VanDusen Nature Camps

VanDusen Botanical Garden offers a variety of nature-based camps for children ranging from 5-10 years old including summer, spring break, Pro-D and, weekend programs. All of our camps include learning about the natural world and inspire youth to understand their role in ecosystems. Programming is developed and run by the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association (VBGA).  Want to keep up-to-date on our programming and registration dates? Sign up for our monthly Education Updates.

Spring Break Camps

The VBGA’s Spring Break Camps are full-day outdoor camps that allow kids to learn about the natural environment through hands-on activities. Using crafts, games, experiments and more, campers will be actively engaged in their own learning as they explore a diversity of daily themes. Campers will spend the entire day outdoors in VanDusen Botanical Garden investigating the plants and animals that call the Garden home. With extensive Covid-19 safety measures and adjusted activities, these camps provide a safe and meaningful experience for all campers. Suitable for ages 5 – 10.

Spring Break Camps will take place from 9:30am to 4:00pm

Drop off 9:15am – 9:30am
Pick up 3:45pm – 4:00pm

Registration

Registration Opens Fees
VBGA Members January 20th @9:00am $58.50 (Become a Member)
General Registration January 22nd @9:00am $65.00

Public Health Restrictions

Please note that the VBGA Camp Programs will continue to run under current restrictions in accordance with the BC Government Restrictions for Youth Extracurricular Activities.

  • Structured extracurricular activities for people 21 years of age and younger can continue to operate with a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place and must be supervised by an adult. This includes educational and recreational programs. Read more here.
  • +2021 Spring Break Camp Dates and Themes

    Camps take place in the beautiful surrounds of VanDusen Botanical Garden rain or shine!

  • +March 15: Blooming Artists

    Let the first signs of spring flowers in the Garden inspire your art! Paint your own canvas in the presence of budding blooms, create a mosaic with seeds that fascinate you, and construct earth art exhibits with natural materials.

    Registration for VBGA Members opens January 20th at 9am.
    General registration opens January 22nd at 9am.

  • +March 16: Don't Eat Me!

    How do plants and animals avoid being eaten? Join us for Operation Garden Defense to learn about nature’s defense tactics such as camouflage, poison, smell, and speed. 

    Registration for VBGA Members opens January 20th at 9am.
    General registration opens January 22nd at 9am.

  • +March 17: Natural Curiosities

    Discover nature’s weird, wonderful, and unique treasures! From green giants and ancient species to stinky flowers and carnivorous plants, delve deeper into the wonders of the Garden with microscopes, tools, and activities.

    Registration for VBGA Members opens January 20th at 9am.
    General registration opens January 22nd at 9am.

  • +March 18: Bookworms

    This storybook camp will explore classic nature tales such as Where the Wild Things Are and new award winning stories like Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt. With a special visit to our onsite library and storytelling in the Garden, children will let their imagination lead them on exciting outdoor adventures. 

    Registration for VBGA Members opens January 20th at 9am.
    General registration opens January 22nd at 9am.

  • +March 19: Junior Naturalists

    Can you identify the plants and animals in your own backyard? Campers will take a closer look at the characteristics that make local flora and fauna unique and create their own plant identification poster to take home. 

    Registration for VBGA Members opens January 20th at 9am.
    General registration opens January 22nd at 9am.

  • +March 22: Dirt to Dinner

    Get your hands dirty and discover what it takes to make food from the ground up. Starting from the soil we will explore decomposition and create our own edible soil layers. Finally, we will prepare tea bags to take home and learn about the magic of companion planting!

    Registration for VBGA Members opens January 20th at 9am.
    General registration opens January 22nd at 9am.

  • +March 23: Natural Curiousities

    Discover nature’s weird, wonderful, and unique treasures! From green giants and ancient species to stinky flowers and carnivorous plants, delve deeper into the wonders of the Garden with microscopes, tools, and activities.

    Registration for VBGA Members opens January 20th at 9am.
    General registration opens January 22nd at 9am.

  • +March 24: Whimsical Woodlands

     Flutter in for a whimsical day in the world of fairies and woodland creatures. Create your own fairy garden with enchanting greenery, and hear folklore about which plants are most likely to attract fairies. Make tiny toadstools and other charming miniatures from natural materials for your own fairy garden at home.

    Registration for VBGA Members opens January 20th at 9am.
    General registration opens January 22nd at 9am.

  • +March 25: Don't Eat Me!

    How do plants and animals avoid being eaten? Join us for Operation Garden Defense to learn about nature’s defense tactics such as camouflage, poison, smell, and speed.

    Registration for VBGA Members opens January 20th at 9am.
    General registration opens January 22nd at 9am.

  • +March 26: Eco Heroes

    With a focus on respect for nature, campers will be empowered to be stewards of the environment through exciting citizen science initiatives. Through fun games and crafts, natural connections will be created and explored. 

    Registration for VBGA Members opens January 20th at 9am.
    General registration opens January 22nd at 9am.

Weekend Nature Club

Sign your child up for the Weekend Nature Club at VanDusen Botanical Garden! Taking place completely outdoors, this hands-on program explores fall themes and uses games, experiments and crafts to help young nature enthusiasts learn about changing seasons. With small cohort sizes and adapted activities, the Nature Club aims to be a safe and fun experience for everyone who attends. Suitable for ages: 6-10

Nature Club Fees:

VBGA Members $38.50 per day
Non-Members $40 per day
  • +2021 Nature Club Dates & Themes

    Programs take place in the beautiful surrounds of VanDusen Botanical Garden rain or shine!

  • +January: Nature’s Gifts

    Date: Saturday, January 30th
    Time: 10:00am – 1:30pm

    Explore the gifts of nature all around us! In this 1-day camp your child will explore the Garden to gather natural materials for a variety of crafts and find beauty in the changing landscape. Your kids will come home with some handmade gifts made with natural materials that they can share with family and friends.

  • +February: Urban Wildlife

    Date: Saturday, February 27th
    Time: 10:00am – 1:30pm

    VanDusen Botanical Garden provides a fantastic home to urban wildlife from all around Vancouver! Your child will learn about the adaptations urban wildlife have developed, search for urban wildlife in the Garden, and explore how we can be animal allies!

Pro-D Camps 2021: (Grades 1-4)

The VBGA’s Pro-D Camps are full day outdoor camps where participants will have plenty of fun with hands-on activities to keep them busy while learning something new. Campers spend the entire day outdoors in the garden investigating the plants and animals that live at VanDusen Botanical Garden. With new safety measures and adjusted activities this camp provides a safe and meaningful experience for all campers. Suitable for ages 5 – 10.

Pro-D Camp Fees

VBGA Members $58.50 per day
Non-Members $65 per day

 

  • +2021 Pro-D Camps

    Programs take place in the beautiful surrounds of VanDusen Botanical Garden rain or shine!

  • +January: Winter Wonders SOLD OUT

    Date: Monday, January 18
    Time: 9:00am – 3:30pm

    Join us at VanDusen Botanical Garden to experience our winter wonderland! Discover what it takes to be an evergreen, help fuel chickadees by building feeders, and collect plant material to build a miniature hibernation den. Enjoy the sweet sap taste test and experiment with sugar maple’s natural antifreeze.

    SOLD OUT

  • +February: Darling Decomposers

    Date: Friday, February 12th
    Time: 9:00am – 3:30pm

    Decomposers – some call them disgusting, we call them darling! Explore decomposition in action, create your own slug slime, and dig up worms to identify as you learn about the importance of decomposition!

Here's what parents have to say about our camps!

“Excellent protocols, best of  any camp of school we attended.”

“This summer it was wonderful for him to have time to socialize  and play with other kids – he has some good social distance games he can now share with friends.”

“This camp has ignited a spark – that it’s cool to be interested in nature, and all that’s in it.”

“My child gained an appreciation for plants, nature, and relationships humans have with nature.”

“The leaders were enthusiastic, professional and caring, and got to know my child really quickly.”

Registration

For registration inquiries please contact hmoran@vandusen.org. We strongly recommend contacting us with registration inquiries prior to the registration opening day.

Do you have a question about our safety protocols and procedures? Contact hmoran@vandusen.org to learn more about our Safety, Wellness, and Covid-19 policies. Our safety plans and procedures have been approved by the City of Vancouver and are in line with BCCDC and WorkSafe BC Guidelines. You can also see our registration page for more information on program modifications.

*A Family OR Individual plus Child membership is required to qualify for priority registration and a 10% discount. Instructions for priority registration will be emailed to all eligible membership holders prior to the registration date. Contact hmoran@vandusen.org for member registration instructions after the registration date.

Contact Us

Have questions about the programs, or having difficulty registering online? Call 604-257-8443 or email us.