Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens Summer Camps

From the Sponsor

Cultivate your child’s sense of discovery this summer in the beautiful natural setting of the Gardens.

Programs are designed to promote your child’s natural sense of curiosity and creativity with fun learning experiences in the beautiful setting of Birmingham Botanical Gardens! Each camp will include daily explorations of the Gardens, STEM and literacy activities, and learning in the Plant Adventure Zone Garden Lab.

Camps will run from 9 a.m.–noon each day.

Daily rhythm:

• Guided exploration of the Gardens related to the camp topic.

• Games and crafts in the Garden Center classrooms, centered on STEM and literacy activities.

• Enjoy a snack (campers bring packed snacks from home).

• Free play and exploration in the Plant Adventure Zone Garden Lab with hands-on, play-based, age-appropriate tools like magnifying glasses, watering cans, a water pump, trowels, and measuring tools.

$160 (Members)* | $200 (Nonmembers)

* Family level and above

Register online at bbgardens.org/summercamps or by phone at 205-414-3950.

Monday, February 2 | 10 a.m. Registration opens for members at the Family level and above.

Monday, February 16 | 10 a.m. Registration opens to the public.

Become a member of Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens at the Family level or above and save 20% on select numbers of summer camp registrations. For more information, contact Programs & Registration Coordinator Ashely Grace Passey at 205.414.3950, ext. 106, or email apassey@bbgardens.org.

Check Out 2026’s Summer Camps:

Grab Your Passport

May 26–29 (4 days)

Explore plants from across the globe and learn about their incredibly diverse climates and cultures. Visit Asia in the Japanese Garden; explore the deserts and tropics of Africa and South America in the Conservatory; and experience European-style gardens in the Dunn Formal Rose Garden. We’ll also spend time in Kaul Wildflower Garden to discover many species native to our own region.

Garden to Table

June 1–5

Science you can eat! Learn where our food comes from, how to grow it, and how to prepare recipes using ingredients found in the Gardens. We’ll “eat the rainbow” and learn what nutrients are provided by brightly colored fruits and vegetables to help keep us healthy and strong. As we explore Bruno Vegetable Garden, the Herb Terrace, and fruit trees in the Conservatory, we’ll also learn about composting and how to turn kitchen scraps into healthy soil.

Nature Engineers

June 8–12

Did you know that a lot of buildings, machines, and technology created by humans have been inspired by designs found in nature? In this camp, we’ll learn about amazing concepts such as how a lily pad stays afloat, how ants move soil, how honeybees design their hives, and how seed pods disperse their seeds. We’ll meet some of the best architects, designers, and builders of the plant world and then design and build our own nature-inspired structures.

Plant Believe It or Not

For children entering 5K–6^th Grade

June 15–18 (4 days)

Jump into the wild and wacky world of plants with interesting, little-known facts about what makes them unique and wonderful. Did you know that orange jewelweed seed pods can launch their seeds as far as 2 feet away? Or that it takes about 56 cotton bolls to make one t-shirt? We’ll study how plants adapt and respond to their environments by growing in a variety of amazing shapes, textures, and biological traits—sometimes even in how they move and what they eat!

Garden Artists

June 22–26

Roll up your sleeves and express your creativity using natural materials to make all sorts of art, inspired by the beauty of the natural world around us. We’ll learn how to study patterns, colors, shapes, and lines in nature and sharpen our observation skills. We’ll also take a walk to study sculptures in the Gardens and see how they enhance the garden landscapes.

Enchanted Forest

July 6–10

The Gardens are brimming with enchantment if you know where to look. Through storytelling and imaginative play, we’ll discover the hidden magic of the Gardens as we explore forest habitats and miniature worlds found beneath leaves and rocks, where fairies and gnomes may roam. We’ll also create and build a fairy or gnome house to take home.

Bugs at Work

July 13–17

Small yet mighty, insects are “the little things that run the world,” as the naturalist E.O. Wilson said. They may be creepy and crawly, but they also help keep our soil healthy, keep rivers clean, vacuum up scraps, eliminate pests, and pollinate all sorts of plants to keep our ecosystem going. “Bug out” with us about all the different ways insects benefit the environment and discover ways to support them.

Nature’s Music Makers

July 20–24

Whether it’s the sound of wind rustling through the leaves, cheerful birdsong, a buzzing bee, or the sound of water burbling in a stream, the Gardens are filled with music. In this camp, we’ll explore rhythm and sound in nature and learn where these sounds come from—and how and why they are made. We’ll make our own handmade windchimes, rattles, and other instruments inspired by nature’s songs.