Camp Discovery
Camp Discovery 2023 at the Elizabethan Gardens starts Monday, June 26th! Campers will enjoy a fun-filled summer of nature-based games, activities, crafts, and more. The goal of our camp program is to foster appreciation and love for the environment through hands-on learning experiences.
Week-long Day Camps
Seedlings Camp – Ages 5-6
June 26th – June 29th
Garden Explorers: How does a seed become a flower? In Garden Explorers week, campers will learn about the amazing world of plants. Dirt will be dug, seeds will be planted, and campers will become scientists as they explore plants in a whole new way.
Sprouts Camp- Ages 7-8
July 10th – July 13th
Wings, Scales, and Tails: What would you do if you had wings? What is the difference between lizards and frogs? This week campers will investigate creatures of the forest. Owl pellets will be dissected and nature walks will have campers looking up and down for all the tiny creatures that call the Garden home.
Clovers Camp – Ages 9-10
July 17th – July 20th
Water, Water Everywhere: Splish, Splash! Join us for a wet and wild week of water. Campers will explore where water comes from and navigate through the water cycle. Outdoor activities and games will be wet and messy!
Trail Blazers Camp- Ages 11-12
1st session: July 24th- July 27th
Eco Adventurers: This camp is packed with high-energy adventures like hiking, outdoor survival learning and games, predicting weather patterns, and learning to use maps and a compass to navigate through the Gardens. Campers will identify trees and learn about plants that benefit people. This camp includes a beach day that takes campers on a hike offsite.
2nd session: July 31st – August 3rd
Junior Naturalist: Become a citizen scientist! This week campers will learn about soil, water, plants, and animals and how they work together in our surrounding ecosystem. Campers will use their skills to become citizen scientists while learning to identify plants and animals on hikes and walks through the Gardens. This camp includes a beach day that takes campers on a hike offsite.
Single Half-day Camps: Ages 6-9
July 3rd (8am-12pm): Super Senses
Campers will use their wild senses to immerse themselves in the natural world around them. We will investigate and observe plants through sights, smells, sensory hikes, and various activities that engage all the senses. Activities are slower paced, purposeful, and sensory friendly.
July 4th (8am-12pm): Growing Red, White, and Blue
Join us for a half-day of fun in the sun this Fourth of July! Our day will be filled with stars and stripes crafts and games. Come dressed in your red, white, and blue as we celebrate Independence!
Single Full-Day Camps: Ages 6-9
July 5th (9am-3pm): Bug-tastic Gardens
Uncover the creepy, crawling world of insects. Campers will go on insect scavenger hunts, learn about beneficial insects, enjoy bug-tastic stories, create insect habitats, and discover the hidden world of these tiny creatures.
July 6th (9am-3pm): Popular Pollinators
Encounter the busy world of pollinators! During Popular Pollinators, campers will discover the importance of pollinators. Activities include scavenger hunts, games, and other activities that teach campers to identify plants and the pollinators that rely on those plants to survive.
Register Today
Member Registration begins March 14th. Members at the Azalea, Magnolia, and Oak Circle levels may register at this time. Non-member Registration begins: March 20th.
What is included with camp?
Each day of camp is filled with fun, high-energy activities, take-home crafts, and games. A camp t-shirt, as well as two snacks each day for full-day camp and one snack for half-day camp is included. Our goal is to send your child home excited about the next day, messy from outdoor exploring, and most importantly, happy.
What is your age policy?
Campers must be the age listed in the description by the first day of camp. Please make sure that your child is registered for the appropriate camp. Camp activities for each week are specifically designed for the age that is listed. There are no exceptions and false registrations will be canceled and fees will be refunded, minus the nonrefundable deposit.
What is your cancellation policy?
The Elizabethan Gardens reserves the right to cancel or change programs at any time due to weather conditions, safety, or changing COVID-19 policies. If the Gardens cancels a program, we will contact parents/guardians and issue a refund, minus the non-refundable deposit. If a program needs to be canceled by the Gardens, staff will do their best to contact parents/guardians a week in advance of camp start date.
Cancellation requests must be received no later than one-week prior to the first day of camp to receive a full refund. The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. To cancel please contact Laura Hensley, Programs Manager, (252) 473-3234 ex. 102 or email programsmanager@elizabethangardens.org. Cancelations after the one-week deadline will not be eligible for a refund. Membership fees are non-refundable.
How much is camp?
Week-long Camps
$200 per child, per week +tax
Single, Full-Day Camps
$70.00 per child, per day +tax
Half-day camps
$50.00 per child, per day +tax
There is a $100 non-refundable deposit for all full-day camps and $30 deposit for single full-day and half-day camps, due at the time of registration. Final payment is due no later than one-week prior to camp start date. Registrations and any payments made after the one-week deadline will not be accepted. Once paperwork and deposits are received, staff will email a confirmation, final payment amount, and due date.
How do I register my child and is there a waitlist?
Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a limited number of spaces in camp, and we highly recommend that you register well in advance. Registration for camp ends one-week before the first day of camp. Your child’s space in camp is not fully reserved until all paperwork and final payment has been received. If camp is full, we will add you to a waitlist for that week and contact you when a spot has opened.
Garden Members at the following levels may register their child early for camp: Azalea, Magnolia, and Oak Circle.
You can register your child(ren) by contacting staff at the Elizabethan Gardens and submitting all required paperwork in the registration packet along with deposit. To receive the registration packet, please fill out the information below or contact Laura Hensley, Programs Manager, at (252) 473-3234, ex. 102 or email programsmanager@elizabethangardens.org.
What should my child bring to camp?
For your child to fully enjoy their time with us and for safety we require each child have the following items:
- You are responsible for providing lunch for your child every day of camp. TEG will provide two small snacks each day for full-day camps and one snack for half-day camps; however, we do not provide lunch. We have refrigeration at TEG, but no way to heat items.
- Reusable water bottle
- Sunscreen- You are responsible for supplying sunscreen appropriate for camper and applying the first layer of sunscreen on child before drop-off. Camp staff will take every measure to assist your child in reapplying sunscreen when necessary. For added protection we recommend your child bring a hat.
- Appropriate clothing. Camp activities can be messy. Please send your child to camp in clothing that is comfortable, durable, and you do not mind getting wet or dirty. We recommend bringing a rain jacket as well- We play, rain or shine!
- Close-toed shoes with a back that are durable for walking, playing, and getting wet. Flip-flops or dress-shoes are not permitted at camp.
- Needed medications or supplies. Please indicate what items your child requires on the Medical Information Form.
- Optional: Insect repellant
- Optional: We recommend that your child have a swimsuit, towel, or change of clothes with them at camp. There will be water activities and other messy play while at camp.
Camp Discovery Registration
