Translate this page
Duke Gardens Camps
Explore outdoors through hands-on gardening, deepen observation skills while practicing art and science, play nature games and make new friends. We welcome all campers and are happy to work with you to plan appropriate accommodations for your child at camp. Campers may sign up for any or all weeks for their age group. Activities will be different every week.
Camp will follow any Duke University Covid-19 protocols in place at the time of camp. Face coverings are not required but campers may choose to bring and use their face coverings during camp. Camp activities will take place predominantly outdoors.
SPRING BREAK CAMP 2023
March 27-31- Nature Exploration Camp (current K-5)
“Nature Exploration” Spring Break Camp - Bring your sense of wonder and join us for a week of exploration and observation as we welcome spring in the Gardens. We will spend the week connecting with nature while learning about edible gardening, art and animals in the Gardens.
CAMP HOURS: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday; no extended day hours during spring break camp
COST: $250 per camp week. 5% sibling/multi-week discount; 15% discount for Gardens members. Discounts cannot be combined and do not apply to extended day fee.
A non-refundable $100 deposit per child per week is required at registration. Full payment is due two weeks before the start date (March 13, 2023).
A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available. Scholarship application available upon request; contact GardensEducation@duke.edu.
DUKE FACULTY/STAFF DISCOUNT: Please see this page for details. Discount only applies to Spring Break Camp.
STAFF TO CHILD RATIO: 1:7
LOCATION: Arrival & pickup at the Doris Duke Center, Duke Gardens, 420 Anderson St., Durham. Camp activities will take place outside in the Gardens and indoors in a classroom.
SUMMER CAMP 2023 DATES, TOPICS AND AGE GROUPS
June 12-16: Growing Scientists (rising K-2)
June 19-23: Growing Scientists (rising 3-5)
June 26-30: Plant It, Grow It, Eat It (rising K-2)
July 10-14: Plant It, Grow It, Eat It (rising 3-5)
July 17-21: Eco Artist (rising K-2)
July 24-28: Eco Artist (rising 3-5)
July 31- Aug 4: Things with Wings (rising K-2)
Aug 7-11: Things with Wings (rising 3-5)
2023 CAMP THEMES
Plant It, Grow It, Eat It: Plant, tend, harvest and taste fruits and vegetables in the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden. Each day will include hands-on work time and play time in the garden.
Eco Artist: Everyone is an artist! Come play with color, shape, line and form. We will find beauty exploring nature and use natural materials to make our own unique artworks.
Things with Wings: Every day in the Gardens is a new adventure as we search for the things with wings that call Duke Gardens home. Come explore the flowers, fields, ponds and streams for what may be living there.
Growing Scientists: Join us as we use Duke Gardens as our very own science laboratory. We will spend the week enjoying many different science experiments and participating in real community science projects that help scientists learn about the natural world around us.
MORE CAMP INFORMATION
SUMMER CAMP HOURS: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday; extended day from 1-4 p.m.
COST: $250 per camp week; extended day fee $100 per week. 5% sibling/multi-week discount; 15% discount for Gardens members. Discounts cannot be combined and do not apply to extended day fee.
A non-refundable $100 deposit per child per week is required at registration. Full payment is due two weeks before the start date of each camp.
A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available. Scholarship application available upon request; contact GardensEducation@duke.edu.
STAFF TO CHILD RATIO: 1:7
LOCATION: Arrival & pickup at the Doris Duke Center, Duke Gardens, 420 Anderson St., Durham. Camp activities will take place outside in the Gardens and indoors in a classroom.
VOLUNTEER
Do you enjoy mentoring young children and leading them in learning activities outdoors? If you are a high school student who will be at least 16 years old by June 2023, please email GardensEducation@duke.edu to request a summer camp volunteer application.
