Desert Discovery Camps 2026

DATE: June 1-26
TIME: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
PRICE: $295 Members, $345 General Public

Join us for Desert Discovery Camps, where campers explore nature and learn about the beauty of the desert. This year’s camps feature outdoor skills, nature-inspired art, sustainability and science. All summer camps include hands-on activities, guest speakers and exploration of the Garden trails. Camps are available for ages 6-8 and 9-12.

Wild Art Studio | June 1-5 | Ages 6-8 and 9-12 | 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Unleash your imagination in the great outdoors! Enjoy hands-on art and science projects that spark discovery and encourage exploration of the desert. Learn how Garden researchers use art in their work, create crafts inspired by Indigenous traditions, and see the desert in a whole new way through nature-inspired activities. Designed for all skill levels.

Get Outdoors | June 8-12 | Ages 6-8 and 9-12 | 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Embark on an adventure of outdoor exploration and desert survival in the Garden. Enjoy wilderness activities like building shelters and campfire construction and an immersive exploration of the Garden.

Desert Laboratory | June 15-19 | Ages 6-8 and 9-12 | 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Discover the science of nature with hands-on experiments and exploration. Activities blend desert adventures and fun scientific discovery with engineering challenges, microscope investigations and labs focused on desert plants and animals.

Nature Rangers | June 22-26 | Ages 6-8 and 9-12 | 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Embark on a mission to become a hero for desert life! Explore and protect the natural world through hands-on experiments and outdoor activities, including planting and gardening, engineering challenges and up-close animal encounters.