Botanical Day Camp offered at Springfield Botanical Gardens

(From the City of Springfield)

The Springfield-Greene County Park Board, in partnership with University of Missouri Greene County Extension and Friends of the Garden, offers Botanical Day Camp: five weeks of garden-themed youth day camps at the Springfield Botanical Gardens at Nathanael Greene-Close Memorial Park, 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield.

Each week campers explore a different garden theme, learning about plants, the planet and how people connect with the environment. Keepsake crafts, field studies, garden games and botanical snacks are all part of the daily activities.

"The idea is to provide a truly special experience connecting kids with different areas of the gardens," said Katie Steinhoff, Botanical Center Coordinator.

Day camp takes place 8 a.m. to noon. Dates and themes include:
June 9-13: Arts in the Garden— Inspiration from Nature
June 16-20: Birds, Bugs & Butterflies — Garden Friends
July 7-11: Plants and Gardening — Growing for Food and Fun
July 14-18: Arts in the Garden — Inspiration from Nature
July 21-25: Birds, Bugs & Butterflies, Garden Friends

Enrollment is limited to 15 students per week. Registration is $75/child per week. Registration is discounted $50/child per week for members of Friends of the Garden, their children or their grandchildren.

The Springfield Botanical Gardens are located in the 114-acre Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park. The Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center serves as a welcome and education center to the park’s 22 themed gardens, 15 special plant collections, natural areas and a play trail with six nature themed activity stations located along more than three miles of paved trail. Community rooms, gardens and pavilions may be reserved inside the Botanical Center’s gift shop. The Botanical Center also includes the Lois K. Boswell Botanical Reference Library, the Master Gardener Hotline and office for Greene County MU Extension and Friends of the Garden.

For more information on Botanical Day Camp, visit http://www.parkboard.org/botanical/education.htm, or call or visit the Botanical Center at 417-891-1515.