Summer Camps

ALL SUMMER CAMPS ARE FULL — you can add your name to the wait list

Summer Camp in Des Moines is taking a walk on the wild side!

Botanical Garden summer camps in Des Moines allow youth to explore the natural world through the lens of their favorite activities. Using the gardens as unique classrooms, our summer day camps inspire youth to create and explore with hands-on experiments, plantings, games and crafts.

All camps run 9 am-4 pm and are designed for students in first through fifth grade in fall 2025.

Prices

Five-Day Camps:

  • Members $255
  • Nonmembers $295

Members: be sure to sign in at the top of the registration page to apply your member discount!

Member Benefits

Members receive early registration access and a discount on camp fees.

2025 Summer Camps

All camps run 9 am-4 pm and are designed for students entering first through fifth grade in fall 2025.

Summer Camp registration opens Thursday, January 2 for members. Summer Camp registration opens Thursday, January 9 for nonmembers.

Check out our Spring Break Day Camps. Filling fast—grab your spot today!

FULL

June 9-13: Garden Artists

Our collection of plants and unique garden spaces inspire creativity to artists of all ages. With unlimited prompts from nature, campers will explore their creative side as they grow their artistic expression through painting, sculpting, garden design, flower arranging, and more!

FULL

June 16-20: Magic in the Garden

Experience the magic of the Garden through science experiments and imagination. Students will channel their inner wizard as they are sorted into houses, assigned a plant patronus, and create their own magic wand! Enrollment will ensure proficiency in botanical potions, herbology, plant defenses against the dark arts, and more!

FULL

June 23-27: Garden Artists

Our collection of plants and unique garden spaces inspire creativity to artists of all ages. With unlimited prompts from nature, campers will explore their creative side as they grow their artistic expression through painting, sculpting, garden design, flower arranging, and more!

FULL

July 7-11: Garden Rebels

NEW! Buckle up, secure your goggles, and dive into the wacky world of plants that break the rules. Dissect, experiment, and explore while investigating the most unusual and rebellious plant species around the globe.

FULL

July 14-18: Plants & People

NEW! Investigate how plants around the world revolutionize art, music, science, conservation, and cuisine in amazing ways! From fiber arts and design to foods across continents, learn how plants and people work together to change the world.

FULL

July 21-25: Dragons in the Garden

NEW! Enter the world of Dragons in the Garden! Discover plant-like dragons and dragon-like plants, uncovering how they all adapt to deserts, mud, rain, and other environments. Create your own Garden Guardian and discover your plant in this playful, imaginative camp!

FULL

Jul 28-Aug 1: Garden Rebels

NEW! Buckle up, secure your goggles, and dive into the wacky world of plants that break the rules. Dissect, experiment, and explore while investigating the most unusual and rebellious plant species around the globe.

FULL

Aug 4-8: Plants & People

NEW! Investigate how plants around the world revolutionize art, music, science, conservation, and cuisine in amazing ways! From fiber arts and design to foods across continents, learn how plants and people work together to change the world.

Keep the Fun Growing!

Check out our School Break Day Camps. Spots fill fast so grab your spot right away!

Camp Logistics

All camps are designed for students entering first through fifth grade in fall 2025.

Prices are listed per child per camp and includes a camp souvenir, supplies for all activities and multiple projects to take home and enjoy.
Youth should bring a sack lunch to enjoy. Refrigeration is not provided.

Multi-Age Classrooms

Advantages and benefits to cross-grade learning:

Encourages youth of all ages to learn together
Promotes cooperation and mentoring
Children learn at their own pace
Younger children look for guidance from the older students
Older students organically develop leadership skills
Allows older children to revisit and fully understand complex concepts while the younger students are being introduced to the idea
Educators have the capability to work with children individually or in a group with similar abilities and understanding regardless of age

Summer Camp Testimonials

Parents Tell us What They Love About our Summer Camp

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