Nature Explorers Summer Camp
Nature Explorers Summer Camps offer children ages 4 - 10 an exciting opportunity to learn about North Carolina's ecology and natural history by exploring the native gardens, woodlands, and wetlands at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill. Our unique camps are designed to foster environmental knowledge and inspire a sense of wonder through direct experiences with the natural world, including hands-on explorations, garden and trail hikes, games, and crafts. Our green Education Center provides comfortable indoor classroom space, but the great outdoors will be our place for play, investigation, and discovery. All sessions are taught by experienced environmental educators and maintain a camper-staff ratio of 5 to 1. Register early as space is limited!
- 2012 Camps ↓
- Registration and Camp Brochure ↓
- Release Forms ↓
- Scholarships ↓
- Counselors-in-Training (CIT) ↓
- FAQ ↓
2012 Camps
Note: ALL CAMP SESSIONS ARE NOW FULL! Join us next year—information available in January.
For 4 - 5 year olds:
GARDEN SAFARI
Dates: June 11 - 15; June 18 - 22; August 6 - 10
Time: 9 am - 12 pm
Also: June 11 - 15, 1:30 - 4:30 pm
Fee: $135 ($120 members)
For 6 - 7 year olds:
HANDS-ON HABITAT
Date: June 25 - 29
Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Fee: $300 ($270 members)
For 6 - 7 year olds:
AQUATIC ADVENTURES
Date: July 23 - 27
Time: 9 am - 1 pm (includes lunchtime)
Fee: $170 ($155 members)
For 8 - 10 year olds:
JUNIOR NATURALISTS
Date: July 9 - 13
Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Fee: $300 ($270 members)
Registration and Camp Brochure
Registration for members opens on February 8. Registration for the general public opens on February 15. View the camp brochure to see full camp descriptions, the Camp Registration Form, and to review registration instructions and policies.
Release Forms
Please note: THESE ARE NOT REGISTRATION FORMS. Do not submit these forms until AFTER you have received a registration confirmation e-mail.
Your registration confirmation by e-mail will include several required forms as attachments to the e-mail. You may also download the forms here, beginning February 8. To confirm your child's registration, you must complete these forms by May 1. Your child cannot attend camp unless these forms are completed, signed, and returned. Print, complete, and sign all of the forms and return them to the NCBG at this address:
ATTN: Elisha Taylor
North Carolina Botanical Garden
Campus Box 3357, UNC
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
You may also hand-deliver the forms to the reception desk at the Garden during regular business hours. Please contact Elisha Taylor at 919-962-0522 or by e-mail with any questions about these forms.
- Contract and Camper Information Form
- General and Medical Release Form
- Health Information Form
- Medicine Information Form (only if camper must take medicine during camp hours)
Scholarships
The Garden offers limited need-based scholarships to those who could not otherwise participate in camp. To apply for a scholarship, please submit the Camp Scholarship Application in addition to your registration form. Scholarship applications must be received by Monday, April 9, 2012. Selected scholarship recipients will be notified by Friday, April 13. Please contact Elisha Taylor with questions.
Donate to the NATURE EXPLORERS SCHOLARSHIP FUND!
Please help give all children the opportunity to experience summer camp and the wonders of nature! Donate online now: http://giving.unc.edu/gift/bot (select "Nature Explorers Scholarships for Children" in the select-a-fund window).
Counselors-in-Training (CIT)
The North Carolina Botanical Garden welcomes teen volunteers to serve as assistants to camp counselors in the Nature Explorers Summer Camp. CITs help with set-up and clean-up; after care; preparing crafts and projects; and engaging children during nature hikes, games, crafts, and hands-on activities. CITs participate in a required orientation and training in early June. Applicants must be 15 years of age and be able to assist with at least 2 weeks of camp. Being a CIT is a great opportunity to fulfill high school service-learning hour requirements and gain experience in environmental education!
Please complete and submit the Counselor-in-Training Application by Monday, April 16, 2012. The Camp Director will interview applicant finalists at the end of April.
FAQ
Q: What kinds of camps do you offer and for what ages?
A: Our unique camps are designed to foster environmental knowledge and inspire a sense of wonder through direct experiences with the natural world, including hands-on activities, trail walks, games, crafts, nature stories, and more. Campers will learn about North Carolina's ecology and natural history by exploring the native gardens, woodlands, and wetlands at UNC's North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill.
We offer camps for children ages 4 through 10. Sessions are divided by age groups: 4 - 5, 6 - 7, and 8 - 10 years old. Please refer to the brochure for details.
Q: When does registration begin?
A: Registration for members opens on February 8; registration for the general public opens on February 15.
Q: How do I register?
A: View the brochure to see full camp descriptions, the Camp Registration Form, and to review registration instructions and policies. You will need a completed 2-page Camp Registration Form and payment (in full) either by check or credit card. We accept Visa and MasterCard. Registrations may be mailed or hand-delivered. Phone registrations are NOT accepted. (Separate forms are required for each child.)
Q: Do Botanical Garden members receive priority registration?
A. Yes, Botanical Garden members receive priority throughout the entire registration process, and priority on wait lists. A member is anyone who is a current member or anyone who chooses to join at the time of registration.
Q. Why should I buy a family membership? How much does it cost?
A. Members at the family level receive 10% off camp fees. Members also receive a 10% discount on other Garden classes and workshops, Garden Birthday Parties, in the Garden Shop and Plant Sale; and they can receive one free designated plant and eight free packets of native plant seeds in the spring, as well as invitations to special Garden-sponsored events—not to mention the satisfaction of supporting a garden committed to conservation!
A family membership costs $60. If you would like to become a member, please download the membership form. Print, complete and include membership form with separate payment to the Botanical Garden Foundation with your registration.
Q: When will I receive confirmation?
A: You will be notified by e-mail of your child's camp registration status within one week of registration receipt. Please do NOT call regarding confirmation information since answering these calls slows the registration process!
Q: What are the dates and times of your camps—are they half or full day?
A: The specific dates and times vary depending on the camp session. Camps for 4 - 5 year olds run 3 hours. Camps for 6 - 10 year olds run half or full days. Please refer to the brochure for details about specific sessions.
Q: How much do camps cost? A: That depends on the particular camp session, the age of the child, and the length of the day. It also depends on whether or not you are a Garden member. Members receive a 10% discount on camp fees. Camps fees range from $120 - $300. Please see the brochure for details.
Q: Do you offer discounts for families sending more than one child to camp?
A: Sorry, no. We do not offer discounts for families sending multiple children to camp.
Q: What is the ratio of campers to counselors?
A: Our group sizes are small, with a camper to staff ratio of 6:1 at most.
Q: How many children are in each session?
A: Camps for 4 - 5 year olds have 10 spaces, while camps for older kids have up to 16 spaces.
Q: Can my child attend more than one camp session during the summer?
A: Your child may attend all of the different theme options within their age group. For the 2012 camp season, this applies only to the 2 sessions for 6 - 7 year olds: Hands-On Habitat and Aquatic Adventures. Campers may not repeat the same theme more than once.
Q: Do you offer extended care?
A: Yes! We offer after care for camps ending at 3:30 pm, extending until 5 pm. After care is an additional $35 per week.
Q. All of the camp sessions I'm interested in are filled. Can I place my child on a wait list?
A. Yes. To place a child on a wait list, you still need to submit a completed registration form. Payment is NOT processed unless the child gets into camp. If a space does become available, you will be notified by phone. You can call anytime to have your child removed from the list. If we contact you because a space has opened up, and you are no longer able and/or interested in attending, you have right of first refusal.
Q. What is your cancellation policy?
A. NCBG reserves the right to cancel a camp session if there is insufficient enrollment. If a session is cancelled, all fees will be fully refunded. If you remove your child from a camp session before it begins, membership fees are non-refundable and the following refund policy applies:
REFUND POLICY BEFORE MAY 15, 2012:
Your camp fee is fully refundable less a $25 cancellation fee per camp, provided that you submit your cancellation request in writing to the Education Department.
REFUND POLICY AFTER MAY 15, 2012: Cancellations must be made in writing at least 10 working days before the first day of the camp in which your child is registered, in order to be eligible for a 50% refund less a $25 cancellation fee/camp.
There will be no refunds for cancellations made fewer than 10 business days before the camp's start date.
Last updated by Laura Cotterman on May 03, 2012 at 03:40:55 pm.
