Summer Science Camps Parent Resources

The Morton Arboretum offers a variety of resources to support your camper during and after their week of camp.

See the pre-camp information packet to review program details, policies, and procedures.

Learn about your camper’s day at the Arboretum with the following question prompts:

What was the topic of the day?
Where did you hike, and what did you see along the way?
Who did you talk to, and what games did you play?
How did you feel at camp today?

After camp ends, return to the Arboretum with your camper to see where their adventures took them! Use the Family Hike Guide to find locations where your camper spent time during their week at camp.

Dig into the Post-Camp Family Resource for more post-camp activities, as well as book suggestions and other nature-related resources.

Where can I drop off and pick up my camper?

Drop-off and pick-up will take place at Thornhill Shelter, located at parking lot P-21. After entering the Arboretum at the gatehouse, take the first right and follow the main road toward the West Side until you arrive at parking lot P-21. Parking lot numbers go in numerical order.

Check-in starts 10 minutes before your camp’s start time. Please ensure you are with your child during check-in. Campers will be checked in at the picnic tables under Thornhill Shelter.

Check-out starts at your camp’s end time at Thornhill Shelter. All adults authorized for pickups must have a photo ID each day for your camper to be checked out. Please be sure to complete your approved pick-ups list before the start of camp.

Please avoid late drop-off and early pick-up. We ask that you drop off and pick up within your camp’s window.

See Preparing for Summer Science Camps for more information.
Will camp be canceled in the event of inclement weather?

Camp is held rain or shine! If the weather is hot, activities are adapted to keep campers safe. Help your camper have a successful time at camp by checking and preparing for the weather prior to arrival.

Camp administrators and security staff constantly monitor weather using the National Weather Service. There are designated indoor storm shelters for each camp in cases of severe weather. If severe weather develops during the camp day, campers will be moved to shelter until the weather passes.

In the event of severe weather, drop-off and pick-up may be in the Thornhill Education Center basement. Parking will be in parking lot P-21, like regular drop-off and pick-up. The Thornhill Education Center is across the street from the Thornhill Shelter. Walk from the parking lot to the Thornhill Education Center, where camp staff will direct you.
What should my camper bring with them to camp?
Campers should bring the following to each day of camp:
- Backpack
- Water bottle
- Insect repellant
- Sunscreen
- Sack lunch and snacks
- Raincoat or poncho (weather dependent)
- Hat
- Closed-toe shoes
- Personal hand sanitizer (optional)
- Camper medications (if necessary; see camp medication information)
Please try to avoid packing food with common allergens such as nuts. Food will not be refrigerated—ice packs are recommended.

Camper’s belongings will stay with them and be carried throughout the day. It is recommended campers have a backpack large enough for their things plus any projects they may bring home. We recommend using a regular backpack instead of a drawstring bag.

It is not recommended to bring cell phones or smart watches to camp. If your camper has a cell phone, they will be reminded to keep it off and in their backpack. If a camper has a smart watch, we ask that they not call or text during the camp day.
What should campers wear to camp?

Camp involves a lot of hiking, wooded areas, dirt, and outdoor time. Campers should wear clothing that can get dirty. Campers will frequently use art supplies and play outdoors. We recommend clothes you won’t mind getting stained.

Socks and sturdy, closed-toed shoes are required to protect feet on trails and gravel roads at camp.

Extra clothes (e.g., extra socks) is a great idea!

Appropriate clothing is necessary to protect campers from the environment such as the sun, bugs, and uneven walking surfaces. Short shorts, tank tops, crop tops, sandals, crocs, and other open-toed shoes should not be worn at camp.

Before-Camp and After-Camp Care

To assist parents and guardians who are working, The Morton Arboretum offers care options for before and after camps.

Before-camp and after-camp care require separate registration. To register, to cancel a registration, or to rebook for a different date or time, please contact the registrar’s office at 630-719-2468.

Pick-up and drop-off for before- and after-care is at the same spot as camp pick-up and drop-off: Thornhill Picnic Shelter at parking lot P-21. The schedule is as follows:

Before-Camp Care
Drop-off is at 8:00 a.m. Regular check-in procedures apply.

After-Camp Care
Pick-up is between 3:00 and 5:30 p.m. Your camper will be signed out of their camp and signed into after-care by camp staff. Regular pick-up procedures apply.

Please note: If your child is attending after-camp care, we recommend packing an extra snack.

Explore the Arboretum

While you’re here for camp, take the opportunity to explore! The Morton Arboretum is a large public garden with tree-filled landscapes, flower-filled gardens, festive events, areas for children to safely play outdoors, and extensive walking trails through beautiful woodlands, lakes, and prairies.

Paved Paths and Hiking Trails

Near Thornhill Education Center

Explore the locations and highlights from your camper’s week at Summer Science Camp. See the Family Hike Guide for routes highlighting some of the West Side locations that are prominent parts of the Summer Science Camps program.

Near the Visitor Center

The main Visitor Center building has accessible restrooms, a restaurant and café, amenities, sitting areas, and an information desk. It is surrounded by paved, accessible trails that lead around Meadow Lake and through the Conifer Collection. These paths are perfect for a half-hour to hourlong excursion. Two accessible paved paths connect to Arbor Court, the main courtyard.

Meadow Lake Trail, about a half-mile long, circles a manmade lake. Its shoreline is planted with sweeps of native plants and towering trees.
The Conifer Walk loops through the Arboretum’s collection of cone-bearing trees and shrubs from all over the world. Because most are evergreen, this is a lovely walk in winter. Looping paths allow you to take a ½- or 1-mile walk, and the path connects to the Meadow Lake Trail for an even longer jaunt.

Tram Tours

To get an overview of the entire Arboretum, take a ride along the road loop aboard the Acorn Express, a shaded open-air tram tour that departs near Arbor Court in spring, summer, and fall. The driver will explain what you see as you pass. Purchase tickets in the Visitor Center. Tram tours run from late April to mid-November.

Art Exhibitions

The Arboretum hosts exhibitions of large-scale artworks, with a new exhibition every two years. The artworks are arranged outdoors in the landscape. Some of them are close enough to walk to from the main parking lot, but others will require a drive or a bike ride. The current exhibition Vivid Creatures features five colorful, playful animal sculptures placed amid towering trees and sweeping green vistas. The exhibition will be in place until spring 2027.

Concerts

Arbor Evenings outdoor concerts take place Wednesday evenings in the summer near Meadow Lake. Dance, enjoy food and drinks, play lawn games, and watch amazing sunsets over Meadow Lake from the view on Frost Hill.

Summer Science Camps Parent Resources