Get your kids and entire family hooked on plants and nature at one of the many youth programs at the North Carolina Botanical Garden! From preschool classes to family workshops to summer camp, our engaging, hands-on programs are designed to connect children with the natural world and cultivate a lifelong love for science-learning.
We also offer opportunities for families to explore and play on their own – outdoors in the Children’s Wonder Garden and indoors in the Peacock Discovery Room.
Nature Activities for Kids
Enjoy the great outdoors with this list of nature-themed activities for all ages to help you get your Vitamin N (nature)! Get instructions for simple activities you can do from home or here at the Garden, download nature-based scavenger hunts, and more.
Camp Flytrap 2023
Does your child love being outdoors and exploring nature? Are you looking for an engaging and enriching summer camp that features hands-on learning, small group sizes, experienced educators, and loads of fun? Camp Flytrap is for you! Registration opens Jan 31, 2023 for Household & above Members (Feb 2 for Non-Members).
Ages 3-5
Little Sprouts
Explore nature with your preschooler! Little Sprouts is a 1-hour program for children ages 3-5 with a participating caregiver. Each session has a different nature-based theme, hands-on activities, story time, take-home project, and outdoor exploration. Preregistration is required.
Ages 4-5
Bluets: Preschoolers Exploring Nature
Learning comes naturally during this drop-off series that fosters a sense of wonder for nature and science. Preschoolers explore seasonal themes, including seeds, trees, and insects, through hands-on activities, nature walks, stories, crafts, and group play. Healthy snack provided. The Garden’s experienced early childhood educators lead the program, which is uniquely tailored to meet the learning needs and curiosities of ages 4-5. Program is offered in fall, winter, and spring; each series is 4-6 sessions.
Family Workshops
Explore nature’s wonders as a family! A variety of weekend workshops – from carnivorous plants to backyard birds – offer an exciting opportunity for you to partner in your child's learning and get outside together.
Be sure to visit the
Children's Wonder Garden
Explore and play in this space designed for children of all ages. It's a work in progress, but we invite you to discover the fun features we have completed. You can jump tree stumps . . . build with natural blocks . . . dig in the dirt . . . write a note to the fairies . . . bird watch at the bird blind . . . and much more. Come back often and watch us grow!
A Guide for Boosting Children's Healthy Development and Creativity
Nature Play at Home
We recommend that parents and educators take a look at a new publication by the Natural Learning Initiative (NC State University) — “Nature Play at Home: A Guide for Boosting Children’s Healthy Development and Creativity.” Developed by the National Wildlife Federation and Natural Learning Initiative, this guide is a tool for creating enticing outdoor play spaces in your backyard, patio, or balcony.