Summer Garden Camps

Our Summer Garden Camps give campers the opportunity to spend time learning, creating, exploring and playing in the gardens of the Arboretum.  Week-long camps allow campers to unplug and spend time outdoors making friends and exploring while growing their appreciation of nature.

Excited and looking for more details about our camp offerings? Find more about each camp week through their descriptions and more general information in our FAQs.

Camps range from preschool to rising eighth graders.

Garden Critters Preschool

Garden Critters

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June 10-14, 2024
9:00 am–12:30 pm

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July 29-August 2, 2024
9:00 am–12:30 pm

Preschool campers delight searching for a different critter each day. Camp days include garden investigations and games, stories, and art projects.

4 and 5 year olds.

Nature Detectives Elementary

Nature Detectives

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June 17-21, 2024
9:00 am–3:30 pm

A mysterious Mixed-Up Gardener is in the gardens leaving funny mysteries for our detective campers to solve.

Rising 1st through 3rd graders.

Artists in the Garden Elementary

Artists in the Garden

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July 15-19, 2024
9:00 am–3:30 pm

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July 22-26, 2024
9:00 am–3:30 pm

Let nature be your inspiration as we explore the garden and create daily art projects.

Rising 1st through 3rd graders.

Backyard Farm Elementary

Garden Connections

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July 8-12, 2024
9:00 am–3:30 pm

Campers dabble in citizen science, urban farming, art and cooking in this week-long exploration.

Rising 4th through 6th graders.

Garden Chefs Elementary

Garden Chefs

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August 5-9, 2024
9:00 am–3:30 pm

Learn how to grow vegetables and cook tasty treats using fresh produce!

Rising 4th through 6th graders.

Cultivating Science Elementary

Garden Discovery

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August 12-16, 2024
9:00am–3:30 pm

Each day a new theme will ignite campers' curiosity and drive camp activities.

Rising 2nd through 5th graders.

Cultivating Science Middle School

Cultivating Science

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June 24-28, 2024
8:30 am–4:00 pm

Dive into a week of ag-ventures exploring the natural world. 

Rising 6th through 8th graders.

Registration

Registration begins at 12:30 pm on January 29, 2024, for Arboretum members at the Family/Dual level or above.

Public registration begins February 5, 2024.

Registration is completed through our online system, Reporter. A link to registration will appear on each camp Web page once registration opens. Camps are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. When a camp fills, a waitlist will be started.

Full payment for camp will be due at time of registration.

Campers are responsible for providing a snack and lunch each day of camp.

If you would like to become a member to enjoy early registration and other year-long benefits, please visit our membership page membership page.  Membership must be at the Family/Dual level or above to take advantage of the early registration.

Registrations received during the members-only period (January 29, 2024–February 4, 2024) not associated with a current Family/Dual level or above membership will be refunded minus a 15% administrative fee. To make sure your registration is completed, join now!

If you have any questions prior to camp, please contact Elizabeth Overcash, education and communications manager, at elizabeth_overcash@ncsu.edu or (919) 513-7011.

Cancellations and Refunds

Participants wishing to withdraw from a camp must provide a written request by May 24, 2024, to Elizabeth Overcash, education and communications manager, at elizabeth_overcash@ncsu.edu. If the withdrawal request is received by May 24, 2024, a refund will be processed minus a 15% cancellation fee per child, per camp. No fees will be refunded if registration is canceled after May 24, 2024.

If the Arboretum cancels the camp, a full refund will be made.

Membership donations made in association with a camp registration are not refundable.

Waitlist

When a camp session fills, a waitlist will be started.

During the members-only registration period (January 29, 2024–February 4, 2024), only Arboretum Family/Dual level or above members are placed on the waitlist. Nonmembers registering for the waitlist during this period will be reordered behind any Arboretum members registered for the waitlist during the members-only registration.

If a space becomes available, families will be contacted and given the opportunity to accept or decline the space. The open camp spot will be held for 48 hours. Upon accepting the open space, payment will be due within 24 hours of acceptance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about our summer camps? Try our Frequently Asked Questions to get more information. If you still have questions, please contact Elizabeth Overcash, education and communications manager, at elizabeth_overcash@ncsu.edu or (919) 513-7011.