Summer Camp

Summer Camp in Des Moines is taking a walk on the wild side!

Botanical Garden summer camps in Des Moines allow youth to explore the natural world through the lens of their favorite activities. Using the gardens as unique classrooms, our summer day camps inspire youth to create and explore with hands-on experiments, plantings, games and crafts.

All camps run 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and are designed for students in first through fifth grade in fall 2024.
All camps are capped at 14 participants.

Camp Information and Policies

Prices

Five-Day Camps:

Members $250, Nonmembers $290

Members: be sure to sign in at the top of the registration page to apply your member discount!

Member Benefits

Members receive early registration access and a discount on camp fees.

JOIN OR RENEW

2024 Summer Camps

All camps run 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and are designed for students entering first through fifth grade in fall 2024.
All camps are capped at 14 participants.

Summer Camp registration opens Thursday, January 4 for members

Summer Camp registration opens Thursday, January 11 for nonmembers at 11 a.m.

Check out our School Break Day Camps.

Spots are filling fast so grab your spot today!

June 17-21: Junior Botanists – FULL

Learn how plant scientists think, explore, and discover the amazing world of plants as we dive into botanical dissections, plantings, and experiments. With curiosity at its core, this camp is perfect for young budding scientists looking to grow their understanding of the plant kingdom!

June 24-28: Wilderness Rangers – FULL

Become a protector of nature from the plants and animals of your backyard, to endangered species all over the globe! Discover how all parts of nature work together through plantings, wilderness exploration, and discovery of wildlife hiding right under your nose.

July 8-12: Garden Artists – FULL!

The Botanical Garden’s collection of plants and unique garden spaces inspire creativity to artists of all ages. With unlimited prompts from nature, campers will explore their creative side as they grow their artistic expression through painting, sculpting, garden design, flower arranging, and more!

This camp is also offered July 22-26. These camps are identical, so there’s no need to register for more than one.

July 15-19: Garden Artists – FULL

The Botanical Garden’s collection of plants and unique garden spaces inspire creativity in artists of all ages. With unlimited prompts from nature, campers will explore their creative side as they grow their artistic expression through painting, sculpting, garden design, flower arranging, and more!

This camp is also offered July 15-19. These camps are identical, so there’s no need to register for more than one.

July 22-26: Magic in the Garden – FULL

Experience the magic of the Garden through science experiments and imagination. Students will channel their inner wizard as they are sorted into houses, assigned a plant patronus, and create their own magic wand! Enrollment will ensure proficiency in botanical potions, herbology, plant defenses against the dark arts, and more!

This camp is also offered July 29-August 2. These camps are identical, so there’s no need to register for more than one.

July 29-August 2: Magic in the Garden – FULL!

Experience the magic of the Garden through science experiments and imagination. Students will channel their inner wizard as they are sorted into houses, assigned a plant patronus, and create their own magic wand! Enrollment will ensure proficiency in botanical potions, herbology, plant defenses against the dark arts, and more!

This camp is also offered July 22-26. These camps are identical, so there’s no need to register for more than one.

August 5-9: Wonderful Water – FULL!

Discover the unsuspecting force that makes life on Earth possible–water! From the first plants that emerged from deep, dark oceans to predatory aquatic plants lurking in the world today, investigate the vital connection between plants and water.

August 5-9: NEW! Guardians of the Garden – FULL

Team up with the best gardeners in the galaxy as we dig up secrets about the awesome power of plants from all corners of the globe. From medicine and food, to engineering and building materials, plants might just be the heroes this world needs.

Keep the Fun Growing!

Check out our School Break Day Camps. Spots are filling fast so grab your spot today!

School Break Camps

Camp Logistics

  • All camps are designed for students entering first through fifth grade in fall 2024. 

  • All camps are capped at 14 participants.

  • Prices are listed per child per camp and includes a camp souvenir, supplies for all activities and multiple projects to take home and enjoy.

  • Youth should bring a sack lunch to enjoy. Refrigeration is not provided. 

Camp Information and Policies

Multi-Age Classrooms
Advantages and benefits to cross-grade learning:

  • Encourages youth of all ages to learn together

  • Promotes cooperation and mentoring

  • Children learn at their own pace

  • Younger children look for guidance from the older students

  • Older students organically develop leadership skills

  • Allows older children to revisit and fully understand complex concepts while the younger students are being introduced to the idea

  • Educators have the capability to work with children individually or in a group with similar abilities and understanding regardless of age

Summer Camp Testimonials

Parents Tell us What They Love About our Summer Camp

“I loved how excited my son was about everything he was doing. I think it was a really special week for him. From my perspective the hours were really nice because we live in West Des Moines, so getting him down there took a little time. When I came for drop-off and pick-up I thought the environment seemed really positive and supportive. The staff always seemed excited and pleasant, so I felt good leaving him there.”

“We felt like the kids actually learned something valuable; mixing it up with the plant information, arts and crafts as well as outdoor fun. From what we saw come home and from what the kids told us each day it couldn’t have been more positive.”

“I like that they were busy all day…[my daughter] was proud of what she did and…you create an environment where the child is empowered to make things at home and that’s awesome.”

“My experience of some camps at other institutions is chaotic, exhausting for the campers. Every time I encountered the campers and staff the environment was calm.”

“That my kids loved it! They were excited to go each day, which means a lot!”

“The staff seemed knowledgeable and the size of the camp/counselor ratio was comforting.”

“I liked that the enrollment was small and there weren’t lots of kids in other camps simultaneously. He’s done a couple of other camps…and sometimes there are just too many kids there for us.”

“Excellent small group sizes, activities and topics for learning. Staff was also wonderful. These were the best camps we went to this summer. Well done!!”