Join us for camp!

The education team at the Gardens is excited to welcome families back for our 2023 spring and summer camp programs! This year we are pleased to report the return of spring break camp at our Chatfield Farms location in Littleton, where children will explore the farm as it begins to wake up from its winter nap.

Our camps, for children ages six to 12, combine STEM and art activities with daily opportunities to dig into gardening, use multiple senses to explore plants and incorporate mindfulness practices. Time for games and fun teambuilding activities create a strong community within each group. Through guided activities and imaginative outdoor play, children hone their observational skills and cultivate a sense of wonder about the natural world. Camp offers many levels of engagement for children, from designing and planting their own container gardens to participating in the horticulture or agriculture projects at our sites.

This year's weekly camp themes focus on cultivating meaningful relationships with nature and learning through hands-on experiences. At York Street we will unearth plant science secrets, practice gardening skills and explore magical gardens. Campers will help us take care of vegetable plots in Mordecai Children’s Garden by planting, watering and even tasting. At Chatfield Farms, campers will be immersed in the ecosystems around Deer Creek and help us harvest crops and take care of farm animals. Our goal is for each child to leave camp with newfound confidence in their skills as scientists, explorers, gardeners, artists and stewards of the natural world.

Spring and summer camp registration for Gardens members opens January 12, and remaining spots will open to the public on January 16. Weekly themes include Fantastic Flora, Outdoor Observers and a week of Gardening 101 at York Street, as well as Life on the Farm, Seeds of Civilization and Water Wizards at Chatfield Farms. We will also offer spring break camps at both Chatfield Farms and York Street focusing on signs of spring in nature. Get more information or email gardencamp@botanicgardens.org with questions. We cannot wait to welcome your children to camp this year!