Summer Science Camps

Summer Science Camps offers hands-on activities such as science experiments, STEM projects, art, and creative play. Campers take part in camping excursions where they learn how to pitch a tent, fish, make s’mores, and join nature games, hikes, songs, stories, games, and crafts, including muddy games and muddy crafts. Activities also include painting, sculpting, water games, conducting nature experiments, using a microscope to look at seeds, leaves, and flowers, sprouting seeds, decorating a flower pot, sloshing buckets and dip nets into lakes and ponds, playing games, conducting experiments, catapulting seeds, making sun prints, and experimenting with leaves.

• Ages: 4–13 years old
• Schedule: Week-long camps during June, July, and August, with options described as half day, full day, or two-week full day.

Summer Science Camps are part of The Morton Arboretum, which was founded in 1922 by Joy Morton and is led by President and CEO Jill Koski. The Morton Arboretum’s mission is to collect, study, display, and conserve trees and other plants from around the world to inspire learning, foster enjoyment, benefit communities, encourage action, and enhance the environment. The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized tree-focused botanical garden and research center, a world-renowned center for scientific research that studies trees and how to sustain them, and a world-renowned leader in tree science that refers to itself as The Champion of Trees. Its living collections include more than 100,000 specimens representing more than 4,000 different kinds of plants.

Summer Science Camps include more than 100 camps for children in prekindergarten through eighth grade and are described as being designed by Arboretum experts, with a stated goal of forming a foundation for the next generation of young conservation and environmental scientists, artists, and outdoor enthusiasts. The program notes supervised play options before or after camp to extend pick-up and drop-off times and mentions accessibility support for all children with contact to discuss needs prior to registration. Once a child is registered, a pre-camp information packet, a registration form, and a medication authorization form (if applicable) are emailed to submit before camp begins. The Morton Arboretum states that Summer Science Camps are generously supported and that it engages local and regional communities, with attention to changing demographics and means of engagement.

Parent and visitor comments about The Morton Arboretum include: “The Arboretum is a must do for anyone who loves the outdoors.” (Kevin7828 on TripAdvisor), “Acres and acres of beauty with easy paths to follow.” (Lori E. on TripAdvisor), and “The Children’s Garden is a favorite, from the tree slides to the water features.” (jksj81 on TripAdvisor).

Last updated May 26, 2026.