Cape Fear Botanical Garden is located just two miles from downtown Fayetteville and opened its doors in 1989. Situated between the Cape Fear River and Cross Creek. The Cape Fear Botanical Garden offers educational opportunities for kids and adults, including day camps for kids. Camps are not just a summer happening. Three winter camps are being offered this January.

The Cape Fear Botanical Garden describes them as follows:

Trail Blazers
Trail Blazers takes place on January 3rd, 2022, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. This day camp is for children ages 8-12. Children will enjoy a treasure hunt and utilize their Trail Blazing skills. These skills include using a compass and reading a map. The children will also hike the River Trail.

Oddball Animals
There are all kinds of children with all sorts of interests. Oddball Animals is designed to expose children ages 5-10 years old to a range of wild and wonderful critters. This winter day camp takes place on January 4th, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Some of the oddball animals include salamanders, millipedes and more. In addition to meeting live animals and looking for animals in the garden, participants will create their own wacky creatures.

Tooth and Claw
Ever wonder about how the largest predators hunt and where they live? On January 17th, 2022, this winter break camp from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. explores this and more. Created for kids ages 8-12, children learn to tell a predator by its teeth. Campers will explore adaptations of predatory birds and will make bear and wolf track molds to take home with them.

Barbara Goldentyer has worked at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden for two and a half years. She's the environmental education manager.

"The Day Camps are fun because we have so many engaging activities like science experiments, live animals and outdoor games," said Goldentyer.
Camps are currently closing registration at 15 campers for each camp, and there are always at least two staff members supervising the camps.

"I would encourage kids to come to a day camp to find out how fun science can be and to explore amazing unique activities," Goldentyer said. "We add new camp themes and activities all the time, so there's always something new and something for every kid's interests. We also have almost 80 acres out in the garden to explore, so campers get to walk through a bamboo tunnel, plant things in the vegetable garden, feed the fish and look for animal tracks."

The cost for winter camps is $20 for members and $30 for non-members. Themed snacks are provided, but campers need to bring a lunch. Preregistration is required for these events.

Camps fill quickly, so sign up at your earliest convenience on the Cape Fear Botanical Garden website calendar at this link: www.capefearbg.org/event/. For Additional information call 910-486-0221.