Kids Programs

Kids Programs

Queens Botanical Garden’s Kids Programs bring together youngsters from around New York City to enjoy seasonal, hands-on learning and gardening experiences year-round. Through exploration, nature study, and craft activities, we explore concepts of gardening and environmental stewardship at age-appropriate levels within each program.

For information, contact [email protected] or 718.886.3800, ext. 218.


Family-Level Members and above receive a 10% discount by using the code “MEMBER.” To become a Member, click here.

Siblings can receive a 5% discount by using the code “SIBLING.”

Enrolled families receive a 10% discount off purchases in our gift shop. 

Summer Registration is Open!

Summer Children’s Garden

Ages 4-13 | Drop-off

Two-Week Sessions (8 days) – 9am to 3pm*
$800 Non-Member / $720 Family-Level+ Member
Session I: Garden Lab, Mondays-Thursdays, July 10-20
Session II: Botanical Recipes, Mondays-Thursdays, July 24-August 3
Session III: Plant Pals, Mondays-Thursdays, August 7-17

*Extended hours available until 5:30pm (additional $35/day)

 

One-Week Session (4 days) – 9am to 3pm*
$400 Non-Member / $360 Family-Level+ Member
Session IV: Growing Artists, Monday-Thursday, August 21-24

*Extended hours available until 5:30pm (additional $35/day)

The Children’s Garden, sponsored by HSBC Bank, is happy to welcome back families for our DROP-OFF Summer Children’s Garden! 

Enjoy the great outdoors and learn about environmental themes such as gardening, discovering our animal neighbors, using our natural world to create art, and much more! Each Summer session will be taught by dedicated and experienced staff excited to welcome back families to Queens Botanical Garden. 

Each session incorporates the Garden as a resource to support nature discovery, hands-on activities, thematic activities, art, and science investigations. See session descriptions below.

*Lunch is not provided as a part of this program.

More about each session:

Session I: Garden Lab
Mondays-Thursdays, July 10-20
Discover the beauty and wonder of nature through science! We’ll use our five senses to understand the many ecosystems and organisms of our garden.

Session II: Botanical Recipes
Mondays-Thursdays, July 24-August 3
Explore the many ways people use plants to create a sense of home! We’ll look to recipes from around the world to guide us through cooking, medicine, craft, and more.

Session III: Plant Pals
Mondays-Thursdays, August 7-17
Meet our most beloved garden neighbors: the urban critters who support NYC’s habitats! We’ll search for animal tracks and homes, make a terrarium, hatch butterflies, and identify local birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects.

Session IV: Growing Artists
Monday-Thursday, August 21-24, 2023 (4-day session)
Explore the intersection between art and the natural world! We’ll use foraged, found, and recycled items to collaboratively create art and music projects.

A limited number of scholarships seats are available by request.
Please email [email protected] to inquire.

The Children’s Garden is sponsored by HSBC Bank.

A toddler is watering a planter with a watering can. Summer Garden Buds

Ages 2 & 3
Child + Adult

We welcome you and your toddler to join our Garden Buds program! Tailored to our youngest gardeners, these classes let children explore the wonder of nature through hands-on work and play in the garden, taste garden produce, and create botanical crafts. Registration includes one child and a participating adult. 

JULY SESSION:

Four (4) Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays
Friday, July 7 – Sunday, July 30, 2023

9:30-10:30am or
11am-12pm
$150 Non-Member / $135 Family-Level+ Member

AUGUST SESSION:

Four (4) Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays
Friday, August 4 – Sunday, August 27, 2023

9:30-10:30am or 11am-12pm
$150 Non-Member / $135 Family-Level+ Member

Know Before You Go 

Information for participating families of kids’ programs.

What to Bring

  • Water bottle
  • A breathable mask for you and your child. Please pack one to two extras.
  • Seasonal and weather-appropriate clothing: raincoat/poncho, rain boots, sweater/jacket/coat, gloves, hat, sunscreen for summer programs, etc.
  • Seasonally appropriate shoes that will stay attached to your feet and can withstand getting muddy.
  • Hand warmers (optional)

Health & Safety

For the safety of students, staff and families, QBG is closely following CDC guidelines. As such, the following health and safety measures are in effect for 2023 programs. We will continue to monitor and update parents with any changes.

  • QBG has an indoor face mask requirement. All individuals entering a QBG building, staff and kids included, must wear a mask indoors.
  • There will be very limited shared materials. Anything that is shared will be wiped down before sharing.
  • Programs will have no more than 18 total people per group, including students, staff and volunteers.
  • Before the beginning of each program, staff will use sanitizing wipes or spray to wipe down benches, tables, surfaces, and materials touched and used.
  • Staff and students are required to stay home if they or anyone in their household tests positive for COVID-19, or other contagious viruses. For reference, please review CDC guidelines.
  • We ask all participants to consider the following three questions before coming to a QBG program. If you answer yes to any of these questions, please stay home.
    • In the last 48 hours, have you experienced symptoms of COVID-19 or other contagious viruses?
    • Have you tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 or another contagious virus in the past 10 days?
    • Has anyone in your household tested positive for COVID-19 or another contagious virus in the past 10 days?
  • What happens if I or someone in my group tests positive?
    • Please notify us if your child (program participant) tests positive for COVID-19 or another contagious virus..
    • When we are notified of a positive case in a program, we will notify families via email that someone in their group tested positive
    • If a student becomes ill with symptoms during the day, a staff member will quarantine the student away from the group and notify a parent/guardian for pickup. We will follow the most current CDC guidelines on when that child and others can come back to class.

Parking

  • Parking for all programs is $5.00, an exclusive rate for kids programs participants.
  • Families have a 15-minute window for drop off at the parking circle.
  • For information on how to get to the Parking Garden, please reference this page on the website.

Payment, Cancelations, and Refunds

  • 10% discount off program fee for Family-Level Members and above
  • All programs are rain or shine.
  • We have a no-refund policy within 30 days from the program start date. If you must cancel after registering, notify the Kids Programs staff at 718-886-3800 x218 or [email protected] at least 30 full days before the start of the program and the Garden will refund 75% of the program cost.
  • Refunds and credits are not issued for partial attendance or after the program begins. Registrations are nontransferable.
  • There will not be make-up classes for absences due to illness from common contagious viruses, including COVID-19.

Please email [email protected] for additional questions, scholarship information, or to be added to our email list and newsletter!