Each week of camp has a maximum capacity of 16 campers with two staff members always supervising. The maximum ratio of counselors to campers is 1:8. 

Our camp staff are happy to accommodate your child so that they may comfortably attend Garden Explorers Summer Camp! If you are concerned about a specific medical accommodation, please reach out to education@buffalogardens.com.

While we have water refill stations available for campers, snacks and other refreshments will not be provided by the Botanical Gardens. We encourage campers to bring a non-perishable snack from home to enjoy during our scheduled snack break.

While each week of camp is structured differently with various themes, campers will spend their time enjoying our collections in our conservatory, doing hands-on activities in our Community Room, and learning about plants as well as their peers alongside seasoned education staff. Each day has time set aside for breaks as well as some supervised free time to ensure the best experience for your camper. 

We recommend campers wear shoes that are comfortable to walk in and bring with them a labeled, reusable water bottle as well as a non-perishable snack to enjoy during break time. All other activity materials will be provided, and we strongly encourage campers  leave personal items such as phones, keepsakes, and other valuables at home. Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens staff are not responsible for camper’s personal items including personal devices, phones, and tablets. In the event that a camper must contact a parent or guardian, Botanical Gardens staff have access to phones in order to do so.

Each week of Garden Explorers begins promptly at 9am and ends at 12pm. There is a 30-minute window before and after camp to account for pick up and drop-off of campers. Botanical Gardens staff will not accept campers before 8:30am. Extended care is not offered. We require that parents and caregivers pick up their children between 12:00–12:30pm.

Yes, you can register for more than one week of Garden Explorers Summer Camp. Each week varies in theme and content with a few repeated activities. 

Registration closes when all spots are filled, or on the first day of each respective week of camp.

Garden Explorers Camp is designed for youth ages 10 – 14. To provide the best and most comfortable experience for campers, staff, and volunteers, we do not make exceptions to this requirement. Campers are required to meet the minimum age, and may not exceed the maximum age, by the first day of camp. 

Members of the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens receive a discount of 10% off each week of camp purchased. When members purchase their registration online, they must be signed in to their member profile before check-out to receive the discount.

If all four weeks of Garden Explorers Summer Camp sell out, additional weeks will not be added. However, our education team plans on having more robust Summer Camp options in 2027. 

If the Botanical Gardens should cancel Garden Explorers Summer Camp, you will be notified as early as possible and will receive a full refund. If the Botanical Gardens is notified at least two weeks (14 days) before the camp session(s) that your camper is unable to attend, the Botanical Gardens will refund your payment less $10 per ticket for processing. Parents and caregivers withdrawing their children from a camp with less than one-week notice will not receive a refund.

In the event that your camper is absent during their registered camp week or cannot attend all 5 days of a session, we ask that parents and caregivers let Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens staff know as soon as possible. We are unable to prorate the cost of Garden Explorers Summer Camp due to absences.