Garden Camps
Knowledge and fun bloom year-round with the Garden’s updated schedule of day camps offered to children and youth ages 5 – 12.
Spring Break Camp
April 1 – 3, ages 6 – 8
Summer Camps
Storybook Camp:
June 3 – June 7, ages 7 – 10
June 24 – June 28, ages 5 – 7 – SOLD OUT
Junior Garden Chefs :
June 10 – June 14, ages 8 – 12 – SOLD OUT
July 22 – July 26, ages 6 – 8 – SOLD OUT
Adventures in the Garden:
July 8 – July 12, ages 5 – 7 – SOLD OUT
July 15 – July 19, ages 7 – 10 – SOLD OUT
SOLD OUT: Spring Break Science Camp
Spring into science at the Garden, and experiment with plant engineering, adaptations, and seasonal changes.
Schedule:
Monday – Wednesday, April 1-3, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Ages: 6 – 8
Fee: $225/child (Member $200)
Deadline: March 18
Join waitlist
Storybook Camp
Tumble down the rabbit hole into our magical camp filled with stories, fairy tales, and adventures.
Schedule:
Ages 7 – 10: June 3 – June 7
Ages 5 – 7: June 24 – June 28 – SOLD OUT
Fee: $375 ($350 Member)
Deadline: May 1
non-member registration june 3 – june 7
member registration june 3 – june 7
join waitlist for june 24 – june 28 camp
SOLD OUT: Junior Garden Chefs
Where does food come from? What meals can be prepared using freshly harvested produce? Campers find out the answers to these questions and more as they gather, investigate and prepare a tasty lunch and two snacks in the Edible Garden Outdoor Kitchen. Yum!
Schedule:
Ages 8 – 12: June 10 – June 14 – SOLD OUT
Ages 6 – 8: July 22 -July 26 – SOLD OUT
Fee: $475 ($425 Members)
Deadline: May 1
SOLD OUT: Adventures in the Garden
Explore and discover the marvelous world of the Atlanta Botanical Garden. From tantalizing rainforests to mysterious bogs, campers will spend each day learning about the plants and animals living in the Garden. With the Garden as our inspiration, we will create art, play fun games and go on Garden adventures.
Schedule:
Ages 5 – 7: July 8 – July 12 – SOLD OUT
Ages 7 – 10: July 15 – July 19 – SOLD OUT
Fee: $375 ($350 member price)
Deadline: May 1
Garden Break Camp FAQs
How many campers are enrolled each week and what is your camper to teacher ratio?
School break camp teacher ratio: The maximum number of campers in each school break camp is 14. They will be joined by 2 teachers.
Summer camp teacher ratio: 21 campers are enrolled each week. Two teachers will be with the group the entire time with a third staff member rotating in and out of the group as needed. For the cooking camps, we have an additional 3 – 4 volunteers and a chef so we can ensure adequate supervision during cooking activities. Those extra adults help us break campers into groups of 4 – 5 so they can each participate closely with the cooking activities.
Are you a nut free camp?
Yes! We are a nut-free camp.
What kinds of things do you cook during the cooking camp?
The Garden is our inspiration and each day we cook a variety of foods for the campers to try. Here are a couple past menus from camp:
Day One:
- Morning Snack: Apple Rings (apples cut into rings and topped with camper’s choice of sunbutter, roasted coconut chips, chocolate chips, and/or a nut free granola)
- Lunch: Cauliflower Crust Pizza with various toppings (some from the Edible Garden!), Tropical Green Salad, Breadsticks and Fruit
- Afternoon Snack: Strawberry Lemon Tiramisu
Day Two:
- Morning Snack: Strawberry Mascarpone Sandwiches
- Lunch: Homemade Pasta (a favorite to make with campers – expect a pasta day this year too!) with camper’s choice of either basil/sunflower seed pesto or marinara sauce, green bean salad, grilled bread and fresh fruit
- Afternoon Snack: Fruit Pizza
Can you accommodate food allergies?
Yes! We will do our absolute best and will work with the parents to ensure that each camper has options to eat throughout the day. We cannot always change our menu for a food allergy, but we can offer a store bought alternative. For example, if a camper has a gluten allergy and we are making homemade flour tortillas, at the time of eating, we will offer the camper store bought corn tortillas. If we are making strawberry lemon tiramisu, we won’t be able to make gluten free lady fingers, but we could give the camper a gluten free sugar cookie to top with the tiramisu toppings.
What do you do if a camper doesn’t want to try something?
We do not force campers to try foods they aren’t comfortable with eating. We will always encourage campers to try what they made, but we do not require them to try everything. What they choose to eat is entirely up to them.
What is your refund policy?
School break camp refund policy: Full refunds will be granted if requested at least 4 weeks before the start of camp. If a refund is requested less than 4 weeks before the start of camp, they will only be granted if the vacancy is filled.
Summer camp refund policy: A $50 administration fee will be charged for refunds requested before May 1. After May 1, a $50 administration fee will be charged and the remaining balance will only be refunded if the vacancy is filled.
Summer camp registration opens online only on February 1, at 9 a.m.
How much time do you spend in the Garden?
Our camp is based in the Mershon Hall Children’s Classroom. Every morning we go on a Garden adventure. Additionally, we are outside for lunch and free time (weather permitting) and outside again for a brief afternoon activity. Each day of camp we try to visit a different area of the Garden.
What are some of the activities the campers do during Garden-based (non-cooking) camps?
Each day we explore a theme, such as rainforest, meat-eating plants, fairies, flowers, etc. We may make a flower crown, dig for earthworms, dissect a pitcher plant to see what kinds of bugs it has been eating, sculpt an imaginary dragon egg, plant a terrarium, or play a pollination relay race. When planning our schedule, each day will include Garden explorations/observations, an open-ended art activity, and lots of games.
What are your COVID-19 precautions?
We will follow CDC recommendations to keep campers safe and will have an air purifier running in the classroom during camp.
Do you have before or after care?
Unfortunately, we do not offer before or after care for our camps. Camp drop-off begins as early as 8:45 a.m. and all campers must be picked up by 4:05 p.m. Parents will be charged $1 per minute after 4:05 for a late pickup.
Do you provide snacks?
No – we are not providing snacks this year. Campers will need to bring their own snacks, ideally packed separately from their lunch. We have 2 snack times every day (once around 10:30 a.m. and again around 2:30 p.m.)
Do you visit the Splash Pad?
School Break Camps: No. Enchanted Forest and Spring Celebration campers will not visit the splash pad during their camp.
Summer Camps: Yes. Weather (and COVID-19) permitting, we visit the splash pad on Fridays.
What expectations do you have for younger campers?
We expect all campers to take care of their own personal needs and property. Campers should be able to go to the bathroom on their own, change their own clothes, and carry their own bag. We also expect campers to follow directions and stay with the group so we can keep everyone safe.
What is your medicine policy?
Campers are not allowed to bring any medications, prescription or over-the-counter, to camp. The only exceptions are Epipens, an inhaler, or other life-saving medication that must be with your camper during the camp day. If your child brings Epipens, they need to be clearly labeled with his/her name on it and they must always carry it with them (a light backpack or fanny pack is recommended.) Please bring the Epipen set instead of an individual dose. Contact us at registrar@atlantabg.org if you would like to discuss possible exceptions to this rule.