The Arboretum offers programs for children of all ages, as well as a summer camp series.
2010 Creative Kids Summer Camp
Summer belongs to children. For the past five years, families and children have grown with the Arboretum's Kids Camp series. The Camps are extraordinary opportunities for children to enjoy summer, and to explore and become a part of the Arboretum. This year, campers will experience the Arboretum in a variety of ways. Preschoolers can join Camp Pollywog's Where the Wild Things Are to learn about the Arboretum's diverse habitats. Preschoolers may also learn about how the Kids Only! Funshine Garden is a special place for Things with Wings during Camp Bumblebee.
The Arboretum inspires all ages in many different ways! This summer, campers ages 6-8 will explore the Arboretum as a means for artistic expression during Camp Paw Paw's Camp Inspiration. In Discovery Days, Camp Egret will tap into every child's wild side and innate desire to investigate wild places. Campers ages 9-12 will conduct scientific analyses, use field sketching and nature journaling to document their discoveries, and play games that will encourage a bit of self-discovery. Each camp session engages campers in discovering how they fit into the ecosystem.
The Arboretum's Creative Kids Camps provide children access to a truly enchanted place. Space is limited and registration is necessary. Sign up your young adventurer to "grow" with the Arboretum. Give the gift of summer camp with an easygoing, relaxed atmosphere in which creativity and fun flourish.
Arboretum membership has its benefits! Members receive a discount on camp fees AND may pre-register for summer camp. Member registration is now under way. Registration for the general public begins March 15.
Click the desired camp link below to register online.
Inclement Weather Policy
In the case of inclement weather, programs are cancelled if Caroline County Schools are closed. Registrants can call 410-634-2847, ext. 0, e-mail info@adkinsarboretum.org, or check www.adkinsarboretum.org for updates on rescheduling programs. If a registrant has paid for a class and is unable to attend on the rescheduled date, the Arboretum will refund the program fee.
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Winter 2010 Preschool Programs
Preschool classes are open to children ages 3 to 5. Pre-registration is required. Enrollment is limited to 15 children, so early registration is recommended. Programs run February 8 and 9 to March 15 and 16 and include Forest Valentine, Winter Wonderland, Enchanting Evergreens, Fox Trot, Antlers Away, and Dancing with the Stars.
Classes are offered as a session of six programs. Session 1: Mondays, 10-11:15 a.m. Session 2: Tuesdays, 10-11:15 a.m.
The fee for all six classes in the session is $45 for members, $55 for the general public. Each class includes a snack and a craft. For further information or to register, call 410-634-2847, extension 0.
Programs are led by popular children's teacher Jenny Houghton.
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Sense of Wonder Sundays Family Programs
When you take time to reflect on your own childhood, the memories often include summer vacations spent at the beach or mountains, or the hours of free play outdoors, whether in a vacant lot, a favorite creek, or a special patch of woods.
Playing outdoors, building stick forts, chasing frogs, and digging in the dirt aren't just fun, they actually help children develop emotionally and intellectually. Rachel Carson recognized the power and value of playing outdoors when she wrote A Sense of Wonder. She believes that "If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in." As parents or mentors, you needn't be knowledgeable about nature - just enthusiastic - to keep your families interested in going outside.
Though its beauty and serenity inspires each person differently, the Arboretum's woods, wetlands, meadows, and cultivated gardens are alluring to all ages. The whole family is invited to the Arboretum for fun-filled afternoon programs. If you're lucky, you may glimpse your child's "inborn sense of wonder" - and rediscover your own.
Fee: $5 per person members, $7 per person general public, per program. Pre-registration is required. Call 410-634-2847, extension 0 to register, or register online by clicking on a program link below.
Environmental Education Programs
The Arboretum offers dynamic, hands-on environmental education activities that are richly structured, investigative experiences for grades 4 through 8 based on Maryland State Educational Standards (specifically meeting Maryland's learning outcomes for elementary and middle school and Core Learning Goals in biology and environmental science). Each program affords uncommon opportunities for meaningful outdoor experiences.
These programs are designed to enhance a young person's experiences in natural outdoor settings, as well as enrich current academic science curriculum. Through hands-on experiences, explore the wonders and diversities of habitats, including meadows, deciduous and coniferous forests, wetlands, and streams.
Environmental Education has been linked to improvements in academic achievement and has been shown to encourage stewardship, cultivate a sense of pride and ownership in students, and enrich classroom learning. When the environment is integrated into curricula, student academic performance increases, attitudes improve, and students demonstrate greater enthusiasm and commitment to learning. The Arboretum's education programs have been carefully designed to maximize student involvement in examination of their environment. Such exploration develops problem-solving, critical thinking, and environmental issue investigation skills, vital to cultivating a profound and motivating awareness of the human-environmental connection.
The Arboretum's Education Department offers many different learning experiences for people of all ages, focusing on the conservation and appreciation of the region's native plants. Please be certain your choices are suitable for your grade level, group size, and arrival and departure times. Guided tours, lectures, and workshops are also available to school groups, civic organizations, and the general public. The Arboretum is pleased to offer these programs and to serve as a living resource for enhancing academic achievement.
For more information on environmental education programs or to plan a field trip, use the links provided below or contact Coreen Weilminster at 410-634-2847, extension 30 or e-mail her at cweilminster@adkinsarboretum.org.
The Field Trips
Unless otherwise indicated, all programs are 1.5-hour-long field experiences and will be modified to accommodate from fourth through eighth grade levels. Each theme listed below has several program offerings. Please choose one to explore!