STEAM Garden and Planting Day/Horticulture & Agricultural Sciences

Join us for a garden and planting day in the historic Ten Broeck Mansion gardens and learn more about the science behind how plants grow.

Explore the history of the Ten Broeck Mansion gardens, learn about some of the edible plants in the gardens, make plant rubbings to explore nature through art, and create an upcycled mosaic planter.

We will be joined by Capital Roots, a non-profit organization working to reduce the impact of poor nutrition on public health in New York’s Capital Region by organizing community gardens, providing healthy food access, and offering nutritional and horticultural education for all ages and coordinating urban greening programs in Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady and southern Saratoga Counties. Learn more here.

We will also be joined by the Albany County Department of Mental Health, which provides a number of services to support the mental health of Albany County residents, with a family-friendly "Listening Walk" at 11 am. Learn more here.

To make your visit safe and enjoyable for all:

• Getting here:
• Free off-street parking: Please use our Livingston Avenue parking lot (GPS: 136 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY).
• Walking: Our neighborhood has sidewalks for easy access.
• Public transportation: CDTA bus routes 100 and 106 stop about a four-minute walk away.
• Visit our website for a map and additional travel information.

• Making your visit safe and comfortable:
• Please wear comfortable shoes suitable for historic, sometimes uneven surfaces. Spike heels are not permitted.
• Bags should be smaller than a standard backpack. Larger bags must be left in the reception area.
• Please do not touch historic collections.
• Water in closed containers is permitted; glass containers are not allowed.

• Accessibility:
• Visitors with accessibility needs are encouraged to contact us in advance with any questions.
• Visitors with service dogs are welcome.
• Emotional support and therapy dogs are not permitted in the museum.
• At this time, the ACHA does not have a fully ADA-accessible restroom; a ground-floor restroom is available.
• Museum spaces and gardens offer very limited seating.

• Gardens & Grounds:
• Our gardens and parking lot are reserved for registered museum program visitors during regular tour and program hours.
• Our site is pack-in, pack-out; please take all waste with you. Light lunches (brown-bag type) may be enjoyed on our grounds, but no parties, buffets, hammocks, additional chairs and tables, or tents may be brought in or used.
• Pets must be kept on a 6 foot or less leash at all times, and all pet waste must be removed. Please do not have pets relieve themselves in garden beds or near walks.
• No smoking, vaping, or alcohol consumption.
• Please follow posted signs and use caution throughout the site.
• Free educational kits and self-guided tours are available at the garden kiosk.
• Hours may change; please check our website or call for current information.
• See our website for full garden regulations.

• Registration & Program Timing:
• Advance registration is required for all free programs.
• We cannot guarantee admission, seating, or program materials for unregistered or late-arriving visitors.
• The ACHA often runs concurrent programs; please respect other programs’ spaces and access, as all visitors share the site.
• Late arrivals cannot remain past the scheduled program end time, and programs cannot be extended.

• Groups of Six or More for Free Programs:
• Free programs are not able to accommodate groups of six or more due to space limitations and program format needs.
• If your group of six or more would like to visit, please contact us to discuss arranging a special program or to receive suggestions for free programs which can accommodate larger groups.
• The ACHA reserves the right to cancel reservations for groups of six or more who register without prior approval.

• Ensuring a Positive Experience:
• The ACHA is committed to a welcoming, respectful environment. For everyone’s safety, visitors must follow all guidelines and the instructions of ACHA staff. Disrespectful, abusive, threatening, or otherwise inappropriate behavior is not permitted.
• Visitors who do not follow these expectations will be asked to leave.

These regulations are subject to being updated at any time. Please visit our website for current regulations.

Free educational programs made possible in part with funding by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and members of the ACHA like you: thank you.