatfield Farms has some beverages and packaged snacks available for purchase at the Visitor Center. Guests are welcome to bring their own food/beverage.
Plains Conservation Center does not have onsite dining options. Guests are welcome to bring their own food/beverage.
Can we take pictures in the Gardens?
Yes, amateur photography is encouraged! We couldn’t operate our program without the support of our donors, so if you and your guests feel comfortable, we would love to receive and share photos from your visit. Photos can be shared via email to the program coordinator or community@botanicgardens.org and may be used on the Gardens’ website, social media, grants and annual reporting.
You are also welcome to share photos or videos on the Gardens’ Facebook page or on Instagram by tagging #mydbg.
Commercial photography requires advance reservations and is not permitted otherwise.
Gallery
Participating Organizations
Since its inception in 2016, the Go2Gardens Free Shuttle Program has facilitated access for more than 160 local organizations – many of whom first engaged with the Gardens through this program.
- 2nd Home Community Center (Aurora county)
- A Bushel and a Peck Day Program (Various counties)
- Abby Care (Various counties)
- Access Gallery (Denver county)
- Adams County Housing Authority (Adams county)
- Adaptive Recreation (Denver county)
- African Community Center of Denver (Denver county)
- African Leadership Group (Denver county)
- American Red Cross (Denver county)
- Arapahoe County Early Childhood Council (Arapahoe county)
- Arbor View Apartments (Jefferson county)
- ArtistiCO (Denver county)
- Asian Pacific Development Center (Adams county)
- Assumption Cathedral Philoptochos Seniors (Denver county)
- Athmar Park Neighborhood Association (Denver county)
- Auraria Higher Education Center (Denver county)
- Aurora Community Connection (Arapahoe county)
- Aurora Youth Options (Arapahoe county)
- Aurora Xeriscape Demonstration Garden (Arapahoe county)
- Autism Society of Colorado (Jefferson county)
- Barnum Recreation Center (Denver county)
- Bayaud Enterprises (Denver county)
- The Birth Squad (Denver county)
- Bluff Lake Nature Center (Denver county)
- Brighton Housing Authority: Brighton Village & Libretto Apartments (Adams county)
- Brothers Redevelopment (Denver county)
- Cal-Wood Education Center (Boulder county)
- Catholic Charities (Various counties)
- The Center on Colfax (Denver county)
- CHAC: Chicano Humanities & Arts Council Denver (Denver county)
- CHOW: Culinary Hospitality Outreach and Wellness (Denver county)
- City of Boulder Housing & Human Services (Boulder county)
- Clayton Early Learning (Denver county)
- College Track (Various counties)
- Colorado African Cultural Center (Denver county)
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (Various counties)
- Colorado Health Network (Various counties)
- Colorado I Have a Dream Foundation (Denver county)
- Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition (Various counties)
- Community Hub (Denver county)
- Cultural Development & Wellness Center of Aurora Mental Health & Recovery (Adams county)
- DAVA: Downtown Aurora Visual Arts (Arapahoe county)
- Denver Arts and Venues (Denver county)
- Denver Broncos: Broncos Bunch Kids Club (Denver county)
- Denver Children's Home (Denver county)
- Denver Healing Generations (Denver county)
- Denver Housing Authority: Mariposa (Denver county)
- Denver Human Services (Denver county)
- Denver Indian Center (Denver county)
- Denver Kids (Denver county)
- Denver Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (Denver county)
- Denver Parks and Recreation (Denver county)
- Denver Public Library (Denver county)
- Denver Public Schools (Denver county)
- The Delores Project (Denver county)
- Eagle View Adult Center (Adams county)
- Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (Jefferson county)
- East High School (Denver county)
- Ecosistema Designs, LLC (Various counties)
- Ednium (Denver county)
- Emily Griffith School: Project Worthmore (Adams county)
- The Empowerment Program (Denver county)
- Environmental Learning for Kids (Adams county)
- Envision:You (Denver county)
- Evergreen Prosthetics and Orthotics (Denver county)
- Everyone Outdoors Colorado (Denver county)
- Excel Academy (Denver county)
- Field Academy (Various counties)
- Focus Points Family Resource Center: Wildflower English (Denver county)
- Fortaleza Familiar – LGBTQ2S (Denver county)
- The Gathering Place (Denver county)
- Girl Scouts of Colorado (Various counties)
- Girls Inc. of Metro Denver (Denver county)
- GraceFull Café (Arapahoe county)
- GRASP: Gang Rescue and Support Project (Denver county)
- Green Goddess (Denver county)
- Groundwork Denver (Denver county)
- The GrowHaus (Denver county)
- Grupo Comunidad Unidad y Apoyo: Growing Home (Adams county)
- El Grupo Vida (Denver county)
- Hans Senior Center (Arapahoe county)
- Hiawatha Davis Jr. Recreation Center (Denver county)
- History Colorado Center (Denver county)
- Hope Communities (Denver county)
- Hopkins Education Services (Various counties)
- Hunger Free Colorado (Denver county)
- Imagine! (Various counties)
- Immigrant and Refugee Liaison, City of Aurora (Arapahoe county)
- Infinita Latina (Denver county)
- International Rescue Committee (Denver county)
- Invest in Kids (Denver county)
- IzCalli (Various counties)
- Judi's House (Arapahoe county)
- Kiva Center (Boulder county)
- La Alma Lincoln Park (Denver county)
- La Casita/Westwood Unidos (Denver county)
- Lakewood Community Resources (Jefferson county)
- Lambuth Family Center - Salvation Army (Denver county)
- Laradon (Denver county)
- Latina SafeHouse (Denver county)
- Latino parents of Academia Ana Maria Sandoval Elementary (Denver county)
- Latinos Outdoors (Various counties)
- Latinx Therapist Project (Adams county)
- Lifespan Local (Denver county)
- Lighthouse Writers Workshop (Denver county)
- Little Sisters of the Poor (Various counties)
- Luna Kids Care: Heritage Heights Elementary (Arapahoe county)
- Mamas Especiales (Denver county)
- M.A.T.A - Mind Accessed Through Accessibility (El Paso county)
- Mental Health Center of Denver, Dahlia Campus for Health and Well-Being (Denver county)
- Metropolitan State University of Denver: Center for Visual Art (Denver county)
- Metropolitan State University of Denver: Journey Through Our Heritage (Denver county)
- Metropolitan State University of Denver: Volunteer Program (Denver county)
- Mexican Cultural Center / Centro Cultural Mexicano (Denver county)
- Mile High Youth Corps (Denver county)
- Montbello Recreation Center (Denver county)
- Museo de las Americas (Denver county)
- My Outdoor Colorado (Denver county)
- New Cottage Arts (Denver county)
- New Directions for Families (Arapahoe county)
- Northglenn Senior Center (Adams county)
- OneColorado (Denver county)
- Open Arms Assisted Living (Denver county)
- Peak to Peak Charter School (Boulder county)
- PlatteForum (Denver county)
- Platt Park Senior Center (Denver county)
- Poudre River Public Library (Larimer county)
- RE:Vision (Denver county)
- RedLine Contemporary Art Center (Denver county)
- Ricardo Flores Magon Academy (Denver county)
- Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation (Jefferson county)
- Rocky Mountain Land Library (Various counties)
- Rocky Mountain Prep (Denver county)
- Rose Andom Center (Denver county)
- SAMECafe (Various counties)
- Sandoval Elementary School: PALAS Afterschool Program (Denver county)
- Shields Foundation (Denver county)
- Shiloh House (Arapahoe county)
- Sidewalk Poets (Denver county)
- SOAR: Seeing Our Adolescents Rise (Arapahoe county)
- Sober Outdoors (Arapahoe county)
- Spirit of the Sun (Denver county)
- Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning (Denver county)
- Stellar Care and Services (Various counties)
- STRIDE Food Festival (Denver county)
- STRIVE Prep - Ruby Hill (Denver county)
- Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple (Denver county)
- Twentieth Street Recreation Center (Denver county)
- Uno Mano Una Esperanza (Denver county)
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (Denver county)
- University of Colorado School of Education & Human Development (Denver county)
- University of Denver: CUB Clinic (Denver county)
- University of Denver: Everyday Geographical Experiences (Denver county)
- The Urban Farm (Denver county)
- Valdez Elementary: Programa Familiar de Lenguaje (Denver county)
- Veggie Rx (Denver county)
- ViVe Wellness (Denver county)
- Vuela for Health (Denver county)
- Warren Village (Denver county)
- Westminster Open Space (Adams county)
- YBNeuro (Denver county)
- Young People in Recovery (Denver county)
- Youth on Record (Denver county)
-
YWCA (Boulder county)
The Go2Gardens Free Shuttle Program is made possible by generous support from The Clinton Family Fund. On behalf of the Denver Botanic Gardens, we’d like to extend our deepest gratitude to our sponsors for making this work possible.