Upcoming Camps

Adult Classes | Certificate in Native Plant Studies | Discovery Field Trips | Southern Institute of Photography


Choose from a variety of favorite topics including nature and the outdoors, plants and our environment, cooking, art and more! Programs are designed to actively promote your child’s natural sense of creativity and discovery with fun learning experiences in the unmatched setting at Birmingham Botanical Gardens!

New this summer: Camps for 4 and 5 year-olds entering fall preschool programs!

All sessions are taught by certified or otherwise qualified teachers. Bring your own lunch and water bottle; a light is snack provided. Registration begins March 1 for Members and March 15 for all others. Pre-registration is required. Register early! Limited spaces fill quickly. T-shirts will be available for purchase on the first day of camp!

Camps are $128 Members (Hydrangea level and above) and $160 Non-Members unless otherwise noted. For more information or to register by phone, contact Education Program Coordinator Ellen Hardy at 205.414.3953 or ehardy@bbgardens.org.


Explore The Gardens with Winnie the Pooh
For 4 and 5-year-olds entering fall preschool programs

Instructors: Mary Marcoux & Fontaine Haskell
May 31-June 3 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
$102 Members* | $128 Non-Members

Come help Winnie search for summer treasures such as bees, caterpillars, butterflies and other creepy crawlies. We will learn how certain insects help flowers make seeds and plant our own little mini gardens to take home. Art projects, games, stories and songs will enhance each day's discoveries.

Painting and Pastels in The Gardens
For children entering 3rd-6th grades
Instructor: Mary Jane Coker
May 31-June 3 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
$102 Members* | $128 Non-Members

This exclusive camp gives artists the opportunity to combine mediums and experiment with charcoal, chalk pastels, oil pastels, watercolors and acrylic paints to create unique pieces of art inspired by the gardens we will visit.


Nature Explorers
For 4 and 5-year-olds entering fall preschool programs
Instructor: Ashley Harper

June 6-10 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Get ready to explore a new garden path each day as you discover the many habitats at The Gardens and the wonder of nature. Let your discoveries inspire fun nature projects as well as tasty snack creations.

Water Wonders: Raindrops, Streams and Ponds
For children entering 5K-2nd grades
Instructors: Mary Marcoux & Fontaine Haskell
June 6-10 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Water is an irresistible magnet, as well as something needed by all living things. Join us in exploring the water features at The Gardens. We will discover some fascinating things about water, including how nature recycles this precious resource. Participants will create Japanese watercolor scroll paintings and plant individual terrariums, along with learning some new ways to celebrate the wonders of water by carrying out simple experiments!

Garden Adventures with American Girl
For children entering 5K-2nd grades
Instructors: Robin and Emmeline Geurs, mother/daughter team
June 6-10 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Come explore The Gardens through the eyes of an "American Girl" with daily arts/ crafts, stories, songs, recipes and nature projects inspired by the lives of characters such as Kit, Molly and Julie!

Art in the Afternoon: Paper Mache Pollinators
For children entering 5K-2nd grades
Instructor: Brooke Carruthers
June 13-17 | 1-4:00 p.m.
$96 Members* | $120 Non-Members

Explore The Gardens’ many insect habitats and discover pollinators from bugs, bees- even bats. Cool off afterwards with paper mache and other fun activities inspired by all the discoveries we will make!

Art in the Afternoon: Printmaking in The Gardens
For children entering 3rd-6th grades
Instructor: Mary Jane Coker
June 13-17 | 1-4:00 p.m.
$96 Members* | $120 Non-Members

Artists will explore monoprinting, wood and linoleum carving and a painting technique called aquatint. All prints will be made from drawings done throughout The Gardens.

Calling all Flower Fairies - SOLD OUT!
For 4 and 5-year-olds entering fall preschool programs
Instructors: Lisa Dolensky assisted by Christina, mother/daughter team
June 20-24 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Earn your wings, wands, tiaras and tutus exploring garden glam creatures, flowers, plants & fairy lore through drama, dance, fairy journals, costume crafts, painting, nature studies and a garden tea party as fancy as Nancy!


Garden Adventures with American Girl - SOLD OUT!
For children entering 5K-2nd grades
Instructors: Robin and Emmeline Geurs, mother/daughter team
June 20-24 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Come explore The Gardens through the eyes of an "American Girl" with daily arts/ crafts, stories, songs, recipes and nature projects inspired by the lives of characters such as Kit, Molly and Julie!


Southern Summer Chefs
For children entering 5K-2nd grades
Instructor: Ashley Harper
June 27-July 1 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Join us for five days full of harvesting, smelling, tasting, creating and cooking at The Gardens! Bring in your favorite recipe to submit for our own cookbook, paint an apron and plant your very own kitchen garden to take home so you can have fun cooking and tasting all summer!


Southern Summer Chefs
For children entering 3rd-6th grades
Instructor: Donna Long
June 27-July 1 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Join us for five days full of harvesting, smelling, tasting, creating and cooking at The Gardens! Bring in your favorite recipe to submit for our own cookbook, paint an apron and plant your very own kitchen garden to take home so you can have fun cooking and tasting all summer!


Monet’s Garden
For children entering 3rd-6th grades
Instructor: Donna Long
July 11-15 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Capture the bright colors and life in The Gardens this summer through the eyes of an artist. Projects include painting Japanese bridge reflections and water lilies, just like Monet. The various gardens we visit will inform the daily themes.


Let’s Dig Up Some Fun
For children entering 5K-2nd grades
Instructor: Jenifer Harper
July 18-22 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Do you like to dig in the soil? Meet some other creatures who like to do the same thing- and help our environment while doing so. We’ll explore the wonder of “wigglers” and the magic of plants.


Animal Adventures from the Egg and Beyond
For children entering 3rd-6th grades
Instructor: Helena Uber-Wamble
July 18-22 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Learn about animals both large and small who start out by hatching from an egg. Each day we will feature a different group of animals.


Bug Expedition
For 4 and 5-year-olds entering fall preschool programs
Instructors: Lisa Dolensky assisted by Christina, mother/daughter team
July 25-29 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Insectigate garden critters and habitats through games, creative story telling/dictation, illustration, buggy crafts, sensory centers and scientific studies inspired by Eric Carle read- alouds.


It’s a Buggy World - SOLD OUT!
For children entering 5K-2nd grades
Instructor: Brooke Carruthers
July 25-29 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

A classic favorite returns this summer. Explore The Gardens’ many insect habitats to discover bees and a world of other insects. Craft special “buggy” art/nature projects as well as special snacks, all inspired by discoveries we will make!

 


Parent and Camper Quotes, Summer 2010
“This has been the best day ever!” (Every day after camp)
“It was a good educational experience.”
“Loved the small class sizes.”
“A fun social outlet with opportunities to be outdoors.”
“Great, efficient, half day camp that helped nurture her love of nature and art.”
“Developed confidence in her art skills and met new friends!”
“He was able to spend time doing something other than electronics.”
“A fun, hands-on summer activity in a wonderful environment.”