Camps – Summer 2025

Member Registration opens March 3; General Registration opens March 10

SUMMER CAMP AT CAPE FEAR BOTANICAL GARDEN

Cape Fear Botanical Garden Summer Camps instill a love for nature with Garden explorations, hands-on science, and nature art projects. The Garden has camps for children and teens ages 4-14.

FEES:

Weekly Camps: $185/camper ($150 for CFBG members)
Culinary Camps: $225/camper ($200 for CFBG members)
Day Camps: $80/camper ($60 for CFBG members)

Summer 2025 Camp Lineup – WEEKLY & MULTI-DAY

SPROUTS CAMPS (AGES 4-6) – Please note that all campers must be fully potty trained to attend CFBG camps.

~~Let’s Grow~~ FULL
May 27th-30th 9am – 12 pm
Young explorers will discover the joy of gardening with activities including planting seeds, watering the garden, and harvesting vegetables. Get dirty and have fun while learning what plants need to grow.

~~Animal Buddies~~ FULL
July 21st-24th 2-5 pm
Calling all young animal lovers! Embark on a fun-filled journey into the animal kingdom. This camp introduces children to a variety of animals through hands-on activities, interactive games, and garden explorations. From furry friends to scaly companions, campers will learn about different species, their habitats, and how we can help protect them.

EXPLORERS CAMPS (AGES 5-8)

~~Budding Builders~~ FULL
June 9th-13th 8:30 am – 12:30pm
Get ready to unleash your creativity and become a young architect in this hands-on camp! Budding Builders will explore the world of construction, design, and engineering. From castles and bridges to nests and beaver dams, you’ll be amazed at what we can build!

~~World of Bugs~~ FULL
June 23rd-27th 8:30am – 12:30 pm
Get ready to explore the amazing, tiny world of insects in this nature-filled camp! In World of Bugs, campers will dive into the fascinating lives of bugs big and small through exciting games, crafts, outdoor adventures, and even live bug encounters!

~~Amazing Places~~ FULL
July 21st-25th 8:30 am -12:30 pm
Get ready for an adventure around the world! We’ll explore the tallest mountains, deepest oceans, and most colorful rainforests. Through hands-on activities, arts and crafts, Garden explorations, and fun games, campers will learn about different cultures, animals, landmarks and more! Every day is a new chance to travel, imagine, and create!

~~Treasures of the Earth~~ FULL
August 18th-22nd 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
This camp is designed for curious young adventurers ready to dig deep and discover the hidden gems of our planet. From sparkling crystals to colorful rocks and ancient fossils, we’ll explore the amazing treasures of our Earth. Campers will hunt for gemstones, build bubbling volcanoes, create rock art, and crack open our own geodes.

CREATORS CAMPS (AGES 6-10)

~~Wild at Art~~ FULL
July 7th-11th 1:30-5:30 pm
Young artists will dive into a world of creativity, color, and wild artistic expression. Explore the outdoors and use natural materials like leaves, rocks, and sticks to create one-of-a-kind nature-inspired art projects. From painting and drawing to crafting and sculpting, kids will explore all kinds of fun and exciting art forms, guided by their own unique ideas and style.

~~Critter Creations~~ FULL
July 28th-August 1st 8:30am – 12:30 pm
Your child will bring their favorite furry, scaly, or feathery friends to life through art! Whether it’s a cute critter, a wild creature, or an imaginary beast, this camp is all about using creativity and hands-on crafting to create one-of-a-kind animal masterpieces. From suncatchers to animal masks and clay animal sculptures, campers will dive into a world of creativity where their love for animals and art comes together!

ADVENTURERS CAMPS (AGES 8-12)

~~Mad Science Inventors~~ FULL
June 23rd-27th 1:30-5:30 pm
Get ready for a week of wild experiments, wacky inventions, and hands-on science challenges! From engineering solar powered bugs to blacklight chemistry experiments and balloon powered hovercrafts, it will be a week of incredible experiments. Plus explore the mad science of nature with outdoor adventures including using nets to catch tadpoles in the pond and taking hand-held microscopes to explore the Garden.

Earth-topia
July 7th-11th 8:30 am -12:30 pm
Take a step into the future and discover ways to live in harmony with nature. Young adventurers will take on the challenge of creating a sustainable, earth-friendly world—while having a blast! Earth-topia is all about solving real-world problems through creativity, teamwork, and environmental science. Whether designing sci-fi worthy eco-cities, build working water filters, exploring renewable energy, or growing food with hydroponics. Connect with the Garden’s yearly theme of “Harmony of Nature” to imagine a new kind of future.

CULINARY CONNECTIONS CAMPS (AGES 9-13)

~~Science of Food~~ FULL
July 14th-18th 8:30am -12:30 pm
Embark on an adventure into the fascinating science behind cooking. Through fun experiments, creative cooking challenges, and tasty recipes, campers will discover the chemistry, biology, and physics that turn ordinary ingredients into delicious dishes. Each day, campers will learn about the science behind different cooking techniques like baking, boiling, and fizzing.

~~Snack Attack: Straight from the Garden~~ FULL
August 4-8 8:30am -12:30 pm
In Snack Attack: Straight from the Garden, campers will harvest, chop, and create their own healthy, mouthwatering snacks straight from the garden to their plates. From crunchy cucumbers to sweet strawberries, discover the magic of farm-to-table food, and get hands-on in the kitchen with fun, simple recipes that your camper can recreate at home.

LEADERS (AGES 10-14)

STEM Lab
August 4th-8th 1:30-5:30 pm
Become a science leader, through STEM explorations, nature adventures, and advanced experiments. Each day we’ll explore a new branch of science with activities including breaking open geodes, dissecting owl pellets, creating clay circuits, mixing up string slime, and meeting live animals.

FEES:
Week-long & Multi-Day Camps: $185/child ($150 for CFBG Members)
Culinary Connections Camps: $225/child ($200 for CFBG Members)

Full payment is due at the time of registration. Scholarships may be available. Please email bgoldentyer@capefearbg.org or call 910-486-0221 x 43 for more information.

Don’t Forget to Check out our Camp T-Shirt Deals when you register.

Summer 2025 – DAY CAMPS

~~To the Moon (Ages 5-8)~~ FULL
June 2nd 9am – 3pm
Blast off on an intergalactic adventure in To the Moon! Young explorers will discover the mysteries of space, from craters to constellations, through fun hands-on activities, crafts, and games. They’ll get to create their own rockets, “fly” through the solar system, and learn about the stars above.

Carnivorous Plants (Ages 8-12)
June 3rd 9am – 3pm
Step into the wild world of plants that eat bugs! Learn about Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, and sundews while conducting cool science experiments. Each camper will take home their very own Venus flytrap!

~~Creatures of the Creek (Ages 6-10)~~ FULL
June 4th 9am – 3pm
Meet the creatures of the creek! From minnows to frogs to the crawdads hiding under rocks, campers will explore the creek’s ecosystem and uncover the fascinating creatures that thrive in it. We’ll use nets to look for critters in the pond, hike out to the Cape Fear River, and explore the strange underwater world with games and crafts.

Secret World of Plants (Ages 6-10)
July 1st 9am – 3pm
Every plant has a secret to tell, and The Secret World of Plants is here to reveal them! Campers will get their hands dirty learning about unique plant adaptations and the incredible abilities of plants. Connect with the Garden’s theme of “Harmony of Nature” as we explore the surprising ways plants communicate and cooperate with each other.

Mysteries and Mazes (Ages 8-12)
July 2nd 9am – 3pm
Can you solve the puzzle? In Mysteries and Mazes, campers will put their problem-solving skills to the test as they work their way through thrilling scavenger hunts, tricky puzzles, and brain-bending challenges. With twists and turns at every corner, this day camp is perfect for those who love puzzles, mystery stories, and teamwork. Can you unlock the mystery before the clock runs out?

~~Pirate Adventure (Ages 5-8)~~ FULL
August 12th 9am – 3pm
Set sail on a Pirate Adventure! We’ll follow the treasure map, dig for buried doubloons, walk the plank, and create our own pirate ships. With fun games, crafts, and storytelling, this day camp will turn your camper into a pirate for a day!

Tooth and Claw (Ages 8-12)
August 13th 9am – 3pm
Campers will explore the world of predators, from sharp teeth to mighty claws, learning about the animals that rule the food chain. Through games, experiments, and hands-on activities, they’ll discover what makes these creatures so powerful and why they’re essential to their ecosystems.

Serious Sidekicks (Ages 6-10)
August 14th 9am – 3pm
Every hero needs a sidekick! Explore nature’s sidekicks and their hero worthy roles through fun games, team challenges, crafts, and Garden explorations focused on the mutualistic cooperation that keeps nature in harmony.

FEES:
**Day Camps: $80/child ($60 for Garden Members*)**

Full payment is due at the time of registration. Scholarships may be available. Please email bgoldentyer@capefearbg.org or call 910-486-0221 x 43 for more information.

Don’t Forget to Check out our Camp T-Shirt Deals when you register.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you have questions that you do not see answered here, please contact our Education Team at bgoldentyer@capefearbg.org or 910-486-0221.

Q: What level of Membership qualifies for the discount?

A: Membership discount applies at Household Membership level, to include children. (To become a Member, click HERE.) To receive the member discount, parents and guardians registering the camper must be a current Garden member at time of registration and throughout the entire camp season.

Q. What should my child wear to camp?

A. Campers should wear clothes for exploring outside and experimenting with science and art. We love it when campers get dirty in the Garden! Close-toed shoes such as sneakers or hiking boots are required for all our camps.

Q: What should my camper bring to camp?

A: For those camps that run 9am-3pm, your child should bring a packed lunch from home and a water bottle. The Garden will provide a snack for all camps, and you are welcome to send additional snack options for your child. A typical snack be apple slices and goldfish crackers or baby carrots and pretzel sticks. If your child is enrolled in a week-long camp, a reusable water bottle will be provided.

Q: Is there a wait list?

A: Yes! CFBG camps fill up quickly. If you are interested in a camp that is full, please contact Barbara Goldentyer: bgoldentyer@capefearbg.org to be placed on a waitlist.

Q: What happens during inclement weather?

A: As long as the Garden doesn’t close due to the weather, the camps will be held indoors.

Q: Can I see pictures of camp?

A: Yes! New this year we will have a class photo portal through Class Dojo. If you allow photo permission, for your camper, you will be sent a link to login to the Class Dojo where you will have access to camp photos.

Q: Is my child allowed to participate in a camp that falls outside of their designated age range?

A: Camp staff consider age exemptions on a case-by-case basis for campers with-in one year of the camp age range. Age exemptions are only considered after the registration period for Garden Members has ended.

Q: Can my camper bring a cellphone?

A: While campers are permitted to bring cellphones for emergencies, we strongly encourage them to enjoy nature and fully engage in the camp experiences. Therefore, campers will be kindly asked to stow away their phones during camp activities. CFBG cannot be held responsible for any personal technology devices brought to our camp from home.

Q: Our plans have changed and my child cannot attend camp. What is your refund policy?

A: CFBG provides a 90% refund of paid registration fees if requested up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the camp. A 50% registration refund is available for requests made up to 4 weeks before the camp start date. Refunds will not be issued within 4 weeks of the camp start date.

Q: How do you handle Allergies and Dietary Restrictions?

A: At the Garden, we strive to accommodate allergies and dietary restrictions to ensure the health and safety of all campers. However, in some cases, it may be recommended that campers bring snacks from home. For our Culinary Connections camps, please reach out to us before registering to discuss any specific dietary needs. We are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for all campers.

BEHAVIOR POLICY

Please review our Camper Expectations & Policies HERE.