Experience an outdoor classroom like no other!
Join us on teacher workdays, spring break and all summer for fun, experiential garden adventures! Each camp matches the season and is full of garden-centric games, exploration and art, music and cooking. Activities are suitable for children having completed kindergarten through completed fourth grade unless otherwise noted.
Our camps are primarily outside, if the weather allows.
Summer Camp registration will go live on Feb. 4 at noon.
Spring Break Camp 2024: Exploring Ecosystems
March 17–21 | $325 per Child | 9 a.m.– 3:30 p.m.* | Kindergarten–5th Grade
We offer a new and exciting Spring Break Camp each year!
Scholarships are available and pre-registration is required.
Registration for 2025 Spring Break Camp is now open!
Join us for a week of exploration! We will be discovering the unique ecosystems that make up The Gardens on Spring Creek. Throughout the week, we will be gaining skills in art, identification, and interpretation.
*Note: Children may be dropped off as early as 8:30 a.m. and picked up as late as 4 p.m.; camp programming will not begin until 9 a.m. and will end at 3:30 p.m. The Gardens close at 5 p.m.
School's Out! Day Camps occur on days when school is not in session for the Poudre School District. Activities are geared toward children ages five to ten who are currently enrolled in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Time: 9 a.m.– 3:30 p.m. | Cost: $70 per student
Scholarships are available, and pre-registration is required.
2025 dates (camp descriptions below)
Lepidopterists
Jan. 20 | $70 | Current K – 5th Graders
Where do monarchs go during the winter? How do butterflies taste their food? What is a lepidopterist? Answer all these questions and more as we explore the fascinating world of butterfly science!
Great Backyard Bird Count
Feb. 17 | $70 | Current K – 5th Graders
Join us and thousands of others in the Great Backyard Bird Count! This global community science project helps scientists better understand bird populations before one of their annual migrations, and we get to help! We will spend the day learning about the birds in our area and going out to count as many as we can.
Earth Day
April 18 | $70 | Current K – 5th Graders
Earth Day is coming up soon, but here at The Gardens, we celebrate the Earth all month long! Join us as we find ways to make the world more beautiful.
Registration for 2025 Summer Camps will open on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at noon.
Camp descriptions and dates are posted below.
Join us for fun, outdoor summer education! Our summer camps are full of garden–centric activities like gardening, art, science, animals and cooking! Pre-registration is required.
Cost: Varies per camp. Gardens Members receive a 10% discount on camp admission. Scholarships are available.
Ages: Unless otherwise noted, summer camps are planned and geared for children having completed kindergarten through fourth grade.
Waitlists will be available for sold-out camps. Please email our Education Team with your phone number, your child's name, grade level next year, desired camp and date: GardensEducation@fcgov.com
Notes:
| Dates | Ages | Camp | Cost |
| June 5 & 6 | Rising 1 - 5 grade | Garden Party | $140 |
| June 9 – 13 | Rising 1 - 5 grade | Gardeners and Chefs Level I | $350 |
| June 16 – 20 | Rising 4 - 6 grade | Gardeners and Chefs Level II | $350 |
| June 23 – 27 | Rising 1 - 5 grade | Garden STEAM | $325 |
| July 7 – 11 | Rising 1 - 5 grade | Garden STEAM | $325 |
| July 14 – 18 | Rising 1 - 5 grade | Garden STEAM | $325 |
| July 21 – 25 | Rising 1 - 5 grade | Garden Animals | $325 |
| July 21 – 25 | Rising 6 - 8 grade | Junior Hort Half-Day Camp | $150 |
| July 28 – Aug. 1 | Rising 1 - 5 grade | Garden Animals | $325 |
| Aug. 4 – 8 | Rising 1 - 5 grade | Garden Animals | $325 |
Age: Open to Rising First through Fifth Graders
Dates: June 5 – 6
Cost: $140
School is out, that means camp is in! Join us for this two-day camp to celebrate the start of summer. We will be doing what The Gardens does best: exploring gardening, art, science, animals, and cooking all in one camp!
Ages & Dates:
Cost: $350
Join us for a week of gardening and cooking at the Gardens on Spring Creek. We will spend the week learning about the garden, making fun recipes, caring for the plants that flavor our foods and making our own book of recipes to take home!
All our camps are vegetarian and safe for students with food allergies or health conditions. We choose our weekly recipes based on the registered students’ allergies and food sensitivities, avoiding unsafe foods and food processors. All ingredients will be sent to parents for approval before camp and modifications can be made.
This year, we are offering a Level II Gardeners and Chefs to our older campers. We will be stepping up the recipes and skills for these more experienced foodies.
Age: Open to Rising First through Fifth Graders
Dates: June 23 – 27 | July 7 – 11 | July 14 – 18
Cost: $325
The garden can be your laboratory! The garden is steaming with secrets to be discovered and puzzles to solve! Come learn to ask deep questions and design solutions to real-world problems. Each day we will be harnessing our science, technology, engineering, art and math skills to tackle new and exciting challenges like designing garden-inspired inventions, creating garden masterpieces, exploring tiny things through microscopes and learning to harness the power of the sun!
Please note that the programming for this camp will be identical each week. Due to reduced enrollment, we will only accept campers into one of these weeks of camp.
Age: Open to Rising First through Fifth Graders
Dates: July 21 – 25 | July 28 – Aug. 1 | Aug. 4 – 8
Cost: $325
The Gardens on Spring Creek is an animal's paradise! Spend the week exploring relationships between the animals and plants that live in The Gardens. We will get up close and personal with garden critters and the evidence they leave behind. Whether we are building habitats, practicing our skills of camouflage or exploring the pond, it is going to be a wild time!
Please note that the programming for this camp will be identical each week. Due to reduced enrollment, we will only accept campers for one of these weeks of camp.
Age: Open to Rising 6 through 8 Graders
Dates: July 21 – 25 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. each day
Cost: $150
Do you want to make the world a better place? Come learn how to be a steward of the environment! During this week, we will learn all about how horticulture can help save the world through planting, harvesting, and caring for plants, the foundation of life on earth. This middle school-focused half-day camp will also explore what stewardship can look like in your community and prepare participants for volunteer opportunities throughout the City of Fort Collins. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn from our teen Project Hort participants about their volunteer experience at The Gardens.
What time is drop-off for camp?
Drop off takes place between 8:30 and 9 a.m. each day. Early drop-off is not permitted.
Late drop-off can be accommodated, please contact us if you need to drop your child off late.
What is the drop-off and pick-up process?
Check-in and pick-up will be through the Children’s Garden Gate to the left of the front entrance to The Gardens. Please pull around into the yellow loading zone. Look for the sign that says “Youth Program Check-in” by the Watering Can.
Please have your ID available and ready. Anyone picking up your camper will need to be on our authorized list, to add to this list you can put the names on your camper's waiver and/or email me directly.
When you arrive for drop-off or pick-up, please pull into the loading zone.
You are welcome to stay in the car or walk your student to the gate.
What time is pick-up?
Pick-up will take place between 3:30 and 4 p.m. each day.
Please be aware that a late fee of $1 per minute will be charged for late pick-ups after 4 p.m. (or 5 p.m. if you signed your camper up for aftercare) in all cases except emergencies. If a parent or authorized adult will be late, it is their responsibility to notify the Gardens as soon as possible (970-416-2486). Thank you for your understanding and consideration of our staff’s time.
We can accommodate early pick-up; please contact us if you need to pick your child up early from camp.
Do I need to show ID to pick up my child from camp?
A photo ID is required to pick your child up from camp. Please ensure that whoever is picking up your child brings their photo ID.
Our staff will give you or the person picking up your child a brief summary of the day’s activities. Since we have many children to check out we keep these summaries very brief. If you would like more details about your child’s day, please feel free to stick around and our staff can have a longer conversation after the rest of their group has been picked up. Our education staff want to hear your feedback and work with you to make the camp experience a great one for everyone. Please don't hesitate to bring up any questions or concerns.
How will children be split into groups for camp?
Each group will be limited to 11 children* with one lead instructor and one teen volunteer. Groups will be created in advance and will be determined by age. If you have two children attending camp and would like them to be in the same group, we will do our best to accommodate this request. If your child has a friend they would like to be placed with, we can try to place them in the same group. Once camp begins, we cannot move children between groups. Please email your requests to jwells@fcgov.com with enough time to make changes before the first day of camp.
*Gardeners and Chefs camps will be split into two groups of 16 children. These groups will have one lead instructor, one assisting instructor, and one teen volunteer.
What should my child bring to camp?
Please ensure your child has the following with them on each day of camp:
Sack lunch
AM and PM snack *We find that kids get hungry playing outside all day, so please pack plenty of food for your child.
Reusable water bottle *Hydration in hot weather is very important. Please pack a reusable water bottle. Your child can refill it at our water bottle refill stations throughout the day. Please write your child’s name or initials on their water bottle.
Sunscreen *The Gardens will not have a communal sunscreen option.
Mosquito repellant *The Gardens will not have a communal repellant option.
Hat / Cap *Please write your child’s name or initial on their hat.
Clothes and shoes that can get wet and muddy *Your child will get dirty and wet during camp. We recommend closed-toe shoes for exploring.
Raincoat
Extra set of clothes *In case your child gets wet.
Medications and Allergy Action Plans *have action/care plans available, and medications clearly labeled.
In general, keep in mind that our mission at the The Gardens is to connect people to nature. We spend the majority of each day outside, no matter the weather. We do our best to ensure the comfort of your child, but you can help by making sure that they are prepared for the weather and various activities.
Can my child bring toys to camp?
We kindly ask that your child leaves all toys at home. We assure you we will keep them busy.
What does a typical day look like at Gardens summer camp?
Example Schedule:
8:30 a.m. – Drop-off and free play in the children’s garden
9:00 a.m. – daily check-in with team building or name games
9:45 a.m. – activities related to the week’s theme
10:30 a.m. – morning snack and free play
11:00 a.m. – activities related to the week’s theme
12:00 p.m. – lunch and free play
1:00 p.m. – group cool down inside
1:15 p.m. – activities related to the week’s theme
2:00 p.m. – afternoon snack and free play
2:30 p.m. – activities related to the week’s theme
3:15 p.m. – daily debrief and clean-up
3:30 p.m. – Check-out and free play
Do you provide before/after care?
No, we do not provide beforecare for campers, but we do offer aftercare. Aftercare is available from 4 – 5 p.m. for $15 per camper. You can register for after care where you register for camps.
What do you do in bad weather?
We have a small a classroom that is dedicated to camp in case of thunderstorms, hail, heavy rain, excessive heat etc.
How do you handle poor air quality?
Due to an increase in wildfires in the west over the past couple of years, we now monitor the air quality daily. If the air quality is poor, we may modify camp activities to reduce exertion levels and take more breaks throughout the day.
Will food be provided for my child?
We ask that all campers bring AM and PM snacks and a sack lunch. These will remain in campers’ backpack all day, refrigeration and re-heating is not available for campers’ lunches.
We will have individually packaged snacks available for campers in case they eat everything they brought to camp and are still very hungry. We will not have adequate stores of these snacks to provide them for every child every day, please pack your child plenty of food.
How are your staff trained?
We train our staff extensively in the weeks leading up to the start of camp, covering safety and risk management, principles of outdoor education and going over our planned summer camp activities.
Our education staff members are CPR and First Aid certified. Staff are also trained in our site-specific emergency response.
All staff members undergo a thorough criminal background check during the hiring process.
Can my child come to camp if they are sick?
Please keep your child at home if they are sick with any symptoms including but not limited to: fever, cough, sore throat, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. If your child appears sick at check-in then we will ask you to take them home. Please plan to have alternative childcare options in place. We recognize this may be difficult for families, and we apologize in advance for any inconvenience. Our primary responsibility is the health of our staff and all camp families.
What if my child needs to have medication on site during camp (e.g. inhaler, epi pen, etc.)?
We will need you to complete a Care Plan in order for your child to bring any medication (including over-the-counter) to camp. This form requires a licensed health care authorization and signature.
Medications must be delivered to your child’s camp counselor on the first day of camp during check in. All prescription medications must be in their original, labeled containers with the name of your child, the pharmacy and prescribing provider.
Please only provide the amount of medication your child will need during each day of camp. Your child’s counselor will carry medications at all times.
How will you communicate with parents and guardians leading up to and during camp?
Our primary mode of communication prior to camp is email. You can expect several emails from us prior to the start of camp with the required forms and important information. These are usually sent out about one week before the first day of camp. We will use the email address provided during registration, please check this email account regularly to stay informed.
We strive to develop a personal connection with each family who attends summer camp. At the end of each day of camp, we will do our best to give you, or the person picking up your child, a brief summary of your child’s day. If sign-out is particularly busy when you arrive, however, this might not be possible. Feel free to stick around if you would like to speak to a camp staff member; we are all more than willing to respond to any questions or concerns.
The program coordinator is always available via cell phone during camp hours. These phone numbers will be provided to you in an email prior to the first day of camp.
If important announcements need to go out to parents, these will be communicated via email.
We offer need-based scholarships for classes and programs to income-qualifying families, up to $300 per child per year. Apply at anytime. Please submit the following application:
Camp Refund Policies
Spring Break Camp: Cancellations made prior to two weeks out from camp will be refunded at 100%. After two weeks prior, no refunds will be given.
Summer Camps: Cancellations made prior to May 1 will be refunded at 100%. After May 1 and up to two weeks prior to the first day of camp, a 50% refund will be given. After two weeks prior, no refunds will be given. If the camp is canceled by The Gardens on Spring Creek for any reason, a full refund will be issued.