Earth Focus Day Camp
UW–Madison Arboretum, 1207 Seminole Highway, Madison, WI 53711-3726
About
Earth Focus Day Camp includes hikes, hands-on science exploration, nature play, outdoor games, and crafts. Campers also design and carry out a unique research project with a small team and mentor during their session.
• Ages: 5–13 years old
• Schedule: Half-day and full-day Monday–Friday sessions offered on specific June, July, and August dates; camp runs rain or shine
• Price: Wanderers half-day sessions $200; Explorers full-day sessions $375; EcoTrekkers full-day session $300
Each listed camp session runs Monday–Friday. Three session types are offered: Wanderers (half-day, entering kindergarten and grades 1–5), Explorers (full-day, entering grades 1–5), and EcoTrekkers (full-day, entering grades 6–8). Campers must come prepared to spend time outdoors. A snack is provided, with both morning and afternoon snacks for full-day campers, and full-day campers must bring their own lunch. Each camper can register for a maximum of two sessions, and if a session is full, registrants are automatically added to a waitlist and contacted via email if a spot becomes available. Due to limitations on the registration system, only one camper can be registered at a time.
Since 1991, Earth Focus Day Camp has provided summer nature programs for children. The program’s mission statement is that positive experiences in nature create lifelong memories. Scholarships are available. The cancellation policy states that families who cancel before April 15 receive a refund of the session cost minus a $15 processing fee per session; cancellations after April 15 and up to three weeks before the start of the session receive a refund of half the session cost; there are no refunds for cancellations within three weeks of the session start date.
The Arboretum, where the camp takes place, is widely recognized as the site of historic research in ecological restoration and includes the oldest and most varied collection of restored ecological communities in the world. The Arboretum houses flowering trees, shrubs, and a world-famous lilac collection. Educational tours for groups and the general public, science and nature-based classes for all ages and abilities, and a wide variety of volunteer opportunities for groups, families, and individuals are available. Campers will gain an understanding of how ecosystems work, develop their sense of wonder, and discover habitats, plants, and animals, and returning campers will find new and different experiences every year.
Last updated June 4, 2026.
• Ages: 5–13 years old
• Schedule: Half-day and full-day Monday–Friday sessions offered on specific June, July, and August dates; camp runs rain or shine
• Price: Wanderers half-day sessions $200; Explorers full-day sessions $375; EcoTrekkers full-day session $300
Each listed camp session runs Monday–Friday. Three session types are offered: Wanderers (half-day, entering kindergarten and grades 1–5), Explorers (full-day, entering grades 1–5), and EcoTrekkers (full-day, entering grades 6–8). Campers must come prepared to spend time outdoors. A snack is provided, with both morning and afternoon snacks for full-day campers, and full-day campers must bring their own lunch. Each camper can register for a maximum of two sessions, and if a session is full, registrants are automatically added to a waitlist and contacted via email if a spot becomes available. Due to limitations on the registration system, only one camper can be registered at a time.
Since 1991, Earth Focus Day Camp has provided summer nature programs for children. The program’s mission statement is that positive experiences in nature create lifelong memories. Scholarships are available. The cancellation policy states that families who cancel before April 15 receive a refund of the session cost minus a $15 processing fee per session; cancellations after April 15 and up to three weeks before the start of the session receive a refund of half the session cost; there are no refunds for cancellations within three weeks of the session start date.
The Arboretum, where the camp takes place, is widely recognized as the site of historic research in ecological restoration and includes the oldest and most varied collection of restored ecological communities in the world. The Arboretum houses flowering trees, shrubs, and a world-famous lilac collection. Educational tours for groups and the general public, science and nature-based classes for all ages and abilities, and a wide variety of volunteer opportunities for groups, families, and individuals are available. Campers will gain an understanding of how ecosystems work, develop their sense of wonder, and discover habitats, plants, and animals, and returning campers will find new and different experiences every year.
Last updated June 4, 2026.
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