2026 WonderLab's WonderCamps at Hilltop
- June 8th-12th – Roots & Shoots
- Roll up your sleeves and get ready for a gardening adventure! Campers will plan, plant, and maintain their own garden with vegetables, herbs, and flowers. They’ll explore plant biology, soil health, and sustainable gardening practices, and the garden plot they create will be theirs to continue working on throughout the summer. To learn how we depend on plants, campers will build their own trellises, experiment with soil, explore compost, make homemade fertilizer, and more!
- For students entering 4th-8th grade
- June 15th-19th – Growing Together
- Plan, plant, and care for your own garden plot at Hilltop Gardens! Campers will learn about plant growth, harvest fresh vegetables, herbs, and flowers, and discover the unique parts of plants we eat—tops, bottoms, and more. Activities inspired by the picture book Tops & Bottoms will teach lessons on gardening, sharing, and the joy of nutrient-rich foods. Campers will harvest seeds, build their own trellises, make homemade Playdough to explore scenting, and experiment with color with a visit from IU’s Color Lab. Enjoy physical activity, outdoor fun, and hands-on learning!
- For students entering 2nd-3rd grade
- July 6th-10th – Petals to Pallets
- Combine the beauty of nature with science to create stunning art! Campers will dissect flowers for dye with IU’s Color Lab, explore Hilltop gardens for painting inspiration, and harvest herbs and wild edibles while learning preservation techniques. They’ll gather mushrooms for spore prints, create crafts from natural patterns, and design their own plankton. Plan to explore different mediums in art and nature!
- For students entering 4th - 8th grade
- July 13th-17th – Habitats & Homes
- Explore local and global wildlife and habitats in this hands-on camp at IU’s Hilltop Garden! Campers will discover different biomes and observe both local and exotic animals. They’ll design habitats for insects, mammals, or birds, and learn ways to sustain natural environments. Activities include designing bird feeders, crafting no-kill insect traps, creating an ecosystem in a jar, animal visits, a visit from IU’s Color Lab, and more!
- For students entering 2nd - 3rd grade
Location
- Hilltop Garden & Nature Center. 2367 E. 10th St. Bloomington, IU Campus (free onsite parking)
Registration information
- Member registration opens Tuesday, February 17th at 9 a.m. Non-member registration opens Wednesday, February 18th at 9 a.m.
- Scholarship are available through WonderLab. Applications will be accepted starting January 5th and are available on a first-come, first- served basis. Scholarship info found here
- Camps are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. with drop off at 8:30 a.m. and pick-up by 4:30 p.m.