Camps
We have nine weeks of summer camp plus multiple mini camps throughout the year! |
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| Squirrel Scouts (Previously Turtle Tots) | Explorers | Naturalists (Previously Trailblazers) |
| 4 year olds to Kindergarteners | 1st and 2nd graders | 3rd and 4th graders |
Summer Camp
June – August 2024
Registration opened February 1, 2024 at 6 AM EST
Squirrel Scouts
4 year old to Kindergarteners
Kindergarten Extension Option until 3pm from June 26-August 18th (for rising kindergarteners only)
$350 per week
+$100 per week for kindergarten extension
(Extension is SOLD OUT/waitlist available)
| June 24-28th | July 1-3rd | July 8-12th | ||
| Habitats | Plant Power | Incredible Invertebrates | ||
| 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. | Trees, leaves, and flowers: Did you know plants have powers? Take a look into the life cycle of a plant, and explore the forest’s trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and more. | Dive into the world of insects. Get outside and learn about their homes, body parts, and life cycles. Even more, meet live insects like bees, butterflies, and beetles. |
| July 15-19th | July 22-26th | July 29th-August 2nd | ||
| Birds in Your Backyard | Animal Jobs | So You Want to Work at an Arboretum | ||
| “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. | 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, planters and pollinators. | Arboretums don’t run themselves! Learn what it takes to be a botanist, entomologist, forester, or a variety of other jobs that help keep natural lands not only beautiful, but healthy as well. |
| August 5-9th | August 12-16th | August 19-23rd | ||
| Water Week | Art in Nature | Nature Detectives | ||
| Water is all around us, but where does it come from, and where does it go? Interact with water play, the water cycle, and experience a summer snow day during water week! | Explore lines, patterns, symmetry, colors, and shapes that occur naturally in our world. Create works of art with, in, and inspired by nature. | 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! |
Explorers
June 24th – August 16th 9am-3pm
Rising 1st and 2nd Graders
$450 per week
| June 24-28th | July 1-3rd | July 8-12th | ||
| Animal Survival Games | Rocks | Habitats | ||
| It’s game time in the forest! Put on your skunk ears, practice your growl, and join your friends. This week is full of nature-based play, learning all about how animals survive in the wilderness. | Have you ever wondered how rocks are formed? How do mountains get so tall? Come learn about the different rock types, how those rocks got here, and what kinds of rocks are found in your backyard. | What’s the best habitat for me? Learn all about different habitats around the world and what makes them the perfect place for various plants and animals to live. |
| July 15-19th | July 22-26th | July 29th-August 2nd | ||
| Animal Jobs | Skin You’re In | Animal Adaptations | ||
| 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 animals contributing to the community of producers, consumers, and decomposers. | Whether furry, slimy, scaly, or smooth, skin is important. Learn about different types of animals and how their bodies are adapted to survive and thrive in their environment. | Animals have incredible abilities; each helping them survive and thrive in the wild. Uncover the wonders of wild animals in your own backyard and learn what makes each one unique. |
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August 5-9th
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August 12-16th | |
| Plants | Water | |
| Trees, leaves, and flowers: Did you know plants have powers? Take a look into the life cycle of a plant, and explore the forest’s trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and even the plants that we and other animals eat. | What is the health status of our local streams, ponds, and rivers? How can we help protect these bodies of water? How can invertebrates help us understand the overall health of our waterways? |
Naturalists
August 19th – 30th 9am-3pm
Rising 3rd and 4th Graders
$450 per week
| August 19-23rd | August 26-30th | |
| Plants | Survival | |
| Trees, leaves, and flowers: Did you know plants have powers? Take a look into the life cycle of a plant, and explore the forest’s trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and even the plants that we and other animals eat. | If you were lost in the woods, how would you survive? Under the guidance of an environmental educator, campers will learn basic skills including shelter building, map and compass orienteering, and first aid. |
Parent/Guardian Handbook
Please read through our Parent/Guardian handbook for useful information about Arboretum program rules and procedures. All program participants need to sign and return the agreement (found on the last page) two weeks before the start of a camp and/or Arboretum program. 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.