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Camps

Nature is the touchstone for the Conservatory’s summer camp programs. From cultivating and harvesting a garden to creating a culinary masterpiece, summer camp at Franklin Park is anything but expected.

Camps are offered for ages 3 through 8. Campers participate in fun-filled activities throughout the day with a focus on the camp’s theme. A supervised lunch and half-hour free time will take place every day, allowing campers to participate in unstructured play and an opportunity to make new friends.

In addition to themed activities, campers will explore the Conservatory and its many gardens, including The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden. Features include a creek, wetland area, canopy walk, nature art studio, playhouse and more!

Cancellation Procedure and Refunds:

Cancellations made at least 2 weeks prior to the start of camp will receive a refund minus a $25 administration fee. Cancellations made after that will receive no refund.

Scholarships:

A 50% scholarship may be available to eligible children. Scholarship eligibility is determined by participation in Franklin County school districts Free/Reduced lunch program, CareSource, Ohio Directions card, Medicaid card, W.I.C. card or Molina card. Please contact us if you are interested in applying for this program.

2021 Camps

At this time, all camps are at capacity. Please add yourself to the wait list using the registration links below.

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Ages 3 & 4

12 kids per camps

June 7-11, Monday-Friday, 9am-12pm Garden Detectives (SOLD OUT) Let’s dig deep into the secrets of the garden! Garden exploration and hands-on activities nurture an understanding of where our food comes from and an appreciation of the beauty and magic of the natural world. We’ll discover seeds and roots, vegetables and fruits, wiggling worms, butterflies, and bugs. Children must be toilet trained. At Capacity
June 14-18, Monday-Friday 9am-12pm, B is for Bugs (SOLD OUT) We’ll explore the world of crawling, wiggling, and flying bugs – butterflies, bees, beetles, spiders, worms and more! Outdoor explorations and hands-on art and science investigations help develop an understanding of an insect's role in our environment. Join us for a “bug's-eye view” of the world. Children must be toilet trained. At Capacity
June 21-25, Monday-Friday, 9am-12pm Messy Science (SOLD OUT) Have you ever made your own Play Dough? How about bubbles so big and fluffy they will fill a mixing bowl to the tippy top? Come play with us and learn all about science while creating messy fun! Every day will be filled with STEM activities inspired by ingredients found in your kitchen cupboard. Children must be toilet trained. At Capacity
June 28-July 2, Monday-Friday, 9am-12pm The Forecast is Fun (SOLD OUT) Sun, rain, wind, clouds, rainbows, snow – Weather is all around us! Explore the weather through hands-on experiments, stories, art, and games. Investigate why weather matters and why it is always changing. Good times are in the forecast! Children must be toilet trained. At Capacity
July 12-16, Monday-Friday, 9am-12pm All the Colors of the Rainbow (SOLD OUT) What makes a rainbow? Where do colors come from? Explore the science and beauty of color – it’s everywhere we look. Discover favorite colors with hands-on activities and search for color in the Conservatory’s gardens. Children must be toilet trained. At Capacity Add to Wait List
July 19-23, Monday-Friday, 9am-12pm All Aboard! (SOLD OUT) Get your ticket to adventure as we travel into the world of trains. Stories, games and STEAM-based activities will provide the science and engineering behind this most engaging method of transportation. Children must be toilet trained. At Capacity Add to Wait List
July 26-30, Monday-Friday, 9am-12pm We Dig Dinosaurs (SOLD OUT) Calling all preschool paleontologists! Let’s “dig” into the world of dinosaurs and learn about their life long ago. Go on dinosaur digs to search for fossils and create our own Jurassic world. Discover living remnants from the days of dinosaurs! Children must be toilet trained. At Capacity Add to Wait List
August 2-6, Monday-Friday, 9am-12pm Fairies, Elves, and Gnomes, Oh My! (SOLD OUT) Join us for a fun week with new friends; real and imaginary! Stories and hands-on activities bring the legends of fairies, elves and gnomes to life. Unlock the secrets of the mystical creatures that live in our gardens and create your own fairies and a special home for them. Children must be toilet trained. At Capacity Add To Wait List
Ages 5 & 6

16 kids per camp

June 7-11, Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm & Friday 9am-3pm Messy Scientist (SOLD OUT) Have you ever made your own Play Dough? Created Elephant Toothpaste or a Baking Soda Volcano? Come learn all about science with things you already have around the house. Get messy and explore the conservatory. Being a scientist has never been more fun! At Capacity
June 14-18, Monday-Thursday & 9am-4pm Friday 9am-3pm Storybooks Alive (SOLD OUT) There is fun to be had and discoveries to be made through the magic of stories! Books and characters come to life through art, science, and exploration around the Conservatory. Enjoy story-based activities from water play to getting dirty in the garden. Fill your imagination and get lost in the wonderful world of storybooks! At Capacity
June 21-25, Monday-Thursday & 9am-4pm Friday 9am-3pm Pollinators & Habitat Hunters (SOLD OUT) They crawl, they fly, and they pollinate. With binoculars in one hand and magnifying glass in the other, discover the creatures responsible for fruits and vegetables. Explore the children’s garden while searching for pollinators of all kinds. Build a bird’s nest and make butterfly crafts. At Capacity
June 28-July 2, Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm & Friday 9am-3pm Digging for Dinosaurs (SOLD OUT) They walk, they fly, and they roar. Learn about fossils, dig for dinosaur bones and make dinosaur art. Gain knowledge about the science of prehistoric life and play on the grounds of “Jurassic” Franklin Park. At Capacity Add to Wait list
July 12-16, Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm & Friday 9am-3pm Express Your Mess (SOLD OUT) Dive your hands into ooey-gooey slime, oobleck and so much more! Use all your senses with experiments connected to storybooks in this messy hands-on week of sensory fun. Enjoy a range of hands-on activities with the goal of making a creative mess. At Capacity Add To Wait List
July 19-23, Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm & Friday 9am-3pm Fairy Tales & Fantastic Beasts (SOLD OUT) Do you love stories and using your imagination? Start each day with a fairytale and then spend time doing fun themed activities that help bring the story to life. Design your own monster, make art fit for royalty, and explore the Conservatory and all it has to offer. At Capacity Add To Waitlist
July 26-30 ,Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm & Friday 9am-3pm Pirate Palooza (SOLD OUT) Ahoy maties! Grab a map and a spyglass; excitement awaits those who are ready for this pirate adventure. Enjoy life as a pirate - run through a pirate obstacle course, search for treasure and play pirate games. You’ll be talking and looking like a pirate in no time. At Capacity Add To Wait List
August 2-6, Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm & Friday 9am-3pm Train Adventures (SOLD OUT) All Aboard! Get on track to explore the world of trains. Learn what it means to be a conductor then create your own train and landscape out of materials found around the Conservatory. Visit our own train display and gardens for inspiration. At Capacity Add To Wait List
Ages 7 & 8

16 kids per camp

June 7-11, Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm & Friday 9am-3pm Jurassic Franklin Park (SOLD OUT) If you love everything about dinosaurs, then this is the camp for you! Discover how paleontologists learn about these ancient reptiles by investigating real fossils and replicas. Excavate and make your own fossils, create dinosaur art, eggs, and habitat. At Capacity
June 14-18, Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm & Friday 9am-3pm Garden Explorers (SOLD OUT) Follow germination from seed to plant. Plant, tend and harvest straight from our gardens. Explore how you can use materials from the garden for art and science while enjoying all the Conservatory has to offer. At Capacity
June 21-25, Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm & Friday 9am-3pm Summer Scientists (SOLD OUT) Become a nature detective at the Conservatory where science is everywhere. See how learning can be fun through investigation, experiments, problem-solving and engineering. Explore through hands-on activities from several branches of science. There are discoveries to be made and fun to be had! At Capacity
June 28-July 2, Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm & Friday 9am-3pm Nature Art (SOLD OUT) Calling all budding artists! The flowers are in bloom and adventure awaits. Experiment with patterns and colors, turn nature into art and have fun creating with different materials. Bring ideas to life through textiles, painting, jewelry and more. Explore and learn art skills while engaging in creative play. At Capacity Add to Wait List
July 12-16, Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm & Friday 9am-3pm Train Engineers (SOLD OUT) All aboard for a rail adventure! Visit our model train displays and see how artists used nature to create a magical train village. Learn about the engineering behind trains and challenge yourself to build one. Then create your own train or landscape artwork out of materials found around the Conservatory. At Capacity Add to Wait list
July 19-23, Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm & Friday 9am-3pm Art Adventures (SOLD OUT) The Conservatory is a beautiful place to find inspiration through plant life and amazing outdoor art. Learn about different styles of art, see art in action at the hot shop, practice new art skills and create art to take home. Experiment with materials that could include chalk, paint, paper mache and clay. At Capacity Add to Wait list
July 26-30, Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm & Friday 9am-3pm Classic Summer Camp (SOLD OUT) Enjoy a week of summer fun that has something for everyone. Partake in tried and true summer camp favorites like tie-dying, kickball, arts and crafts. Fill your days with gardening, creating art and having fun in the sun. End your week with a fun event celebrating summertime. At Capacity Add to Wait list
August 2-6, Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm & Friday 9am-3pm Wizard Camp (SOLD OUT) Discover the magic of science and create strange potions, learn about scary plants. Design a wizard wardrobe and a new magical creature. Adventures, imagination and fun will fill this week. Bring the magic to life while exploring the wizarding world at the Conservatory. At Capacity Add to Wait list