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Children and Family Programs

Summer Science Camps

This summer, unlock your child’s imagination with
interactive outdoor adventures amid 1,700 acres of trees.

Content Detail

Through science experiments, STEM, art, and creative play, The Morton Arboretum’s innovative camps will inspire your child to become a Tree Champion.

Discover more than 100 camps for children in prekindergarten through eighth grade, designed by Arboretum experts. These camps provide a foundation for the next generation of young conservation and environmental scientists, artists, and outdoor enthusiasts. Week-long camps run during June, July, and August.

Registration

Registration for 2025 Summer Science Camps is open to Arboretum donors and Morton-6 members on Friday, January 3, at 10:00 a.m. Registration will open to all Arboretum members on Wednesday, January 15, at 10:00 a.m. Registration will open to all on Tuesday, February 6, at 10:00 a.m.

View an electronic brochure of 2025 camp descriptions, registration details, and a schedule chart of camps.

For questions about registration, email registrar-ed@mortonarb.org or call 630-719-2468 Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Find camp availability by age group and register online:

Once your child is registered, you will be emailed a pre-camp information packet, registration form, and medication authorization form (if applicable), to send back before camp begins.

Supervised Play—Before or After Camp Options

For parents requiring additional schedule flexibility, after selecting the camp(s) your child will attend, be sure to select the option “add more to your cart” to review additional supervised play options that extend pick-up and drop-off times as needed. Already registered for summer camp and need to add Supervised Play? Register here for Supervised Play or, if you need help, read the Supervised Play Registration Helpful Hints document.

Accessibility

The Arboretum strives to provide accessible experiences for all children. Contact the camp and scout supervisor at 630-719-4890 or kphelps@mortonarb.org to discuss your child’s needs prior to registration.

 

Summer Science Camps are generously supported by:

Prekindergarten Camps

Children must be 4 years old by September 1, 2025 and must be fully potty trained.

Camp Offerings

Growing Up Green

Half day

How do animals and plants grow up with roots, scales, or tails? Dive into the life cycles of green creatures around the Arboretum and see them up close!

Hopping Through Habitats

Half day

Some animals dig, some fly, and some swim. Join this adventure in animal movements as we explore how animals move around the Arboretum.

Painting with Plants

Half day

Explore your artistic roots. Touch, explore, play, and paint with all the parts of a plant and discover what each part does.

Splashing Around with Science

Half day

Observe, guess, test, and splash your way through science experiments in this fun-filled outdoor lab adventure.

 

 

Summer Science Camps are generously supported by:

Molex logo for Summer Science Camp sponsorship

Kindergarten Camps

Children must be 5 years old by September 1, 2025.

Camp Offerings

Dinos, Ginkgos, and Me

Half day

Travel back to the dinosaur age and discover different dinosaurs. Learn what they ate, where they lived, and which trees grew when dinosaurs were alive.

Eric Carle’s Friends

Half day

Have you ever been as hungry as a caterpillar? Enter the whimsical world of Eric Carle as his characters come to life through stories, games, and crafts.

Leaf Zoo

Half day

Leaves come in all shapes, sizes, and colors! Let your imagination run wild as you discover what you can create with leaves.

Mud Buddies

Half day

Build, play, dig, and discover all the things that love mud! Explore life underground and what it takes to make a home in the mud—while playing muddy games, doing muddy crafts, and becoming a muddy scientist.

Pond Pals

Full day

How do tadpoles turn into frogs? How do turtles and fish grow up? Together we’ll search for croaking frogs, basking turtles, and swimming fish while we take a closer look at our friends that live in ponds.

Seed Scientists

Full day

What does it take to make seeds grow? Make the Arboretum your outdoor laboratory as you search for seeds, design experiments, and explore types of seeds and how they sprout!

Seed Scientists

Full day

What does it take to make seeds grow? Make the Arboretum your outdoor laboratory as you search for seeds, design experiments, and explore types of seeds and how they sprout!

Squishy, Squashy Art

Half day

Ready, set, paint! Paint and sculpt squishy frogs, textured turtles, and slippery fish. Learn about wetland creatures and play water games.

Where the Wild Things Are

Full day

Where do wild things hide at the Arboretum? Search for wildlife as you explore the woodlands. What type of wild thing will the woods inspire you to be?

 

 

Summer Science Camps are generously supported by:

Molex logo for Summer Science Camp sponsorship

First and Second Grade Camps

Camp Offerings

Animal Engineers

Full day

From intricate bird nests to astounding beaver dams, animals are engineering all around us. Take a closer look at the construction techniques used in the animal kingdom and take on wild STEM building challenges.

Camping Out

Full day

Gear up for a daytime camping excursion. Learn how to pitch a tent, fish, and make s’mores. Enjoy nature games, hikes, and songs.

Chirp, Click, Buzz

Full day

Birds sing, crickets chirp, and frogs chorus out in the woods. Experiment with the science of sound and build your own nature-based instruments to play.

Eco-Investigators

Full day

Put your detective skills to the test. Explore the habitats of the Arboretum, conduct nature experiments, and learn what it takes to be a nature sleuth.

Fantastic Fish

Half day

From fins to scales, fish are fascinating creatures. Discover more about fish and the habitat they live in while you enjoy fish stories and games. Then cast a net to find out what fish live at the Arboretum.

Forest Fairy Friends

Half day

Follow your imagination into the forest! Discover forest fairies and the plants and animals that make a forest magical.

Nature’s Lab

Full day

Explore nature through the eyes of a scientist. Catapult seeds, make sun prints, and experiment with leaves as you use the outdoors as your laboratory.

Nature’s Superheroes

Half day

It’s a bird… It’s a bat… no—it’s nature’s superheroes! Use your knowledge of nature’s super powers to create your own superhero, play games, and look at real animal powers close up.

Pirates and Pines

Half day

Ahoy Matey! Start your voyage around the Arboretum to explore different trees and look for hidden treasure.

STEAM: Nature in Motion

Full day

Animals run, climb, crawl, zip, and soar through the wild. Explore how animals move while playing games and making crafts using motion.

Wild About Art

Full day

Become a nature artist. Use nature as your inspiration to explore texture, color, and dimension. Learn about different art techniques and create your own nature-related artwork to take home.

Young Impressionists

Half day

Become a mini-Monet. Explore the Arboretum for artistic inspiration and use impressionist techniques to create a masterpiece.

 

 

Summer Science Camps are generously supported by:

Molex logo for Summer Science Camp sponsorship

Third and Fourth Grade Camps

Camp Offerings

Adaptive Art

Half day

Do you think you can paint with a beak, sculpt with a paw, or draw with a claw? Find out how Arboretum animals are adapted to life in the woods, ponds, and prairies and embrace various artistic media to capture these unique animal features.

Adventures in Art

Full day

Paint, draw, color, and sculpt your way through
the Arboretum. Create masterpieces daily to
showcase in an end-of-the-week art show.

Critter Cases

Half day

Can you solve the case of the missing acorn or the mystery of the toppled tree? Put your sleuthing skills to work as you learn signs that animals leave behind and become a woodland detective.

Forest Forts

Full day

Design and build forts inspired by trees. Study trees up close and uncover their characteristics. Build a mini tree fort village as a group. Each child takes home their own mini tree fort.

Going Buggy

Full day

What has six legs and no uncles? An ant! Explore the zany world of insects as you dig, sweep, and dip your way through the insect world.

Leaf Laboratory

Two-week full day

Have you ever wondered WHY? Prepare your beakers and flasks as you explore the scientific method, design experiments, and investigate the natural world around you.

Rooted in Science

Half day

Exercise your green thumb as you sprout, transplant, and experiment with plants in this gardening adventure.

Rooted in Science

Half day

Exercise your green thumb as you sprout, transplant, and experiment with plants in this gardening adventure.

Slime Time

Full day

Stretch, squish, and squoosh some slime as you discover how plants and animals use slime, try out some recipes for slime, and put your slime to the test.

STEAM: Nature in Motion

Full day

Animals run, climb, crawl, zip, and soar through the wild. Explore how animals move while playing games and making crafts using motion.

Sticks and Bricks

Half day

Engineer your way through challenges as you learn how nature stacks up around you. Combine nature and building blocks, take on STEM challenges, and create art out of natural building materials.

Wild Survival

Two-week full day

Do you have the skills of a squirrel, the techniques of a turtle, or the ability of an ant? Discover the survival skills of animals at the Arboretum and then put your survival skills to the test.

 

 

Summer Science Camps are generously supported by:

Molex logo for Summer Science Camp sponsorship

Fifth and Sixth Grade Camps

Camp Offerings

A Week of Wetlands

Full day

Enjoy hands-on investigations of all things aquatic. Experiment with water and its properties, trudge through the wetlands to gather water samples, and use scientific equipment to inspect plants and animals that call ponds, lakes, rivers, and marshes home.

Forest Forensics

Full day

What can a tree tell us? Solve the case of the felled foliage as you examine tree rings, visit the Herbarium to view trees of the past and present, and discover what information trees can provide.

Kids vs. Wild

Full day

Can you survive in the great outdoors? Explore native woodlands and wetlands, and gain the skills needed to survive in these ecosystems. Set up camp, learn navigation skills, build a shelter, fish, and make tools to explore and tame the wild.

Nature Photography I

Full day

Use your nature observation skills and get creative with digital photography. Practice composition, subject placement, closeups, moving targets, and more. With your classmates, create an Arboretum digital slideshow. Participants must bring their own digital cameras.

STEAM: Nature in Motion

Full day

Animals run, climb, crawl, zip, and soar through the wild. Explore how animals move while playing games and making crafts using motion.

 

 

Summer Science Camps are generously supported by:

Molex logo for Summer Science Camp sponsorship

Sixth through Eighth Grade Camps

Camp Offerings

Environmental Avengers

Full day

Who is really in charge of defending the Earth? Become an environmental scientist as you track pollution, analyze water and soil samples, monitor insect life, and learn what you can do to save the planet.

Forest Escape

Full day

Put your problem-solving skills to the test as you take on daily challenges, solve puzzles, and explore the Arboretum. In teams, campers will create their own escape room challenge in the forest.

Nature’s Engineers

Full day

Challenge yourself as you take on engineering tasks that put your building skills to the test. Use natural materials as you try to rival the abilities of nature’s most ingenious engineers.

Science of Survival

Full day

Track, map, and trek your way through the Arboretum as you learn the science of what humans and animals need to survive. Discover the endangered species the Arboretum protects and the conservation efforts that help trees to survive.

 

 

Summer Science Camps are generously supported by:

Molex logo for Summer Science Camp sponsorship

Supervised Play

Week of June 2

Week of June 9

Week of June 16

Week of June 23

Week of July 7

Week of July 14

Week of July 21

Week of July 28

Week of August 4

Week of August 11

Registration, Cancellation, Transfer, Late Pickup, and Refund Policies

Registration

Space is limited. Preregistration is required and payment is due in full at the time of registration. Camp registration closes at 4:00 p.m. the Monday prior to the next camp’s week. All camp forms, including a medication authorization form with doctors’ signatures, must be in before the start of camp.

Refunds

We are unable to give refunds for camp within three weeks of the start date of the camp. A $45 nonrefundable processing fee is included in each camp registration fee. We are unable to refund for missed days of camp, including if missing one week of a two-week camp session. If your child is unable to attend camp due to medical reasons or illness, you may receive a refund with a doctor’s note.

For questions regarding refunds or cancellations please contact the registrar’s office by email at registrar-ed@mortonarb.org or by phone at 630-719-2468 Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Cancellations

The Morton Arboretum reserves the right to cancel a camp due to low enrollment. Camp participants will be refunded in full for cancellations.

Transfers

We are unable to transfer students to a different camp within three weeks of the start of the registered camp. Given current registration and limited availability of camp openings, transfers will be limited for 2025. Transfers will only be applicable from a camp of equivalent pricing. A $15 transfer fee will be assessed at the time of transfer. Additionally, we are unable to accommodate transfers between identical camp titles in the same week.

Late Pickup

If a child is picked up late, parents/guardians will be assessed a $15 late fee per child for pickup 15 minutes late and $1 per minute thereafter.

Pricing

  • Full Day Camps $420 (nonmembers $465)
  • Two-Week Full Day Camps $810 (nonmembers $900)
  • Half Day Camps $230 (nonmembers $255)
  • Morning Supervised Play (8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.)
    $60 (nonmembers $70)
  • Midday Supervised Play (noon to 12:30 p.m.)
    $15 (nonmembers $20)
    Free with purchase of two half-day camps
  • 30-Minute Afternoon Supervised Play (3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.)
    $15 (nonmembers $20)
  • Afternoon Supervised Play (3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
    $90 (nonmembers $106)

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