Garden Discovery Camps

2018 Camp Registration is now open!

All programs require preregistration. Contact Derrick Stowell, Director of Education, at dstowell@utk.edu, (865) 974-7151, or click on the links below to register.

Payment must be received to guarantee your child's space in a camp session.

**Please review our cancellation policy before registering**

Photo of Derrick Stowell

Grands & Me (ages 4-12 with a grandparent)

Make memories while gardening with your grandchild. These camps give grandparents a chance to be a kid again and experience the UT Gardens with their grandchildren.

The Garden as a Botany Lab

Date: 5/29/18
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Cost: $25/members; $30/nonmembers

In this day camp we will explore the garden as a living botanical laboratory. We’ll observe unique plants, learning how they reproduce, survive, and contribute to the ecological food web. Participants will observe, plants, fungi, seeds, leaves, flowers, fruits, and fruit in the garden. We’ll explore how plants function as miniature factory producing food and clean air. We’ll even learn how to reproduce and clone plants!

Sustainable Nature Art

Date: 7/6/18
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Cost: $25/members; $30/nonmembers

This camp will explore the concept of Nature Art. We will view examples of art around UT Gardens, learn what it meant to make nature art, and how to make sustainable art. We will compare examples of traditional art and nature art, explore simple design principles. Then we will learn to make some of our own art supplies from materials around the garden, use them to sketch and plan a sculpture, and then each grandparent and grandchild will create their own temporary nature art sculpture installation!

Botanical Garden Buffet

Date: 7/27/18
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Cost: $25/members; $30/nonmembers

This day camp will be all about eating in the outdoors! We’ll explore the gardens learning how gardens fit into the food web, different ways to grow food, harvest it, and how to forage for food as well! We’ll learn to plant, collect, clean, and a prepare snacks and recipes from the garden. Participants will transplant veggie seedlings to take home to grow!

Photo of Beth Willis

Lil' Gardeners (ages 4-5)

Single Day Sessions

Blooms & Butterflies

Date: 7/26/18
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Cost: $25/members; $30/nonmembers

In this day camp we will learn all about different species of butterflies, the life cycle of butterflies, and the interdependence of butterflies and host plants. We will learn how to identify specific species, how to sketch and color illustrations of them, and hunt for them in around the gardens. We will also learn the essential elements to create and inviting habitat for butterflies in your garden. To help get your butterfly garden started we will sow seeds and propagate plants for you to take home and grow together!

Week-long Sessions

Superheroes vs Villains

Date: 6/18-6/22/18

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Cost: $115/members; $135/nonmembers

Plants are the world’s greatest superheroes! This camp session will take a look at the amazing power of plants to feed the world, clean the air, regenerate and much more. But watch out, a few villains may show up during this week of camp. We will learn how to fight plant villains and save the world as we explore what insects, and plants threaten the population of East Tennessee. Find out ways to help improve the environment and reduce threats from villains. This camp will also explore comic book heroes and villains and how some superpowers were created by looking at plants.

Master Chef Camp

Date: 7/16-7/20/18

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Cost: $115/members; $135/nonmembers

In this week-long camp, young explorers will learn skills to become a Garden Master Chef. Participants will spend four days learning essentials of eating the garden from harvest to a final three course meal preparation and service competition. Skills to be learned will include: identifying edibles in the kitchen garden, harvest, cleanliness/food safety, kitchen safety, food storage, the food groups/nutrition, staples for a useful pantry, integrating fresh raw foods into every meal, food preparation, cutting and chopping techniques, and service! We will also have special guest cooks, chefs, and restauranteurs from around Knoxville! Join us for this tasty culinary adventure in the garden!

Photo of Holly Jones

Explorers (ages 6-10)

Superheroes vs Villains

Date: 6/11-6/15/18

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Cost: $115/members; $135/nonmembers

Plants are the world’s greatest superheroes! This camp session will take a look at the amazing power of plants to feed the world, clean the air, regenerate and much more. But watch out, a few villains may show up during this week of camp. We will learn how to fight plant villains and save the world as we explore what insects, and plants threaten the population of East Tennessee. Find out ways to help improve the environment and reduce threats from villains. This camp will also explore comic book heroes and villains and how some superpowers were created by looking at plants.

Master Chef Camp

This session is full. Registration is closed.

Date: 7/9-7/13/18

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Cost: $115/members; $135/nonmembers

In this week-long camp, young explorers will learn skills to become a Garden Master Chef. Participants will spend four days learning essentials of eating the garden from harvest to a final three course meal preparation and service competition. Skills to be learned will include: identifying edibles in the kitchen garden, harvest, cleanliness/food safety, kitchen safety, food storage, the food groups/nutrition, staples for a useful pantry, integrating fresh raw foods into every meal, food preparation, cutting and chopping techniques, and service! We will also have special guest cooks, chefs, and restauranteurs from around Knoxville! Join us for this tasty culinary adventure in the garden!  

Nature Fairy and Gnome Camp

Date: 7/30/18 - 8/3/18

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Cost: $115/members; $135/nonmembers

Let your imagination run wild in this earth focused fairy and gnome adventure camp. Fairies are a great source of inspiration for children to connect with the natural environment. We will let nature be our guide as we build a magical fairy village in the children’s garden, make pinecone fairies, wind streamers, stick mobiles, a kid size stick fort and fresh from the garden snacks and herbal teas.

Theater in the Garden - We have increased this camp's ages from 6-15 years old. Campers will be divided into two groups by age, 6-10 & 11-15.

Date: 6/25-6/29/18

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Cost: $115/members; $135/nonmembers

This camp will explore aspects of theater while enjoying spending time in the Gardens. Campers will learn theater skills and techniques throughout this fun filled week of camp. Campers will end the week with a performance in the UT Gardens for their friends and family. This session will be directed by Tracey Copeland Halter. Tracey is an Adjunct Lecturer for the University of Tennessee Department of Theater. Her professional acting credits include Seven Guitars , (Broadway) Richard III and Two Gentlemen of Verona , (New York Shakespeare Festival) and much more.

Photo of Bobby Cook

Specialty/Partner Camps

Garden Explorer Camp

Date: 5/30/18 - 6/1/18

Time: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Cost: $35/members; $45/nonmembers

Grow into a gardener from the groudn up with this fun-filled camp hosted by the Knox Co. UT Extension Master Gardeners. Sow your own seeds to take home. Learn about soils, composting, harvesting, and photosynthesis while exploring the sights, sounds and tastes of the UT Gardens. This camp has a different registration process. Please download the registration form and mail it into the address on the form.

Ages 6-11.

Garden Explorer Camp brochure for 2018.pdf

For more information about registration for this session, please contact Mark Spangler, Knox County Extension:

865-215-2340 or email mspangl2@utk.edu

Camp Cultivate: Food Allergy Friendly Camp

Date: 7/23-7/25/18

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Cost: Free

This is an opportunity for kids with food allergies to learn healthy coping skills in a beautiful garden setting. Explore the gardens, learn about plants, make new friends, and join in the fun! Children without allergies are welcome to attend.

Ages 6-12 (Children under 6 may attend with a parent)