About
Duke Gardens Summer Camp includes hands-on gardening, art, science, nature games, science experiments, and community science projects. Campers take part in using natural materials to make artworks, as well as planting, tending, harvesting, and tasting fruits and vegetables. The camp schedule includes hands-on work time in the garden and play time in the garden.
• Ages: 5–11 years old
• Schedule: Summer camp hours are 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Monday–Friday, with extended day from 1–4 p.m.; camp sessions are offered in weekly blocks across the summer.
• Price: COST: $300 per camp week; extended day fee $125 per week. 15% discount for Gardens members. A non-refundable $100 deposit per child per week is required at registration, and full payment is due two weeks before the start date of each camp.
Camp activities take place predominantly outdoors, with time both in the Gardens and indoors in a classroom. Campers may sign up for any or all weeks for their age group, with different activities every week, and themes include Growing Scientists, Eco Artist, and Plant It, Grow It, Eat It. Growing Scientists uses Duke Gardens as a science laboratory and includes real community science projects, Eco Artist uses natural materials to make artworks and focuses on exploring nature for beauty, and Plant It, Grow It, Eat It takes place in the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden. The staff to child ratio is 1:7, and a limited number of full and partial scholarships are available, with a scholarship application available upon request.
Sarah P. Duke Gardens is a botanic garden in the heart of Duke University with a mission that states it inspires transformational learning, promotes wellness and builds community. Duke Gardens hosts many university and community programs, and interns gain insight into garden design and careers in public horticulture through visits to botanic gardens and nurseries in North Carolina, with broad exposure to different aspects of the green industry, from growing plants to the design and implementation of gardens. Internship applicants must have completed specific coursework or have related work experience in horticulture, ecology, environmental studies or closely related fields, and must meet physical, outdoor work, tool use, and basic computer skill requirements; on-campus housing is provided at no cost by Duke University as part of the horticulture internship and is optional. Duke states that it aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity and belonging, emphasizing respect and inclusion for all members.
The leadership team includes Executive Director William M. LeFevre, Director of Horticulture Robert Mottern, Director of Learning and Community Engagement Kavanah Anderson, Director, Events & Special Projects Marcia Julien, Director, Development and Major Gifts Christina Johnson, and Director, Marketing & Communications Lauren Smith Hong.
Last updated July 11, 2026.
• Ages: 5–11 years old
• Schedule: Summer camp hours are 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Monday–Friday, with extended day from 1–4 p.m.; camp sessions are offered in weekly blocks across the summer.
• Price: COST: $300 per camp week; extended day fee $125 per week. 15% discount for Gardens members. A non-refundable $100 deposit per child per week is required at registration, and full payment is due two weeks before the start date of each camp.
Camp activities take place predominantly outdoors, with time both in the Gardens and indoors in a classroom. Campers may sign up for any or all weeks for their age group, with different activities every week, and themes include Growing Scientists, Eco Artist, and Plant It, Grow It, Eat It. Growing Scientists uses Duke Gardens as a science laboratory and includes real community science projects, Eco Artist uses natural materials to make artworks and focuses on exploring nature for beauty, and Plant It, Grow It, Eat It takes place in the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden. The staff to child ratio is 1:7, and a limited number of full and partial scholarships are available, with a scholarship application available upon request.
Sarah P. Duke Gardens is a botanic garden in the heart of Duke University with a mission that states it inspires transformational learning, promotes wellness and builds community. Duke Gardens hosts many university and community programs, and interns gain insight into garden design and careers in public horticulture through visits to botanic gardens and nurseries in North Carolina, with broad exposure to different aspects of the green industry, from growing plants to the design and implementation of gardens. Internship applicants must have completed specific coursework or have related work experience in horticulture, ecology, environmental studies or closely related fields, and must meet physical, outdoor work, tool use, and basic computer skill requirements; on-campus housing is provided at no cost by Duke University as part of the horticulture internship and is optional. Duke states that it aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity and belonging, emphasizing respect and inclusion for all members.
The leadership team includes Executive Director William M. LeFevre, Director of Horticulture Robert Mottern, Director of Learning and Community Engagement Kavanah Anderson, Director, Events & Special Projects Marcia Julien, Director, Development and Major Gifts Christina Johnson, and Director, Marketing & Communications Lauren Smith Hong.
Last updated July 11, 2026.
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