Garden Discovery

Full—Waitlist Started

Summer Camp for Rising 2nd through 5th Graders

Monday, August 11 through Friday, August 15, 2025 – 9:00 am–3:30 pm

Our gardens and the campers' curiosity create a week-long experience!

Each day, the gardens reveal something new to discover. After they are introduced to the day's topic, campers help shape the day by choosing how they want to explore the day's theme. By allowing the campers' interests to drive the activities, this camp will allow campers to slow down and really spend time enjoying what they love best — the plants, critters and time in the gardens.

Each day starts with the topic of the day. Campers share what they know, what they wonder, and what they want to learn about the day's theme. Jumping from there, campers might spend the day exploring the garden, researching to learn more or creating art projects to express what they have discovered.

Campers bring lunch and snacks from home. Camp size is 16 campers.

Other Camps for Rising 2nd Through 5th Graders

• Nature Detectives camp (1st–3rd graders, July)
• Artists in the Garden (1st–3rd graders, July)
• Backyard Farm (4th–6th graders, July)
• Garden Chefs (4th–6th graders, August)

Ages

Rising 2nd through 5th graders.

Cost

$330.00 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.