Garden Critters
Preschool, Half-Day Summer Camp
Monday, June 16 through Friday, June 20, 2025 – 9:00 am–12:30 pm
Register RegisterYoung campers roam our gardens in search of birds, frogs, butterflies and more....
What child doesn't love to search a pond for frogs, flutter around the garden like a butterfly, or dig in the ground for worms and other critters?
Our Garden Critters camp builds on a child's innate curiosity and fascination finding a new critter each day during garden explorations, lessons, games and crafts. The camp week concludes with smiles, new friends and a keepsake craft with each day's critter.
This half-day, week-long adventure is one of our most popular camps and is a great opportunity to introduce your little garden critter to the JCRA's gardens. Campers bring lunch and a snack from home. Camp size is 12 campers. This camp is on a two year rotation allowing campers to return multiple years and experience new critters and activities each year.
Note: This week of Garden Critters camp will be the same activities as the Garden Critters camp in July. Campers should not be registered for both weeks of camp since activities will be repeated.
Ages
For 4 and 5 year olds. Must be at least 4 years old by the first day of camp and fully potty-trained.
Cost
$200.00 per camper.
2025 Summer Camp Registration Information
Registration begins at 12:30 pm on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 for JCRA Members at the Family/Dual level or above. Public registration begins February 3.
Registration is completed through our online system, Reporter. Full payment for camp will be due at the time of registration. Camps are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. When a camp fills, a waitlist will be started.
You must have an active JCRA Family/Dual level or above membership by Monday, January 27 at noon in order to receive the email with registration links prior to registration opening. Become a JCRA Member or renew your membership today! Enjoy early camp registration and other year-long benefits through membership.
JCRA Members at the Family/Dual level or above will receive an email the morning of Tuesday, January 28 with early registration links and instructions. Emails will be sent to the email address on file in your membership record. If you have not received the email by 11:00 am on January 28, check your spam or junk email and search for an email from jcraprograms@ncsu.edu. If not there, please contact Elizabeth Overcash at elizabeth_overcash@ncsu.edu or 919-513-7011 before noon on January 28.
A JCRA Family/Dual level or above membership does not guarantee a spot in camp. If the camp you want is full, we encourage you to join the waitlist.
Registrations received during the members-only period (January 28–February 2) 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 or renew now!
Waitlist
When a camp session fills, a waitlist will be started.
During the members-only registration period (January 28–February 2), only JCRA Family/Dual level or above members are placed on the waitlist. Nonmembers registering for the waitlist during this period will be reordered behind any JCRA Members registered for the waitlist during 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 24 hours. Upon accepting the open space, payment will be due within 24 hours of acceptance.
- Cancellation
Participants wishing to withdraw from a camp must provide a written request by Friday, May 23, 2025 to Elizabeth Overcash, at elizabeth_overcash@ncsu.edu. If the withdrawal request is received by May 23, 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 23.
If the JCRA cancels a camp, a full refund will be made.
Memberships purchased in association with a camp registration are not refundable.
- Location
JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University, 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh, NC 27606.
Camp drop off and pick up will be in the brick circle at the Bobby G. Wilder Visitor Center.
- Directions
- Need directions? Click here.
- Questions
- Try our frequently asked questions, or contact Elizabeth Overcash, at elizabeth_overcash@ncsu.edu or 919-513-7011.