Children are invited to five days of fun and learning during the season's first summer nature camp at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay. In either the morning or afternoon five-day session from Monday through Friday, July 7-11, campers between 5 and 10 years old will enjoy games, activities, and arts and crafts projects. Nature camp will be full of active investigation and fresh creation.

With the expert guidance of Heather Heyes, a new face in the Gardens' education department, and enthusiastic volunteers, campers will find learning about nature fun and fascinating. They'll get their hands dirty and their toes wet working on a group gardening project and investigating inhabitants of a pond. They'll learn about the parts of a plant, plant and animal adaptations and camouflage, and other topics. They'll get to know our Gnome Depot and will build fairy houses to leave on display or take home. Every camper will decorate a T-shirt.

Each day will start with an opening meeting. Games, healthy (and tasty!) snacks, and story-time will also be a part of the daily activities.

The morning session is from 9:30 a.m. to noon, and the afternoon session is from 1:00-3:30 p.m., with the same program for morning and afternoon sessions. A second summer nature camp will be presented from August 11-15.

The cost per child for all five days of camp, which includes all supplies and snacks, is $100 for members and $120 for non-members. Pre-registration for a specific session is required. To sign up or for more information, visit www.mainegardens.org, or call (207) 633-4333.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is on Barters Island Road, a mile from the Boothbay common. The 248-acre property offers ornamental gardens and stonework beyond compare, woodland and waterfront trails, and nearly a mile of tranquil shorefront. The Visitor Center features the Gift Shop and Kitchen Garden Café.

Day 1: Children's Garden

• Magnifying glass investigations

• Planting a seed to watch it grow

• Starting a camp session garden

• Plant anatomy

Day 2: Kitchen Garden

• Burpee Kitchen Garden exploration

• "3-sisters" planting - history and botany

• Snack from the garden

• Dream Garden planning

  Day 3: Waterway Explor a tions

• T-shirt printing with nature

• Magnifying glass investigations

• Observation sketches "in the field"

• Creative watercoloring

Day 4: Gnome Depot

• Finding evidence of adaptation and camouflage

• Creative fairy house building in the woods

• Investigations using the senses

  Day 5: Connecting Gardens, Cri t ters, and Kids

• Treasure hunt

• Fairy house photo frames

• Plant-animal connections

• Closing ceremony!