Summer Camp

For rising K-5th Graders

Thank you for a great summer!

Registration for Summer 2027 will open in January.

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School Day-Off camps offer hands-on nature experiences during school breaks and non-attendance days.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

Family Level Members and above receive 10% off summer camp and school day-off camp registration!

Become a Member

Member Perks

Family Level Members and above receive 10% off camp registration.

Discover, Learn, and Play in Nature

Campers spend their days exploring Tyler Arboretum’s 650 acres of creeks, meadows, treehouses, and gardens.

Activities Include:

  • Splashing in creeks and discovering the creatures that live in them
  • Hiking shaded trails to unique destinations
  • Harvesting and cooking fresh vegetables from Lucille’s Garden
  • Creating nature-based arts and crafts
  • Practicing outdoor wilderness skills
  • Playing imaginative games
  • Freely exploring nature with friends

Campers spend all day outside and get to do a lot of exploring and walking — usually up to two miles a day. Each group has an indoor, air-conditioned home base for inclement weather.

Our age-appropriate curriculum fosters a fun and supportive environment for building deeper connections with ourselves, each other, and the natural world. Every week offers new adventures!

Groups

Kindergarten - Chipmunks

The Chipmunk group invites this wondrous age-group to immerse themselves in nature with age-appropriate activities, group games, cooking from the garden, arts and crafts, and plenty of imaginative play with friends outside. Recognizing the unique needs of campers who will be starting Kindergarten in the fall, our 1:5 staffing ratio nurtures our youngest campers towards positive and delightful outdoor experiences in a safe and nurturing environment. 

This group is for rising Kindergarten students. If your 5-year-old is not going into Kindergarten this year, please consider waiting until next year to enroll in camp.

1st-2nd Grade - Foxes

Curious, energetic, and always on the move, the Foxes group invites campers to romp across Tyler’s gardens, creeks, and trails while discovering secret hideouts and new places for exploration and play. Campers will engage in hands-on, nature-based projects such as arts and crafts, foraging, harvesting, cooking, and imaginative group games.

Designed for growing independence, this age group is supported in building confidence, strengthening problem-solving skills, and deepening their connection to the natural world — all within a fun, supportive environment. With Tyler’s expansive landscape as their playground, our Foxes are sure to spend their days learning, laughing, and yipping with delight.
1:6 staffing ratio.

3rd-5th Grade - Coyotes

Embracing the adventurous, curious, and playful spirit of a coyote, this group provides an enriching space for older campers to forge their own relationship with nature amongst friends. Activities include more advanced skills, access to more specialized tools, greater freedom of choice within projects, and encourages greater exploration and development of risk-awareness.

We honor this sensitive period in social development with carefully curated team-building games, increased independence, and opportunities for leadership. Joining the coyote pack is bound to be a positive and formative outdoor experience. 1:8 staffing ratio.

Camp Details

Logistics

  • Camp Day: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
  • Before Care (8:00 – 9:00 am)
  • After Care (4:00 – 5:00 pm)
  • Ratios: 1:5 for younger campers, 1:8 for older campers

    • Price

    Tiered Pricing

    At Tyler Arboretum, we’re committed to providing an inclusive and enriching camp experience for campers of all backgrounds. That’s why we use a tiered pricing model. Families can select the rate that best fits their financial situation; no questions asked.

    Member Benefits

    Members at the Family Level or above receive 10% off their selected camp rate.
    We are not able to offer any other discounts at this time.

    Become a Member

    More Information:

    We want to make your camper’s experience smooth, fun, and worry-free! Explore the details below to prepare for an amazing summer at Tyler Arboretum.

    9:00 – 9:30 AM Arrival & Opening Circle

    Each day begins with a hands-on arrival activity and an opening circle where our camp instructors will welcome campers and share the plan for the day. A fun game or activity typically follows to awaken the senses and build community.

    9:30 AM – 12:00 PM Outdoor Exploration

    The rest of the morning is spent on guided activities, exploration, group challenges, harvesting and cooking from the garden, and outdoor imaginative play throughout our 650-acre arboretum. Campers typically take a quick snack break around 10:30 am, which is often eaten out in the field or on the trail. Our explorations may take us more than two miles each day!

    NOON – 1:00 PM: Lunch, Storytime & Reflections

    Lunch is at noon, and campers listen to stories and have the opportunity to write in their nature journals.

    1:00 – 4:00 PM: Nature-Based Crafts & Activities

    After lunch, when the day is usually hottest, campers have the opportunity to engage in focused nature-based crafts and activities like natural dyeing, as well as water play.

    Each week will be a unique experience!

    Our camp staff believes in a supportive, kind, and firm approach to behavior management to ensure that all our campers feel safe and valued. We understand that behaviors arise from real feelings and that inappropriate behaviors often arise from unmet needs. When necessary, we work with campers individually to understand their needs, set clear boundaries, and collaborate on solutions. Our Camp Director holds a ‘Positive Discipline in the Classroom’ certification and has successfully supported children from a wide range of backgrounds and needs to thrive in outdoor group programs. Please help us support your child by sharing any behavioral notes on the registration form.

    Our instructors are passionate professional educators who are experienced in keeping kids safe and happy outside. All instructors are first aid certified and all camp staff have completed mandated child safety background checks.

    Very Limited Spots

    Due to the nature of our program and our commitment to providing a safe, high-quality camp experience with small group sizes, spots are extremely limited for each week of camp. We encourage families to register as early as possible to secure a spot. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee availability once a session is full.

    • Use a computer! Our registration system only works from computers. Do NOT attempt to register from your phone or iPad.
    • Have the following information ready at hand:
      • Your contact information
      • Two emergency contact names and phone numbers
      • Any health information, allergies, or medications we should be aware of
      • Any behavioral notes or special needs
      • Your payment info – you will be paying upon registering
    • Register your youngest sibling first. We anticipate the younger ages will fill up first.
    • Register for extended care AFTER you have completed all of your camp registrations. All campers are guaranteed a place in extended care if they want it, so it will not fill up.

    • Spots are *NOT RESERVED* until checkout is complete.

      PLEASE NOTE! Your cart will be held for 30 minutes after your final item is added. If checkout is not completed within that time, the cart will automatically clear.

    • Members: Log into your membership account to receive the 10% discount for Family Level members and above!
      • Need help with your account? Visit Membership FAQ or call 610-566-9134, ext. 209, Monday-Friday, 9 am -5 pm.

    CANCELLATIONS:

    All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing via email to programs@tylerarboretum.org.

    • Cancellations received on or before May 1, 2026, will be eligible for a full refund minus a 10% administrative fee.
    • Cancellations made between May 2 and 15 days prior to the registered camp start date will receive a 50% refund.
    • Cancellations made within 14 days before the registered camp start date will receive a 15% refund.
    • No refunds will be issued on or after the first day of the registered camp week.
    • Absences or no-shows are not eligible for a refund.

    TRANSFERS:

    Families may request to transfer their registration to a different camp week, subject to availability. Transfer requests must be submitted to programs@tylerarboretum.org no later than 3:00 PM on the Wednesday before the start of the registered camp week.

    Meet the Camp Director

    Meet Chris Lauf, Tyler Arboretum’s Director of Education. Chris brings more than twenty years of experience in outdoor education, nature connection, science education, and directing camps for children. He values hands-on, play-based, and child-directed camp experiences. He has a formal background in ecology, experiential education, and science communication. Chris loves sharing wilderness skills, nature-based crafts, and animal tracking with children while supporting them to build positive associations with the outdoors. To Chris, a quality camp environment is one where every child feels attuned to the natural world and part of a caring community.