Camps
It's camp time at CHA!
We have 9 weeks of summer camp plus multiple mini camps throughout the year!
| Squirrel Scouts |
| 4 year olds and Kindergarteners |
| Explorers |
| 1st and 2nd graders |
| Naturalists |
| 3rd and 4th graders |
February Mini Camp
February 17-21, 2025
Squirrel Scouts: 9 AM-Noon
$75/day or $350/week
+$20/day for Kindergarten Extension
Explorers: 9 AM-3 PM
$95/day or $450/week
Mid-winter break mini camp at the Arboretum gives children a chance to explore the chilly wooded landscape while learning all about the plants and animals that call this winter habitat home. Enjoy environmental education taught by seasoned educators with activities including guided hikes, crafts, games, and animal encounters. All campers should bring a snack and dress for the outdoors. Explorers and kindergarteners in extension should also bring a lunch. Pre-registration, health forms, and membership are required. You can register for one day or the whole week.
Registration opened January 1, 2025
April Mini Camp
April 14-18, 2025
Squirrel Scouts: 9 AM-Noon
$75/day or $350/week
+$20/day for Kindergarten Extension
Explorers: 9 AM-3 PM
$95/day or $450/week
Spring time at the Arboretum give campers chance to explore new growth in the forest. From tiny flowers to newly hatched insects, the forest is teeming with life at this time of year. During this camp week, children will identify signs of spring, search for plants and animals throughout the forest, and enjoy the warm weather in the woods. All programs are taught by seasoned environmental educators and include activities such as guided hikes, crafts, games, story time, and animal encounters. All campers should bring a snack and an extra set of clothes. Please ensure campers are dressed for the outdoors. Explorers and kindergarteners in extension should also bring a lunch. Pre-registration, health forms, and membership are required. You can register for one day or the whole week.
Registration opens February 1, 2025
June Mini Camp
June 16-20 & June 23-27, 2025
Squirrel Scouts: 9 AM-Noon
$75/day or $350/week
+$20/day for Kindergarten Extension
Explorers: 9 AM-3 PM (Available June 23-27 only)
$95/day or $450/week
Summer is here are we can wait to explore the lush green forest! We are excited to offer two weeks of June mini camp for Squirrel Scouts and, for the first time, a week of Explorers June mini camp as well! This mini camp offers opportunities to experience nature through stories, crafts, games, scavenger hunts, hands-on science, and animal encounters. The forest is thriving at this time of year and we welcome campers to learn all about the living and non-living things that can be found in the woodlands at this time of year. All campers should bring a snack and an extra set of clothes. Please ensure campers are dressed for the outdoors. Explorers and kindergarteners in extension should also bring a lunch. Pre-registration, health forms, and membership are required. You can register for one day or the whole week.
Registration opens on February 1, 2025
Summer Camp
June - August 2025
Close to nature, close to home.
Provide your child with the gift of nature this summer! CHA’s Nature Discovery Camp is a place to not just learn about, but also experience nature through hands-on-science, themed story time, crafts, songs, and an abundance of time outside among the trees. With guidance from experienced environmental educators, campers will explore a variety of week long topics throughout the summer. All summer camp sessions require a full week of registration. Pre-registration and health forms are required.
Registration opens on February 1, 2025 at 6 AM
Squirrel Scouts
| June 30-July 3 |
| Animal Jobs |
The animals are hard at work, so come on down to the arboretum to see just what they’re up to. Discover how ecosystems stay balanced with builders and clean up crews, as well as planters and pollinators. Learn about animals big and small that make a difference in the wild world around us. |
| July 7-11 |
| Plant Power |
Trees, leaves, and flowers: do you know that plants have powers? Take a look into the life cycle of a plant, and explore the forest’s trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. Identify parts of plants and learn to distinguish between various species of plants in our forest. |
| July 14-18 |
| Incredible Invertebrates |
Dive into the world of insects. Get outside and learn about their homes, body parts, and life cycles. Discover what makes various species similar and what makes them unique? What’s more – meet live insects like bees, butterflies, and beetles. |
| July 21-25 |
| Habitats |
What makes a good habitat? Learn all about different habitats around the world and what makes them the perfect place for various plants and animals to live. Get hands-on experience in our deciduous forest habitat and discover deserts, oceans, rainforests, and more through stories, biofacts, and play-based learning. |
| July 28-August 1 |
Brilliant Birds |
“Soar” through the arboretum as you study birds and what makes them unique. Learn about their eggs, nest building, feathers, and specific adaptations that allow them to survive and thrive in the wild. Identify various species of birds that live in an around CHA during the summer months. |
| August 4-8 |
Art in Nature |
Explore lines, patterns, symmetry, colors, and shapes that occur naturally in our world. Discover why art is important to scientists and how elements and principles help naturalists observe species. Each day, create works of art with, in, and inspired by nature. |
| August 11-15 |
| Water Week |
| Water is all around us, but where does it come from, and where does it go? Learn about the water cycle and ways in which water serves as a survival tool and enrichment. Don’t forget to cool down with water games and interactive water play. |
| August 18-22 |
| So You Want to Work at an Arboretum |
Arboretums don’t run themselves! Learn what it takes to be a botanist, entomologist, forester, or a variety of other nature-based careers from the scientists themselves! Discover how these people keep our natural lands not only beautiful, but healthy as well. |
| August 25-29 |
| Nature Detectives |
| Get your magnifying glass and notepad ready, because it’s sleuthing time! Inspect your surroundings and determine what wildlife has been hanging around. Learn about nature’s most wanted and track them down using your five senses! |
Registration opens on February 1, 2025 at 6 AM
Explorers
| June 30-July 3 |
| Metamorphosis |
| Spring and summer are full of growth and change. Familiarize yourself with the act of metamorphosis and study a variety of animals that go through this incredible process. |
| July 7-11 |
| Brilliant Birds |
| “Soar” through the arboretum as you study birds and what makes them unique. Learn about their eggs, nest building, feathers, and specific adaptations that allow them to survive and thrive in the wild. Identify various species of birds that live in an around CHA during the summer months. |
| July 14-18 |
| Senses |
| Can snakes smell? How do turtle hear? Using research and observation skills, answer these questions and more! Use your own senses of smell, touch, hearing, and sight to experience the natural world and determine ways in which animals’ senses differ from our own. |
| July 21-25 |
| Spineless Creatures |
| Dive into the world of invertebrates. Get outside and learn about their homes, body parts, and life cycles. Discover what makes various species similar and what makes them unique? What’s more, meet live creatures like bees, butterflies, beetles, and spiders. |
| July 28-August 1 |
| Wonders of Water |
| Water is all around us, but where does it come from, and where does it go? Learn about the water cycle and ways in which water serves as a survival tool and enrichment. Don’t forget to cool down with water games and interactive water play. |
Registration opens February 1, 2025 at 6 AM
Explorers
| August 4-8 |
| Wonders of Water |
| Water is all around us, but in what form, and how is it used? Learn about the water cycle and ways in which water serves as a survival tool and enrichment for plants and animals. Use books and biofacts to explore different water habitats, and participate in water-based play. |
| August 11-15 |
| Spineless Creatures |
| Dive into the world of invertebrates. Get outside and learn about their homes, body parts, and life cycles. Discover what makes various species similar and what makes them unique? What’s more, meet live creatures like bees, butterflies, beetles, and spiders. |
| August 18-22 |
| Community Science |
From in-the-field experience to data collection, community science is the program for all science and nature-loving campers. Use scientific instruments and processes to observe the forest ecosystem. Then make and test hypotheses in search of answers to your own questions. |
| August 25-29 |
| Survival |
| If you were lost in the woods, how would you survive? Under the guidance of environmental educators, campers will learn basic skills including shelter building, map and compass orienteering, and first aid. |
Registration opens February 1, 2025 at 6 AM
Parent/Guardian Handbook
Please read through our Parent/Guardian handbook for useful information about Arboretum program rules and procedures. You can download the Parent/Guardian Handbook here: Parent Camp Handbook
Cancellation Policy
Registrations are accepted in the order in which they are received. All cancellation requests must be made in writing. In order to obtain a refund, cancellations must be made at least 30 days prior to the start of camp. Any cancellations made after the 30 days will only receive a refund if we are able to fill the spot. Refund amounts do not include service fees. CHA reserves the right to cancel any program and CHA will refund the full amount that was paid.
