The Morton Arb

Children can spend the summer boosting their brains through engaging play and experiments integrating the art and science of trees and nature.

NEW THIS YEAR! Supervised play before and after camp make life more convenient for mom and dad!

Half-day and full-day camps offered weekly, June 10- August 9

Choose from more than 100 camps that run mid June-mid August. Discover more and register!

Sponsored by

Fridays
April-May
11-11:20 a.m. (weather permitting)
Children's Garden 

Free with Arboretum admission.

Saturday, June 22
10:00 a.m.– noon
The Arboretum Store
Free with Arboretum admission. 

This hands-on, self-guided activity is wheater permitting.

Weekdays in May
1:00– 4:00 p.m.
Children's Garden

Weekends in May
11:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.
Children's Garden

Stare in amazement at 10 larger-than-life insect sculptures. The sculptures are built using natural materials including trees, dried branches, roots and green saplings. Kids can pick up their free Official Bug Detective Guide and uncover the truth about bugs as they explore the exhibit. 

David Rogers' Big Bugs
May 10-September 8
7:00 a.m. -sunset
Free with Arboretum admission

Join us for these BUG-TASTIC events for the whole family!

Incredible Insects
June 8 & 9
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Children's Garden
Get an up-close look at giant Madagascan hissing cockroaches, a leaf-mimicking praying mantis, a tarantula named Cecil, and more. Free with Arboretum admission.

Meet Ladybug Girl
June 22
10:00 a.m. – noon
The Arboretum Store
Meet and take photos with Ladybug Girl, get a sweet "ladybug" treat, color, craft, and have fun! Free with Arboretum admission.

Ladybug Picnic
June 30
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Parking Lot 20
Celebrate ladybugs with a picnic. Discover why they are beneficial to plants, make fun crafts, and join in a live ladybug release. #Y2016
Member: $18 per person (nonmember: $25) 

Edible Insects
July 14 & July 21
2:00 -3:30 p.m.
Sycamore Room
Insect cuisine is enjoyed in many parts of the world – do you dare to try it? Join us as we learn about the food chain, sample tasty insects, and make insect crafts. Note: Bug tasting is optional. #Y308
Member: $10 per person (nonmember: $17)

Spider City
July 20 & 21
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Children's Garden
Join Brian Moskalik PhD, assistant professor of zoology at the University of St. Francis, to view local spiders, praying mantids, and exotic tarantulas. Free with Arboretum admission. 

Meet the Monarchs
August 6 & August 14
9:30 –11:00 a.m.
Children's Garden
Kids ages 3-5, with an adult, can join us as we act out the lifecycle from crawling caterpillars to fluttering beauties. We'll also play games and make a marvelous monarch craft. #Y305
Member: $18 per child (nonmember: $25) 

Monarch Madness
August 24
11:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m.
Children's Garden
Explore the wonderful world of monarch butterflies. Take a closer look at tiny butterfly eggs, view how scientists tag butterflies for research, and take home milkweed seeds to start your own butterfly feeding ground. Free with Arboretum admission.

Celebrate bugs in the Children's Garden daily from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
with these drop-in programs. Sponsored by Navistar.  

June
Lovely Ladybugs: Test your skills in a bug board game and make a ladybug mask.
Ants in your Plants: Learn about ants and make an a-maze-ing ant craft.

July
Splendid Spiders: Discover where spiders live and how they help gardens.
Grand Grasshoppers: Explore these little creatures and learn why they're so noisy.

August
From Water to Wings: Learn about dragonflies and make a winged craft.
Butterflies and Blossoms: Find out facts about butterflies and create a disguise.

Test your skills in a bug-tastic board game and make a lovely ladybug mask to take home. This hands-on activity is free with Arboretum admission. Weather permitting

Daily, June 1- 30
11:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.
Children's Garden

Find out some fascinating facts about ants and make an amazing ant craft to take home.

This hands-on activity is free with Arboretum admission. Weather permitting.

Daily, June 1- 30
11:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Children's Garden. 

Explore these little-but-loud creatures and find out why they're so noisy?

This hands-on activity is free with Arboretum admission. Weather permitting.

Daily, July 1- 31
11:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Children's Garden

Find out where spiders live and how they help our gardens. We'll even have some spider specimens!

This hands-on activity is free with Arboretum admission. Weather permitting.

Daily, July 1- 31
11:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.
Children's Garden.

Discover some fascinating facts about butterflies and create a beautiful butterfly disguise of your own to take home.

This hands-on activity is free with Arboretum admission. Weather permitting.

Daily, August 1- 31
11:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Children's Garden

Learn about the life cycle of a dragonfly and make a winged craft to take home.

This hands-on activity is free with Arboretum admission. Weather permitting. 

Daily, August 1- 31
11:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.
Children's Garden.

Saturday, June 8 & Sunday, June 9
11:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.
Children's Garden
Free with Arboretum admission. 

Sponsored by

Take a closer look at tiny butterfly eggs, view how scientists tag butterflies for research, and take home milkweed seeds to start your own butterfly feeding ground.

Saturday, August 24
11:00 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Children's Garden

Sponsored by 

Saturday, July 20 & Sunday, July 21
11:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.
Children's Garden

Sponsored by