The Dallas Arboretum offers a variety of summer day camps for children from 18 months to 8th grade. Organized by age, these camps cater to a child’s interests and needs for an unforgettable summer adventure. Maria Conroy, Dallas Arboretum’s vice president of education, said, “As you’re planning summer activities for your children, look at our summer day camps specifically designed for a child’s interests. Thanks to the opening of the acclaimed Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden, we have an even larger selection of camps.”
She added, “Summer camp programs prove to be a stimulating experience that encourages children to learn about science and nature while having endless fun. Camps fill up quickly, so be sure to register online.”
Camps include the following:
Parent and Child Programs:
Baby Bugs -Ages 18-36 months with one adult
Series of four classes | 8:30-9:30 a.m. or 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Outdoors | $90 members, $100 non-members
Baby Bugs gives parents the opportunity to play and learn in nature with their toddler. Each hour-long outdoor class includes song and story time, a craft, nature objects to explore, hands-on activities and games. Each week features a different theme, including Marvelous Mud, Bug Bonanza, Flowers and Feathers, and Wondrous Water.
Choose from one of the following series:
- Tuesdays in June (June 3, 10, 17 & 24) 8:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. | $90 members, $100 non-members
- Wednesdays in June (June 4, 11, 18 & 25) 8:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. | $90 members, $100 non-members
- Thursdays in June (June 5, 12, 19 & 26) 8:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. | $90 members, $100 non-members
- Tuesdays in July (July 1, 8, 15 & 22) 8:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. | $90 members, $100 non-members
Explore Together (New) – Ages 4-6 or 7-10 with one adult
One-time class | 9-11:30 a.m. or 1-3:30 p.m. | Classrooms located in the Main Garden | $30 members, $35 non-members
These half-day classes are designed for the young at heart and the special young child in their life. This new summer camp allows parent to spend a few hours with their child making summer memories that will last a lifetime.
Cooking in the Garden: Sassy Salsa – Ages 4-6 with one adult
June 2, 9-11:30 a.m. | June 20, 1-3:30 p.m. | July 1, 1-3:30 p.m. | July 21, 9-11:30 a.m. | August 8, 9-11:30 a.m.
Fun, games and laughter are the main ingredients for this class, while parents and children discover the secrets of the honeybee, plant a salsa garden, prepare salsa, and celebrate with a fiesta.
Birds of a Feather- Ages 4-6 or 7-10 with one adult
June 6, 9-11:30 a.m. | June 16, 1-3:30 p.m. | July 2, 1-3:30 p.m. | July 25, 9-11:30 a.m. | June 9, 1-3:30 p.m. | July 11, 9-11:30 a.m. | July 28, 1-3:30 p.m.
Parents are able to explore the world of birds with their child. Birds of a feather give individuals the opportunity to find out where birds live and what they eat. Visit the Bird House Exhibit, and experience the joy of bird watching.
Nature Journaling- Ages 7 – 10 with one adult
June 13, 1-3:30 p.m. | June 30, 1-3:30 p.m. | July 7, 9-11:30 a.m. | August 1, 1-3:30 p.m. |August 4, 9-11:30 a.m.
Play with color and texture to create a personal art diary with your child. Songs, games and lots of fun make this a one-of-a-kind experience.
Three-Year-Old Camp Three Day Camp
9 a.m. – noon | Classrooms located at the Main Garden | $110 members, $125 non-members
This camp is for children who will be three years old on or before June 1, 2014, and who are completely toilet-trained. Half-day camps will be held in the Wyatt-Wold Education Center at the Main Garden of the Arboretum.
Little Critters
June 3-5, June 30-July 2, or August 5-7
Explore the world of squirrels, birds and spiders in this three-day camp designed especially for the youngest campers. Preschoolers will have fun exploring where each animal lives, discovering what it eats and investigating its life cycle.
Preschool and Kindergarten Camps:
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-Noon or 1-4 p.m. | Classrooms located at the Main Garden | $150 members, $160 non-members
These camps are designed for children entering Pre-K or Kindergarten in fall 2014 and who will be age 4-5 on or before June 1, 2014. Camps are based in the classrooms of the Wyatt-Wold Education and feature shady walks in the Arboretum and exploration in the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden.
Creature Feature
Week of June 9, July 7, July 21 (afternoon camp) and August 4
Snakes, bunnies, turtles, bats and lizards make up this year’s exciting Creature Feature lineup.Daily creature investigations come alive with movement and music activities, rhymes and riddles, exciting outdoor and indoor play, and one-of-a-kind animal art projects.
Back to the Future
Week of June 16, July 7 and July 28
Young scientists will investigate the fascinating world of magnets, dinosaurs, volcanoes, rocks and outer space.
Garden Party (New)
Week of June 23, July 14, July 28 and August 11
Each day is a celebration of summer and science. Daily theme parties include “Let’s Chill!” where campers will investigate properties of frozen water, and “Party All Night Long,” a study of nocturnal animals.
For the Birds (New)
Week of June 2 (morning camp) and July 14 (afternoon camp)
Explore the Bird House Exhibit and discover fascinating facts about our feathered friends and more.
1st-4th Grade Children’s Garden Camps (New)
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | Rain or shine | $165 members, $175 non-members
Patterns, Plants and Pickles
1st & 2nd Grades: Week of June 9 and June 23 | 3rd & 4th Grades: Week of June 16 and July 7
Explore the fascinating world of plants, animals, and patterns in nature. Create original art inspired by nature’s colors and patterns.
Shake, Rock and Roll
1st & 2nd Grades: Week of June 16 and July 7 |3rd & 4th Grades: Week of June 9 and June 23
Fascinated by the forces of nature? Explore wild weather, earthquakes and volcanoes. Investigate solar and wind energy, and discover the wonder of rocks and soil.
1st-4th Grade Lab Camps:
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | Members $165, Non-members $175
CSI (Cool Science Investigations)
1st & 2nd Grade: Week of June 9, June 23, July 14, August 4 and August 11 | 3rd & 4th Grade: Week of June 23 and July 21
Each day is focused on a different area of life, earth or physical science and is action-packed with lots of hands-on experiments and activities. Explore magnets and electricity, experiment with volcanoes, and design a flying rocket.
Batty about Birds (New)
1st & 2nd Grade: Week of June 16, June 23 and July 28 | 3rd & 4th Grade: Week of August 11
Make a peacock fan, view the world like an owl, weave a nest like a weaver bird, hear how birds communicate, have a penguin race, learn some bird dances, and see how it feels to have webbed feet!
1st-4th Grade Mini Camps (New)
Three-day camp | 9 a.m.- noon or 1-4 p.m. | Classrooms located in the Main Garden | $110 members, $125 non-members
The Dallas Arboretum’s new mini camps give children the opportunity to explore a new area in a fun and exciting way. Mini camps are three days long and expose children to the numerous wonders of the garden.
Edible Creations Mini Camp
1st & 2nd Grade: 1-4 p.m., June 17-19, July 8-10, August 5-7 | 3rd & 4th Grade: 1-4 p.m., June 30-July 2 and July 29-31
Decked out in their very own chef’s hat, children will use foods from the garden to prepare recipes with herbs, fruit, veggies and chocolate!
How does your Garden Grow? Mini Camp
1st & 2nd Grade: 1-4 p.m., June 10-12 | 9 a.m.-Noon, June 30-July 2 and July 22-24 | 3rd & 4th Grade: 1-4 pm, July 8-10
Discover the world of gardening through hands-on activities, exploration, fun and games. Study worms and composting, plant seeds and propagate plants.
5th-8th Grade Camps
Week of June 23 and July 21 | Monday-Friday | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Members $200, Non-members $220
Amazing Race: Arboretum (New)
This camp allows kids to face exciting nature and science challenges and race other teams to the finish line. Don’t forget to watch out for roadblocks and detours along the way! Prepare to be transported to a new country with a new mission every day in this exciting camp
For more information on summer camps including exact dates, frequently asked questions and to register online, visit http://www.dallasarboretum.
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