Cleveland Botanical Garden Connection Camps will connect campers with the natural world with immersive play, cultural exploration and collaboration with peers. Through the concept of immersive play, Garden Connection Camps teach the many connections between all living things, from the web of friends they make to the butterflies they release on their first day of activities. Campers will be led on a travelling investigation to decipher clues scattered throughout neighboring cultural institutions as they unravel the secrets of a mysterious disappearing ghost orchid. Daily projects from our sensory lab, like a slimy cell study and botanical bubble brines, will stimulate curious minds to create natural solutions collaboratively. By the final day of their week, campers will unite to overcome a challenge course and apply what they learn to design fun plant-inspired games.
Session 1 July 8-12 from 9am-3pm For ages 6-8
Session 1 of Garden Connections Camp will emphasize how creativity manifests all around us in delightfully unexpected ways. We’ll construct slimy plant cells, create colorful kaleidoscopes, and sculpt spiral snail sculptures as we explore how nature builds magnificent structures that inspire engineers and artists alike. Each week is a unique opportunity for campers to build social skills and try new things while learning through play about the benefits of plants and trees.
Session 2 July 15-19 from 9am-3pm For ages 6-8
Session 2 of Garden Connections Camp will teach empathy for all living things by guiding our team of campers along a series of special missions to protect threatened species. We’ll investigate why some cute characters seem to be disappearing and why some have been hiding in plain sight. We’ll use some old tricks developed by great teachers like scientists, adventurers, and even some visiting service dogs who specialize in sniffing out clues! Each week is a unique opportunity for campers to build social skills and try new things while learning through play about the benefits of plants and trees.
Session 3 July 22-26 from 9am-3pm For ages 8-10
Session 3 of Garden Connections Camp will strengthen connections with the natural world by simulating tricky survival situations that plants and animals have adapted to thrive in. Campers will find out what it takes to provide your own food, water, shelter, and even heat in the great outdoors. They’ll play wilderness games that sharpen their senses and craft botanical concoctions that soften stress. Each week is a unique opportunity for campers to build social skills and try new things while learning through play about the benefits of plants and trees.
Session 4 July 29-August 2 from 9am-3pm For ages 9-11
Session 4 of Garden Connections Camp will take the mystery out of some tricky challenges by training campers to be observant detectives with heightened intuition. We’ll develop observational skills to help us escape traps, tracking skills that allow us to predict the future, and gardening concepts that help us design sustainable game worlds. Each week is a unique opportunity for campers to build social skills and try new things while learning through play about the benefits of plants and trees.
