JUNE 22 TO JULY 31
9.00 A.M. – 3.00 P.M.
Six Weeks. Six Wild Worlds. One Unforgettable Summer.
A hands-on summer camp for kids ages 7 to 12 where science,
nature, and creativity come together.
DURATION
Six Full Weeks
June 22 to July 31
AGES
7 to 12
HOURS
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
IDEAL FOR
Curious minds
One Unforgettable Summer
Welcome to Camp Fairchild
Picture this: your child is elbow-deep in soil, designing a plant that could survive on Mars.
Or they’re watching a butterfly emerge from its chrysalis right in front of them.
Or they’re mixing natural pigments from flowers to create a painting that’s completely, beautifully theirs.
That’s Camp Fairchild.
Every day is a hands-on adventure through one of Miami’s most extraordinary places: where science, nature, and creativity collide.
Curious kids doing real things in a living world.
Why Families Choose Camp Fairchild
Outdoors, Every Day
Kids spend their days exploring rainforests, butterfly conservatories, gardens, and hidden corners of one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the country. This is learning that moves.
Real Science, Real Stakes
Fairchild is home to active NASA- affiliated plant research. Campers work alongside the ideas that real scientists are wrestling with, from plant survival in extreme environments to conservation of endangered species.
Where Science Meets Art
Building things. Designing things. Making things with their hands. Every week blends investigation and imagination, because the best scientists and the best artists ask the same question: “What if?”
Something to Take Home
Campers leave each week with something tangible: a plant they grew, a fossil they made, a piece of botanical art, a space plant they designed. These aren’t crafts. They’re evidence of real learning.
Safe, Structured, and Full of Play
Each day balances guided exploration with free time to play, eat, laugh, and just be a kid. Parents can trust the structure. Kids will just think they’re having the best summer of their lives.
A Day at Camp
Every camp day follows a rhythm that keeps energy up and curiosity engaged:
- 9:00 a.m.
Morning welcome, warm-up games, and intro to the day’s big idea - 9:30 a.m.
Guided exploration through the Garden - 10:45 a.m.
Hands-on science: experiments, building, planting, investigating - 12:00 p.m.
LUNCH and Free Time - 12:30 p.m.
Creative lab: art, design, or engineering challenge tied to the week’s theme - 3:00 p.m.
Pick up
5:00 p.m. Aftercare Available separately
Six Weeks. Six Worlds to Explore.
Each week follows a unique narrative thread and specialization.
WEEK ONE
Powered by Plants
Plants power the world. They make the air we breathe, the food we eat, and so much more. This week, campers dive into the science of how plants live, compete, and survive. Then they design their own.
What campers will do:
• Explore the rainforest and discover how plants compete for light
• Visit the Wings of the Tropics butterfly exhibit to watch plant-animal connections in real time and to see hundreds of butterflies
• Plant and tend their own plant seedlings
• Run experiments on what plants actually need to grow
• Design and build a “super plant” engineered for survival
• Create plant-based art using natural pigments
Take home:
• A living seedling
• A field journal
• Their newly invented plant
WEEK TWO
Focus on Florida
Florida is one of the most ecologically rich and most threatened places in North America. From wetlands to Pine Rocklands, campers explore the wild habitats right outside their door and discover why learning about and protecting them matters.
What campers will do:
• Explore native habitats throughout the Garden
• Visit the butterfly garden and observe life cycles up close
• Plant native species to take home and grow
• Learn how we have used native plants for generations
• Play ecosystem games that show how everything works together
Take home:
• A native Florida plant
• A deeper connection to the place they live
WEEK THREE
Garden Guardians
What does it take to protect a plant species? This week, campers become conservation scientists, learning what it means to fight for the survival of plants and ecosystems and taking real action.
What campers will do:
• Explore Fairchild’s active conservation areas
• Learn about endangered plants and the habitats they depend on
• Make “seed bombs” to support pollinators
• Take on hands-on conservation challenges
• Connect to National Parks and Florida’s protected lands
Take home:
• Seed bombs ready to plant
• Practical skills for helping the environment
WEEK FOUR
Roots Through Time
Plants have been on Earth for over 400 million years! They’ve outlasted dinosaurs, shaped continents, and fed every civilization in history. This week is a time-travel adventure through the plant kingdom.
What campers will do:
• Create their own fossil impressions
• Trace how plants have evolved and changed over time
• Hear stories and myths about plants across world cultures
• Compare how people have used plants throughout history
Take home:
• A fossil craft project
• A new appreciation for the historical importance of plants
WEEK FIVE
Petals and Paintbrushes
The best artists have always been inspired by nature, and the best scientists are often the most creative thinkers in the room. This week, those worlds collide.
What campers will do:
• Create art using natural plant dyes and pigments
• Build their own mini greenhouses
• Experiment with the patterns, shapes, and colors that plants use to survive
• Combine science investigations with original artistic design
Take home:
• Original botanical artwork
• A working mini greenhouse
WEEK SIX
Plants on the Edge
How does a cactus survive the desert? How does a rainforest plant drink from fog? And could plants one day grow in space? This week, campers tackle the most extreme corners of plant science, including research happening right here at Fairchild in partnership with NASA.
What campers will do:
• Investigate how plants survive in deserts, rainforests, and tundra
• Explore Fairchild’s NASA-affiliated plant research: real science, right here
• Run experiments simulating space plant conditions
• Design a plant engineered to survive beyond Earth
Take home:
• A new understanding of scientific experimentation
• A space plant design project
Rooted in Real Learning
Working with students is at the heart of what Fairchild does
Through programs like The Fairchild Challenge®, Growing Beyond Earth®, the Million Orchid Project®, and the Native Plant Network, we spend the school year alongside hundreds of thousands of students and teachers guiding real inquiry, supporting hands-on learning, and helping young people contribute to finding solutions to real scientific questions.
Camp Fairchild grows directly from that work.
The camp is designed to be student-driven, active, and rooted in discovery. Campers move through the Garden planting, experimenting, and exploring the same collections and labs that shape our work all year long.
Is Camp Fairchild Right for Your Child?
Camp Fairchild is designed for kids who:
• Ask “Why?” constantly and mean it
• Love being outside, moving, and doing things with their hands
• Need a summer that challenges them
• Are drawn to science, art, nature, building, or all of the above
• Are ready to come home a little dirty, happy, and full of stories
If that sounds like your child, we’ll see you in the Garden!
We offer discounts for families enrolling multiple children.
2-3 children: 10% off the regular price each
4+ children: 15% off the regular price each
Full Summer Registration
Register here the full six-week summer camp experience and save $100. We also offer aftercare and discounts when you enroll multiple children.
All six sessions (per child):
Non-Member: $1,550
Fairchild Member: $1,250
Aftercare: $300
Register for the full six weeks of Camp Fairchild and save $100!
Stay Connected to the Garden
For many families, camp is just the beginning. A Fairchild Membership extends the experience beyond the camp day, giving your family the opportunity to return, explore, and spend time together in the same spaces your child is discovering throughout the week.
Unlimited Visits
Access all year round
Free Programs
Seasonal experiences
Discounts
Premium event tickets
For families enrolling in multiple weeks, membership often becomes a
natural extension of the summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Camp enrollment is only offered on a weekly basis to ensure a consistent and immersive experience for all campers.
Yes. Many families choose multiple weeks, and each session offers a unique experience.
Yes. We offer discounts for families enrolling multiple children.
Enrollment remains open until each session reaches capacity. We recommend registering early, as spaces fill quickly.
Campers should bring a packed lunch, a reusable water bottle (refill stations are available), sunscreen, a hat, and comfortable sneakers suitable for outdoor activity.
Lunch and snacks are not provided. Please send campers with everything they will need for the day.
Camp continues rain or shine. Activities will move indoors as needed to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
Our camp maintains a carefully managed staff-to-camper ratio to ensure supervision, safety, and a high-quality experience.
Details regarding cancellations and refunds will be provided prior to registration.
Discover Fairchild
Fairchild is more than a Garden — it’s 83 acres of adventure, science, and living beauty. As you hunt for lucky items, you’ll encounter palms that touch the sky, orchids that climb trees, butterflies floating past, and hidden paths waiting to be explored.
This activation supports the work behind Fairchild’s mission: from conservation and education to our signature programs like The Million Orchid Project, Growing Beyond Earth (with NASA), and the Native Plant Network.
Discover Fairchild
A Summer That Stays With Them
Each week offers a different way to explore, build, and create. Spaces are limited.
Not a member yet?
Members get in free — and can come back all month long.
