Botanical Gardens are institutions increasingly open to a public that seeks to study and preserve flora. The Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro, one of the oldest scientific institutions in Brazil, has created an important bond with the public through its educational activities. Schools, for which specific environmental educational projects have been created, are a significant portion of the universe of visitors, which is increasing every year. The present study has the purpose of examining the relationship between the Botanical Garden and the school public, by means of observation of the educational practices developed by the institution, together with interviews conducted with the teachers who bring their students to the Garden. The data obtained in the research allowed the identification of elements that favor, as well as those that hinder, the approximation of these two universes, The Botanical Garden and the school, thus contributing to the development of an effective partnership.