San Diego, CA, USA
Fold a sheet of paper into origami, study life around a koi pond, or turn recycled materials into a new piece of art. At The Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum Camp in San Diego’s Balboa Park, hands-on projects connect Japanese cultural traditions with science and nature. The garden’s paths, ponds, and plants become part of the learning setting, alongside indoor spaces for making and experimenting. Designed for students in grades 1–8, the cultural camps group participants by grade so projects suit different learning stages.
One camp session might have younger artists making Japanese fans, flower arrangements, or folded-paper creations. Older students can explore techniques such as calligraphy, ink painting, paper-making, and pinhole cameras. Science activities focus on compost, soil, bamboo, earthworms, and koi, giving campers concrete subjects to investigate as they connect outdoor observations with hands-on activities. Classes move between creative work and hands-on exploration rather than focusing on a single subject. Specific projects depend on the grade group and program.
For students in grades 3–5, a separate STEAM in NIWA program takes a different route through the garden. Agriculture and geology activities connect to engineering and virtual reality, with showcase projects at the end. All offerings follow a five-day, half-day format, with morning or afternoon sessions depending on the group. Each group is capped at 20 participants, and activities take place in both indoor and outdoor spaces. These options may suit children who love art, are curious about the natural world, or enjoy building and testing ideas. Families looking for a shorter day can choose a program based on their child’s grade and interests.
| Ages: | 6–14 |
| Type: | Day |
| Gender: | Co-Ed |
| Setting: | City |
| Technology: | Technology, Game Design, Virtual Reality, Robotics, Engineering, STEM |
| Academics: | Academics, Science, Biology, Ecology, Geology, Career, Culinary |
| Arts: | Arts, Fine Arts, Arts & Crafts, Calligraphy, Painting, Photography, Print Making |
| Meals Type: | Bring Your Own |
| Time: |
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You won’t be charged yet. The camp will contact you to confirm all terms first.
You can still submit a quick request to let the camp know you’re interested.
The cultural camp weeks combine Japanese arts with STEM activities, using a different schedule for each grade band. Younger children can explore fans, folded paper, flower arrangements, and sustainable crafting. Older groups work with techniques such as calligraphy, ink painting, paper-making, and pinhole cameras. Specific projects vary by grade and instructor availability.
STEM LAB activities connect scientific questions with bamboo, soil, earthworms, koi, and the wider garden ecosystem. Campers can learn through observation, practical experiments, and collaborative projects. In STEAM in NIWA, the garden becomes a setting for sustainable agriculture and geology activities, followed by a core technology or engineering component. That separate program ends with showcase projects.
Each option runs for five half-days. Registration and payment must be completed before participation; groups admit up to 20 children. Activities take place indoors and outdoors, with walking around the garden included on some days.
Pack light snacks and a reusable water bottle. Choose items your child can open independently and avoid nuts when possible. Staff refill water bottles; campers cannot shop for food during camp.
Pickup is limited to adults authorized at registration, with identification checked every day. Staff use positive behavior strategies and contact caregivers when needed. Children must stay with the group and respect people, plants, and animals.
List assistance needs during registration. A caregiver-arranged aide may attend when a child needs health, toileting, or behavioral support.
Camp staff are trained professionals who use positive behavior management. Visiting artists and program partners contribute to specific activities, including LKW STEM FOUNDATION and Hands-On Technology.
Acknowledgement emails include camp instructions and a detailed arrival map. Team members are available for brief conversations at drop-off and pickup. Email the education team with questions and the designated camp contact for pickup changes.
Use the upper garden employee back gate behind the Organ Pavilion for arrival and collection. Bring labeled belongings, snacks, water, and a towel or yoga mat. Wear weather-appropriate layers and closed-toe shoes with socks; apply sunscreen and bring a hat. Extended care is unavailable. Coordinate late arrival or early pickup with the team.
JFGM members receive reduced tuition when membership is in place before registration. Balboa Park and Go City passes do not qualify for the member camp rate.
