Pine Tree
2008 Schedule of Events
*Unless otherwise noted, festivals are held 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m..
*School Festivals are designed for 3rd - 6th Grades.
Reservations are required.
| Date | EVENT |
| January 5 Saturday |
Three Kings Day, “Día de Los Reyes” Celebrate Three Kings Day, “Día de Los Reyes,” in the Camden Children’s Garden Plaza de Aibonito, a Puerto Rico attraction. Guests will receive treats, enjoy cultural crafts and have their pictures taken with Three Kings in full royal garb, portrayed by three Camden City officials. Event takes place 1:00pm-3:00pm. |
| January 15 Tuesday |
Garden closes until March 15 for the Winter season The Garden office will be open during regular business hours. |
| February 1-29 Tuesday |
Garden closed to the public for the Winter season The Garden office will be open during regular business hours. |
| March 2-9 Sunday-Sunday |
Philadelphia Flower Show: Jazz It Up! The Garden Club will create a unique and whimsical exhibit, "Children Jazz it Up!" Making music, exercising and eating healthy foods are fun ways for children to "Jazz It Up." The Camden Children's Garden exhibit will feature musical instruments that children can play with and pieces of equipment to exercise. Children and adults will enter through the center of the exhibit over the "Bridge" (slang for middle section). The "Stand" (slang for bandstand) will overlook the jazz-a-matazz exercise area. In the "Jazz Café" section, children will find the "Veggie Quarter" where healthy vegetables are on display. |
| March 15 Saturday |
Garden Reopens to the Public |
| April 12 Saturday |
Dino Day Family Festival Celebrate Dinosaurs and our popular Dino Garden. Dino Day includes educational activities, a fun planting activity, entertainment, crafts, and a "fossil find". Camden Children's Garden Second Saturday Series, held 12:00am-4:00pm. |
| April 16 Wednesday Adult Workshop |
Attract Birds & Butterflies to Your Garden Adult Workshop Presented by Robin Potter, Garden Educator and Master Gardener. Participants in this workshop will have a hands-on experience on how to design a garden that attracts desirable wildlife. Workshop includes a plant and seeds to create the perfect garden at home. This workshop is held 10:00am-11:30am. $15.00 for Garden members and $20.00 for non-members. Reservations are required. Contact Betsy Payne at 856-365-8733. |
| April 18 Friday |
Spring is Here Festival for Schools A great opportunity for teachers to book an educational field trip! School festivals designed for grades 3-6 and aligned to NJ Standards. This festival includes interactive lessons about soils, the water cycle, composting and each student will plant a seed to take home. School Festivals require reservations, cost $8.00 a student (includes 2 ride tokens) and are held 9:30am-1:30pm. To reserve your space, call Betsy Payne at 856-365-8733. |
| April 25 Friday |
Earth & Arbor Day Festival for Schools A great opportunity for teachers to book an educational field trip! School festivals designed for grades 3-6 and aligned to NJ Standards. This festival includes interactive lessons about making recycled paper, wacky planters made of recycled materials, water education, and each student can plant a seed to take home. School Festivals require reservations, cost $8.00 a student (includes 2 ride tokens) and are held 9:30am-1:30pm. To reserve your space, call Betsy Payne at 856-365-8733. |
| April 26 Saturday |
Earth and Arbor Day Family Festival Celebrate Earth & Arbor Day in the beauty of 4.5-acres of children's themed gardens and the Philadelphia Eagles Four Seasons Butterfly House. There will be planting activities, a ladybug release and crafts to help celebrate our Earth at the Garden. Camden Children's Garden Fourth Saturday Series, held 12:00pm-4:00pm. |
| May 2 Friday |
Beautiful Butterflies, Birds & Cinco de Mayo Festival for Schools A great opportunity for teachers to book an educational field trip! School festivals designed for grades 3-6 and aligned to NJ Standards. This festival includes interactive lessons about bird adaptations, monarch butterfly migration, butterfly gardening, and Cinco de Mayo Inspirations. School Festivals require reservations, cost $8.00 a student (includes 2 ride tokens) and are held 9:30am-1:30pm. To reserve your space, call Betsy Payne at 856-365-8733. |
| May 3 Saturday |
Naturalist Pin for Webelos Scouts Workshop Complete the "Naturalist" Pin during a visit to the Garden. Boys will learn about poisonous plants and animals, composting and birds while having fun, and even get to make a terrarium take home! Workshop requires reservations, cost $8.00 a Scout (includes 2 ride tokens) and is held 9:30am-1:30pm. To reserve your space, call Betsy Payne at 856-365-8733. |
| May 9 Friday |
Beautiful Butterflies, Birds & Cinco de Mayo Festival for Schools From crawling caterpillars and fluttering butterflies to lovely local birds, celebrate the Garden's most beautiful and important inhabitants. Visit and learn about the live butterflies inside the Philadelphia Eagles Four Seasons Butterfly House. Celebrate the return of Monarchs from Mexico and the Mexican traditional holiday Cinco de Mayo. This event includes crafts, education, a planting activity and a colorful cultural celebration. Camden Children's Garden Second Saturday Series, held 12:00am-4:00pm. |
| May 10 Saturday |
Beautiful Butterflies, Birds & Cinco de Mayo Family Festival From crawling caterpillars and fluttering butterflies to lovely local birds, celebrate the Garden's most beautiful and important inhabitants. Visit and learn about the live butterflies inside the Philadelphia Eagles Four Seasons Butterfly House. Celebrate the return of Monarchs from Mexico and the Mexican traditional holiday Cinco de Mayo. This event includes crafts, education, a planting activity and a colorful cultural celebration. Camden Children's Garden Second Saturday Series, held 12:00am-4:00pm. |
| May 16 Friday |
Fit and Fun Festival for Schools A great opportunity for teachers to book an educational field trip! School festivals designed for grades 3-6 and aligned to NJ Standards. This festival includes interactive lessons about easy ways of keeping fit and being healthy, including planting your own garden. School Festivals require reservations, cost $8.00 a student (includes 2 ride tokens) and are held 9:30am-1:30pm. To reserve your space, call Betsy Payne at 856-365-8733. |
| May 17 Saturday |
Plants Try-It Brownie Girl Scout Workshop Complete the "Plants" Try-it during a visit to the Garden. Girls will learn about seeds and trees while having fun, and even get to transplant a plant to take home! Workshop requires reservations, cost $8.00 a Girl Scout (includes 2 ride tokens) and are held 9:30am-1:30pm. To reserve your space, call Betsy Payne at 856-365-8733. |
| May 21 Wednesday Adult Workshop |
Four-Seasons Containers: Year-Round Garden Pizzazz Presented by Michael Bowell, Create a Scene Owner & Orchid Breeder. Containers offer the ultimate flexible garden. Once you create your work of art, now you can move it around to create the perfect floral focal point. Participants will learn which plants will dazzle in spring & summer and then substitute plants for double duty in fall & winter. Workshop includes your own potted plant for the perfect head start when you return home. This workshop is held 10:00am-11:30am. $15.00 for Garden members and $20.00 for non-members. To reserve your space, call Betsy Payne at 856-365-8733. |
| May 24 Saturday |
Fit and Fun Family Festival The Camden Children's Garden wants you to be healthy! This festival will highlight easy and fun ideas for a healthy lifestyle, with a focus on simple physical activities and nutritious eating. Join us for crafts, a veggie make-n-take planting activity and educational activities that support living healthy living. Camden Children's Garden Fourth Saturday Series, held 12:00pm-4:00pm. |
| May 31 Saturday |
Outdoors in the City Badge Junior Girl Scout Workshop Complete the "Outdoors in the City" Badge during a visit to the Garden. Girls will learn about urban wildlife and easy outdoor games while having fun, and even get to plant a window box to take home! Workshop requires reservations, cost $8.00 a Girl Scout (includes 2 ride tokens) and are held 9:30am-1:30pm. To reserve your space, call Betsy Payne at 856-365-8733. |
| June 7 Saturday |
Plants Interest Project Cadette/Senior Girl Scout Workshop Complete the "Plants" Interest Project during a visit to the Garden. Girls will learn about gardening, soils and horticultural careers while having fun, and even get to make a floral arrangement to take home! Workshop requires reservations, costs $8.00 a Girl Scout (includes 2 ride tokens) and is from 9:30am-3:30pm (includes Service project). To reserve your space, call Betsy Payne at 856-365-8733. |
| June 13 Friday |
3rd Annual Camden Children's Garden Fundraiser and Champions of Children Award Ceremony |
| June 14 Saturday |
StrawBEARy Surprise & Nature in Art Day Family Festival This is a celebration of one of summer's sweetest fruits with a special twist to honor Mum Bear, the Garden's mascot, on her 5th birthday. This event will include crafts, a planting activity. Families can cool off at the Strawberry Concession Stand and visitors can learn about nature in art. Camden Children's Garden Second Saturday Series held 12:00pm-4:00pm. |
| June 18 Wednesday Adult Workshop |
Fun with Herbs Adult Workshop Presented by Lorraine Kiefer, Triple Oaks Nursery & Herb Garden co-owner and garden columnist. Participants will learn about the enormous variety of herbs and the colorful lore surrounding them, tips on which are the easiest and most useful to grow and learn about everyday uses of these herbs. This workshop is held 10:00am-11:30am. $15.00 for Garden members and $20.00 for non-members. To reserve your space, call Betsy Payne at 856-365-8733. |
| June 28 Saturday |
Festival de Aibonito, Puerto Rico Family Festival Enjoy the beauty of tropical plants inside the Plaza de Aibonito, Puerto Rico. This colorful cultural celebration includes Hispanic arts and crafts, games, Puerto Rican entertainment and delicious tropical fruit. This festival is a part of Camden's Parada San Juan Bautista Celebration. Camden Children's Garden Fourth Saturday Series, held 12:00pm-4:00pm. |
| July 10-13 Thursday-Sunday |
WXPN's XPoNential Festival on the Camden Waterfront |
| July 12 Saturday |
BlueBEARy Blast and Celebrate NJ Day Family Festival Join Mum Bear and Garden staff for crafts and a planting activity, celebrating this delicious fruit. Join the fun with WXPN's Kids Corner in the Camden Children's Garden. Families can get their fill of NJ's official State Fruit at the Blueberry Concession Stand. Camden Children's Garden Second Saturday Series, held 12:00pm-4:00pm. |
| July 16 Wednesday Workshop |
Faerie Garden Funtasies for Parent & Child Workshop Presented by Lorraine Kiefer, Triple Oaks Nursery & Herb Garden co-owner, and garden columnist. Attendees will be entertained with some of the fascinating folklore that has been associated with fairies through the centuries and will make their own Faerie dish garden using herbs, an alyssum and a variety of small flowering annuals. This workshop is held 10:00am-11:30am. $15.00 for Garden members and $20.00 for non-members. To reserve your space, call Betsy Payne at 856-365-8733! |
| July 26 Saturday |
American Horticultural Society's Youth Gardening Conference visits the Camden Children's Garden 9:00am-11:30am |
| July 26 Saturday |
Storybook Celebration Family Festival The Storybook Gardens come alive inside the Camden Children's Garden. Join us for crafts, entertainment, and of course a reading of children's classics. Plant your own magic beans and enjoy an interactive storytelling. Camden Children's Garden Fourth Saturday Series, held 12:00pm-4:00pm. |
| August 9 Saturday |
Peach Party Family Festival Join the party for NJ's favorite summer fruit with crafts, planting activity, and a treasure hunt. Enjoy Jersey Peaches and peach products at the Peach Concession Stand. Camden Children's Garden Second Saturday Series, held 12:00pm-4:00pm. |
| August 20 Wednesday Workshop | Eat This! Flowers to Tickle Your Taste Buds Parent & Child Workshop Presented by Andrea Sparano, Master Gardener & Herbalist. From pansies to daylilies discover which flowers are not only beautiful, but fun to eat! Participants will learn how to create salads, hors d'oeuvres and other great snacks from garden flowers. Workshop includes your own potted perennial and chives to take home. This workshop is held 10:00am-11:30am. $15.00 for Garden members and $20.00 for non-members. To reserve your space, call Betsy Payne at 856-365-8733. |
| August 23 Saturday |
Chocolate & Vanilla Family Festival A delicious daytime event dedicated to two of nature's most flavorful plants. Join us for crafts, educational activities, and our "Flavors of the Forest" concession stand. Enjoy chocolate and vanilla treats as you learn about these tropical flavors. Camden Children's Garden Fourth Saturday Series, held 12:00pm-4:00pm. |
| September 13-14 Saturday and Sunday |
Hefty Harvest and Scary Scarecrows Family Festival Camden Children's Garden's annual celebration of the bountiful harvest includes games, crafts and entertainment. For a small fee, you can make your own full-sized scarecrow to take home (while supplies last). The Harvest Concession Stand will feature the rich fall flavors of cranberries and apples. |
| September 17 Wednesday Adult Workshop |
Gardening for Fun Indoors Adult Workshop Presented by Robin Potter, Garden Educator & Master Gardener. Attendees will learn pointers on what grows easily indoors, how to create plant communities and how to keep plants attractive & healthy all winter long. Workshop includes an indoor dish garden suitable for giving—or keeping. This workshop is held 10:00am-11:30am. $15.00 for Garden members and $20.00 for non-members. To reserve your space, call Betsy Payne at 856-365-8733. |
| September 27 and 28 Saturday and Sunday |
Faeries and Wizards Family Festival Celebrate these magical creatures with games, crafts and more. Guests will be able to make their own wizard hat or fairy wings. Come to the Garden dressed in your favorite Faerie Costume. Listen to an enchanted storybook reading by a fabulous fairy and enjoy a magical treat at the Faerie Fixings Concession stand. Camden Children's Garden Fourth Saturday Series, held 12:00pm-4:00pm. |
| October 11-12 Saturday and Sunday |
Mum Madness and Pumpkin Parade Family Festival Camden Children's Garden's salute to Autumn and Mum Bear with crafts and activities, all set in the blazing colors of the Garden's beautiful chrysanthemums. For a small fee, you can purchase and paint a pumpkin to take home (while supplies last). Camden Children's Garden Second Saturday Series, held 12:00pm-4:00pm. |
| October 15 Wednesday Adult Workshop |
Blast Winter's Blahs by Forcing Bulbs Adult Workshop Presented by Walt Fisher, Foremost expert on growing bulbs. Did you ever wonder how the Flower Show displays spring flowers in February? Learn how to fool Mother Nature and force your spring flowers into early bloom. Workshop includes your own pot and bulbs to try this at home. Workshop is held 10:00am-11:30am. $15.00 for Garden members and $20.00 for non-members. To reserve your space, call Betsy Payne at 856-365-8733! |
| October 25-26 Saturday and Sunday |
Goblins in the Garden Family Festival Kids in costumes receive half-price admission for this howling good time. Take a Haunted Train Ride; dodge costumed characters in our Haunted Maze, meet the bumbling burglars and have your fortune told. Celebrate the Mexican tradition of "Día de los Muertos," a fun and educational activity for the whole family. |
| October 31 Saturday and Sunday |
Safe Trick or Treating at the Camden Children's Garden Have a howling good time at the Camden Children's Garden by using this safe facility to do your trick or treating. Children must be accompanied with an adult. Kids in costumes receive 50% off garden admission. This event will take place 2:00pm-4:30pm. |
| November 1 Saturday |
Eco-Explorer Try-It Brownie Girl Scout Workshop Complete the "Eco-Explorer" Try-it during a visit to the Garden. Girls will learn about habitats, go on a nature treasure home and make a bird feeder to take home! Workshop requires reservations, cost $8.00 a Girl Scout (includes 2 ride tokens) and are held 9:30am-1:30pm. To reserve your space, call Betsy Payne at 856-365-8733. |
| November 8-9 Saturday and Sunday |
Train Festival The Camden Children's Garden salutes a nostalgic favorite- Trains! The festival will feature our own permanent G-Scale display and Arrow River 1/3-scale Train Ride. Join us for crafts, games, entertainment and a reading of The Polar Express. The Garden has also invited train vendors and exhibitors to celebrate America's favorite transportation. Camden Children's Garden Second Saturday Series, held 12:00pm-4:00pm. |
| November 15 Saturday |
Wildlife Badge Junior Girl Scout Workshop Complete the "Wildlife" Badge during a visit to the Garden. Girls will learn about poisonous plants and animals, look closely at some creature features and even get to learn some easy beauty aids using plants! Workshop requires reservations, cost $8.00 a Girl Scout (includes 2 ride tokens) and are held 9:30am-1:30pm. To reserve your space, call Betsy Payne at 856-365-8733. |
| November 19 Wednesday Workshop |
Bows, Boughs & Berries Adult Workshop Presented by Charlet Smith, Floral Designer & Denise Cowie—Former Gardening Columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Give your holiday packages some extra oomph, or add flourish to seasonal swags & wreaths. Workshop includes ribbons and swags that you create and take home. Workshop is held 10:00am- 11:30am. $15.00 for Garden members and $20.00 for non-members. To reserve your space, call Betsy Payne at 856-365-8733! |
| November 29 Saturday |
Tree Decorating, Santa's Arrival, and Holiday Lights Begins! Always a festive day at the Camden Children's Garden, this is the kick-off event for our 8th Annual Holiday Festival of Lights. The day includes a sponsor tree-decorating contest, Santa's afternoon arrival, crafts, and storybook reading. Tree Decorating 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. At night, we will light the Garden for the first time this year, including animated light sculptures and the Enchanted Wonderland. Garden premieres its lights at 5:30 p.m. and is open until 8:00 p.m. for the first night of the Festival of Lights (after 5:30 pm admission is $4 pp). |
| Month of December Friday and Saturday Evenings 5:30pm-8:00pm |
Holiday Festival of Lights Enjoy a magical holiday tradition on the Camden Waterfront. In the evening, stroll through the 4.5 acres of gardens that include over 100,000 beautiful holiday lights and animated light sculptures. See live butterflies in the Philadelphia Eagles Four Season Butterfly House. Meet Santa Claus, his elves and Garden Mascot Mum Bear. Enjoy Plaza de Aibonito, a heated Tropical Holiday exhibit and learn about the Hispanic tradition of Three Kings Day. Guests can ride the Commerce Carousel, Butterfly Spring Ride or the Arrow River Express Train Ride for an additional fee. Amuse yourself in an enchanted Wonderland with animated scenes and model trains. Admission is $4.00 per person. |
For more information about our events, call 1.856.365.8733 one week before the event. Admission to the Camden Children's Garden is $6.00 for adults and $4.00 for children. Additional fees may apply for some activities. |
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