The Camden Children's Garden has a variety of educational programs for both the young and the young at heart!  From children to adult, the Garden has something to offer you.

• School Field trips – welcomed year-round (learn more)
  
  
• Garden Lessons  – enhance your visit to the Garden with an on-site hands-on lesson (learn more)
  
  
• Distance Learning Lessons – cannot come to the Garden?  Let the Garden come to you via videoconferencing  (learn more) 
  
  
• Garden Festivals for Schools – designed for grades 3rd to 6th (learn more)
  
  
• Adult Workshops – Enjoy a morning learning about gardening with local garden experts!   (learn more)
  
  
• Scouting Programs – work towards or complete a variety of badges, community service or leadership hours. (learn more)

SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS

Visit the garden on a self-guided tour.  Enjoy the various themed gardens, learn about butterflies at the Philadelphia Eagles Four Seasons Butterfly House and Education Centre, dig into our seasonal planting station, ride some of our amusements and enjoy a day at the Garden.

• GROUP ADMISSION PRICE is $6.00 per student, which includes admission and two tokens to ride the Butterfly Spring, Train, or Carousel. One adult is required for every five (5) students/children and receives free admission. Other adults in the group are $5.50.  Extra tokens can be acquired for $1.25 each. On the Carousel, standing adults assisting children ride free of charge. 
  
  
• ADULTS, CHAPERONES, TEACHERS, COUNSELORS: Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. For the safety of our visitors, unruly/unsafe children will be asked to leave exhibit areas and a security officer will be called.  
  
  
• EATING AT THE GARDEN: Schools and groups can bring lunch to the Garden and eat under one of our two tents.  A $10.00 maintenance fee is required for every 50 people in the group.  Only snacks and drinks are sold at the Garden.
  
  
• BUS PARKING is available near the Garden, at one of the Camden Parking Authority’s lot.  Parking fees are $10.00 per bus.
  
  
• EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: Enhance your visit to the Camden Children’s Garden by scheduling a Garden Lesson. You will need to schedule your lesson when you make your group reservation. A variety of topics are available for students K through 12, including butterflies, soil, biodiversity, tropical rainforests, nutrition and many more. Costs range from $55.00 to $80.00 per lesson. (learn more)

For additional information or to book a visit, please call (856) 365-8733 and ask for our Garden Educator. You can also make a reservation by clicking on the link below and filling out our Field Trip Booking Request Form.

Field Trip Booking Request Form (Word, 644 KB)

GARDEN LESSONS

On-site Garden Lessons are available to classes visiting the Camden Children's Garden. Lessons are offered on the grounds of the Garden and are designed for students K – 8^th.  All of our lessons are aligned to the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards and the American Association for the Advancement of Science Benchmarks for Science Literacy.  Costs range from $55.00 to $80.00 per lesson, and between 30 to 45 minutes in duration. You will need to book your lesson when you make your field trip reservation. To download a complete listing of our lessons with their description and costs, click on the desired link below.

2007-2008 Distance Learning & Garden Lessons Listing (PDF, 188 KB)

DISTANCE LEARNING

Distance Learning lessons are provided using video conferencing technology equipment over an ISDN network to schools with reciprocal equipment. Schools with IP technology must make arrangements for bridging. Lessons are available on a variety of topics ranging from butterflies, trees, soil and weather to genetics and tropical rainforests, and are designed for students K – 12. Teacher In-Services also are available. All of our lessons are aligned to the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards and the American Association for the Advancement of Science Benchmarks for Science Literacy.  Costs range from $55.00 to $80.00 per lesson, and between 30 to 45 minutes in duration.  To download a complete listing of our lessons with their description and costs, click on the desired link below.

2007-2008 Distance Learning & Garden Lessons Listing (PDF, 188 KB)

To request a lesson, please call the Garden or click on the link below and fill out and return our “Distance Learning Booking Request Form”.

Distance Learning Booking Form (Word, 397 KB)

GARDEN FESTIVALS FOR SCHOOLS

Our Garden Festivals for Schools are excellent ways for students to explore a variety of hands-on activities while at the same time have some fun!  Developed specifically for 3rd to 6th grade students, the festivals are centered on four main themes:

• Spring is Here!:  Spring is the start of planting season. Learn how to compost, the importance of water, how to identify plants, what seeds need to grow and take some home to start your garden.
  
  
• Earth and Arbor Day:  Save the Earth! Join us while we learn to make recycled paper, explore water pollution, plant a tree to take home, and make some wacky planters from reusable materials.
  
  
• Butterflies, Birds and Cinco de Mayo: Take flight with the monarchs while learning about butterfly migration, explore plants that attract butterflies and birds to your garden (and take one home with you!), identify birds by their beaks, and learn a little Spanish in our Cinco de Mayo Activity.
  
  
• Fit and Fun:  Having a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be boring!  Learn some fun, easy ways to add exercise to your day, explore the new USDA Food Pyramid, find out what rainbows have to do with eating, and start your own healthy garden by planting a tomato to take home.

All the festivals are during the Spring.  The activities are all aligned to the New Jersey Department of Education Core Curriculum Content Standards, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science Benchmarks for Science Literacy.  Reservations are required, and space is limited. Fees are $8.00 per student, which includes admission, four hands-on activities, a student passport and two tokens for our amusements.  One adult is required for every five (5) students/children and receives free admission. For the dates of the festivals and/or to request a reservation, please click on the link below.

Garden Festivals for Schools Request Form (Word, 656 KB)

ADULT WORKSHOPS

Come outside...and enjoy the Garden while learning about gardening and other horticultural activities!  From Spring Planting and Composting to Holiday Decorating with Nature, these workshops are sure to get you excited about gardening again!  This workshop series for adults is held at the Garden one Wednesday each month from April to November. Workshops are held from 10:00am to 11:30am. Reservation and pre-payment are required.  Workshops fees are $15.00 for members of the Camden Children’s Garden and the Camden City Garden Club, and $20.00 for non-members. Fee includes admission to Garden, Workshop and all class materials.  Workshops are designed for adults only, unless otherwise noted. Space is limited.  For a complete listing of the workshops, speakers and dates; and the Workshop Reservation Form, please click on the links below.

2008 Adult Workshops Schedule (PDF, 179 KB)

2008 Adult Workshop Registration Form (Word, 657KB)

SCOUTING PROGRAMS

Girl Scouts: Our programs are designed to help Girl Scouts, from Daisy to Seniors, achieve their petals, try-its, badges and interest projects.  Also, for Cadettes and Seniors, we have various opportunities to aide in completing their service and leadership hours and career requirements. For the dates of the Girl Scout programs and/or to request a reservation, please click on the link below to download a registration form.

Girl Scouts Registration Form (Word, 657 KB)

Boy Scouts: Various loops, pins and merit badges, as well as service and leadership hours can be achieved through our programs.  For the dates of specific Boy Scout programs and/or to request a reservation, please click on the link below to download a registration form.

Boy Scouts Registration Form (Word, 641 KB)

Please call the Garden for more information and program dates.

*PLEASE NOTE

• All our education programs are offered on a first-scheduled, first-served basis and must be scheduled in advance.
  
  
• The cost of Garden or Distance Learning Lessons is non-refundable; however, we will happily reschedule a cancelled lesson at a mutually convenient time.
  
  
• If you do not see a lesson that meets your needs, we can also provide customized lessons. Existing lessons can also be modified for most age groups.
  
  
• ¡Se habla español! Some of our lessons and programs are available in Spanish.

If you have any questions about any of our Education Programs, please call the Garden Educator, Betsy Payne, at 856-365-8733 or email her at bpayne@camdenchildrensgarden.org.