Camps FAQ

The Garden has two different locations for camps:

• While under renovation this year, the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden (ECAG) hosts science camps in winter in the GreenSchool classrooms under the Enid A Haupt Conservatory. This summer, Nature and Science camps will take place in the newly re-opened Everett Children’s Adventure Garden.
• The Edible Academy (EA) hosts spring and summer gardening camps. The EA is located on the east side of the Garden’s Thain Forest. Please note that each day begins and ends with a 30-minute walk across the forest trails.

VIEW MAP

• Camps at the Edible Academy
• Field Science Camp
• Nature Camp
• Science Camp
• Extra Care (Early Drop-Off and Late Pick-Up)

Registration for 2025 Camps begins in November.

Our average group size is 6:1 (six campers to one staff member).

There is no nap time at camp. Our camps incorporate story time or other quiet activities into the early afternoon to allow for camper “down time” during the busy day.

Each camp location (as listed above) has a classroom used as a home base. Much of the day is spent outside exploring, working on activities, and playing—even in rainy, sunny, or snowy weather. Camps run rain or shine, in hot and cold weather.

Please dress your camper in clothes appropriate for the day’s weather forecast, including rain gear if necessary. Dressing or packing gear for the day’s weather means more time for fun, outdoor exploring. On the first day of camp, your camper will be given an NYBG Camp T-shirt. It is not required that your camper wears this shirt during camp.

NYBG Camps offer a supervised lunch period for campers as well as two snack breaks. Please pack a nut-free lunch and two snacks for your camper that do not require refrigeration. Where applicable, food allergies and dietary restrictions are noted in the in-camp preparation of recipes or snacks.

Check-in occurs at the NYBG Main Entrance (Visitor Center), located at 2900 Southern Boulevard. We will provide you with more specific information and expectations in your NYBG Camp Caregiver Letter. Parking is available by entering through the NYBG Main Entrance.

All camp programs check in and out at the NYBG Main Entrance (Visitor Center), located at 2900 Southern Boulevard. Camp groups will leave the drop-off area promptly at 9 a.m. If a camper misses the departure of their group, it is the responsibility of the caregiver who brings that camper to escort the camper to their camp location for that day. Further details about camper drop-off and pick-up will be communicated via email prior to the start of camp and in your NYBG Camp Caregiver Letter.

Yes, we are happy to offer early drop-off and after-camp care for your camper, supervised by NYBG Camp staff. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate drop-ins. Campers must be pre-registered for this service, and on-site registration is not available. Please see website for costs of this service.

In the event of the Garden closing due to severely inclement weather, you will receive an email indicating that The New York Botanical Garden is closed. Venues have safe spaces for inclement weather (e.g. thunderstorms, air quality).

We are a hands-on and engaged camp. Please leave the following items at home: handheld video game consoles, cell/smart phones, MP3 players/iPods, iPad/tablet-type devices, and toys.

To encourage a friendly and engaged learning environment, we foster a community of mutual respect and enthusiasm for our programs. We provide a Code of Conduct—an expectations agreement—with enrollment. Our Code of Conduct asks that:

• Campers treat their fellow campers, educators, and volunteers with respect.
• Campers follow directions and stay with their group.

Campers are asked to review and sign the NYBG Camp Code of Conduct upon completion of the Emergency/Health History Form. In the event that a camper does not follow the Code of Conduct, or their behavior endangers other campers or interferes with an educator’s ability to provide programming, the camp program supervisor will inform the caregiver at pick-up or through a phone call. If a second incident occurs, caregivers may be asked to withdraw their camper from camp.

No, but we ask that all caregivers fill out our required Emergency/Health History form as part of camper registration.

Please let us know on the Emergency/Health History Form if your camper has physical, emotional, educational, or medical needs so that we can make appropriate plans to ensure a fun and successful week at camp.

If your camper requires special accommodations, please call to discuss prior to registering.

• To discuss Nature Camp accommodations, call 718.817.8753
• To discuss Science camp accommodations, call 718.817.8753
• To discuss Edible Academy camp accommodations, call 718.817.8059.
• To discuss Field Science camp accommodations, call 718.817.8753

Should your camper become ill or be injured, you will be notified by phone immediately by NYBG staff. Our NYBG security staff are CPR/first aid/defibrillator-trained and are the first responders to all emergencies.

No. There are no refunds for any reason after two weeks before the first day of camp.

Withdrawal from camp no less than two weeks before the first day will allow for a refund of the total fee less 25% administrative costs. No refund for any reason will be offered after two weeks before the first day of camp.

Upon completion of registration you will receive an “Invoice/Receipt” from noreply@doubleknot.com. Your program registration is not confirmed until payment is received. If you completed a registration and did not receive an “Invoice/Receipt,” please call our Registration Office at 718.817.8181 or email childed@nybg.org.

During the registration process, we will ask caregivers to complete the following forms:

• Health and Guideline Form
• Emergency Contact Form
• NYBG Photo Release Form
• Pick-Up Authorization Form
• Early and Late Care Form

Please reach out to us at childed@nybg.org or call 718.817.8181 to see how we can accommodate this request.

Being placed on the waitlist means that the current session you are registering for is full. We will retain your registration information, and your child will be enrolled if space opens up due to another registrant’s cancellation.

Families who have come off the waitlist will receive a call from the Registration Office as well as an email informing them of such. Your email will say “Waitlist Batch” on the top right of the email. You will have two business days to confirm your spot by making payment or reaching out to the Registration Office.

No. There are no refunds for behavior-related withdrawals. During the registration process, we ask that you read and discuss our Code of Conduct with your child.

If you will be absent or late for the program, please contact your camp supervisor by using the cell phone number listed on the welcome email. Do not call the general education office phone number.

If you wish to visit the camp site and the director, please reach out to the Registration Office at childed@nybg.org or call 718.817.8181, who can share the contact information of the director for the program in question.

Yes, caregivers can come and check in on their child so long as it does not disrupt the groups. Please let us know if you would like to schedule a visit by reaching out to us at childed@nybg.org or by calling 718.817.8181.

• We accept credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Card) as well as debit cards.
• We also accept checks and money orders made payable to “The New York Botanical Garden”
  • Please send to New York Botanical Garden – Registration Office, 2900 Southern BLVD, Room 295M, Bronx, NY 10458
• We can also accept cash payments dropped off at the Registration Office.

Please call us at 718.817.8181 so that we can help you register your child.

Families may sign up for both Science Camp and Gardening Camp in summer but cannot repeat a site in July and August.