City Farmers and Nature Studio
The Garden offers a variety of summer programs for kids of all ages! To learn more about our offerings for 2- to 5-year-olds, visit Children's Garden Classes.
Looking for a longer day at the Garden this summer?
Create a unique Garden experience from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. by combining gardening in the morning in City Farmers with a summer afternoon program, Nature Studio or Field Investigators. Full-day students bring a snack and a packed lunch. BBG staff supervise lunchtime before escorting students to their afternoon sessions.
Sample Daily Schedule
9–9:30 a.m.
Check-in at the Children's Garden; welcome games, science journaling
9:30–10:30 a.m.
Gardening time—weeding, planting, watering
10:30–10:45 a.m.
Snacks and stories
10:45–11:15 a.m.
Sail tulip-leaf boats in the Water Garden
11:15–12:15 p.m.
Harvest and cooking—beet red velvet cupcakes with edible flowers
12:15–12:30 p.m.
Water play and sprinkler time
12:30 p.m.
Pickup for morning students; picnic lunch for full-day students
1–2 p.m.
Nature Studio begins: bonsai tree sculptures
2–2:30 p.m.
Nature walk to the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden
2:30–3:30 p.m.
Koi watercolors
3:30 p.m.
Pickup and goodbyes
Summer Classes at the Garden
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Trees & Saplings
For 2- and 3-year-olds with a caregiver
Learn about the wonders of gardening with your two- or three-year-old during this active hands-on program. Our youngest gardeners work with their adult partner to tend to their garden plots, sing songs, taste new foods, and create nature crafts.
Consistent attendance of one adult per child is required. Fee includes one adult and one child. No infants or older siblings, please.
We recommend that first-time gardeners and early twos choose the 9 a.m. one-hour class section.
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Seeds
For 4, 5, and 6-year-olds
Seeds work together in small groups to care for their garden plots and participate in cooking, exploring the wonderful outdoors, crafting, and other fun activities. This is a drop-off program.
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City Farmers
For students in (or entering) grades 1–8
City Farmers dig gardening! Students develop basic horticulture skills to bring garden plots to life with fresh, seasonal vegetables and enjoy crafting, cooking, nature exploration, and other hands-on activities.
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Nature Studio
For Students Entering Grades 1–5
Masterpieces come to life as our young artists explore BBG's plant collection through arts and crafts. Painting, drawing, weaving, dyeing, printmaking, p hotography, and garden design projects will inspire children's creativity as they discovery the beauty of botany and the natural world. Meets Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons.
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Field Investigators
For Students Entering Grades 6–8
Become a steward of the earth! Field Investigators conduct experiments, collect data, research current ecological topics, and work on team projects. In this field studies program, kids expand knowledge of plant and earth science by exploring exciting habitats at BBG. Meets Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons.
Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Program
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BCAP Summer Camp
For students ages 7–12
Go behind the scenes of Brooklyn’s most treasured cultural institutions—Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Public Library, Prospect Park Alliance, and Prospect Park Zoo—in this two-week summer day camp. Every day, BCAP Adventurers travel to two cultural sites on the BCAP campus for hands-on workshops that weave connections between art, science, culture, and the environment. Register early—camp starts filling up in February. Financial aid available.
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BCAPteen Creative Leadership Project
For students ages 13–17
Teens are invited to apply for this six-week summer filmmaking program on the BCAP campus. Earn volunteer hours and a stipend while learning about media and communications with other creative kids from across the city. Applications are due March 15.
For more information about BCAP or BCAPteen, visit the BCAP website.
