Based in the heart of RBGE’s main research buildings, and out and about in our world-renowned plant collections, this 5-day summer school gives you a chance to delve into the wonders of plants – Earth’s most important organisms. Experience how real science works and how it can help humanity face up to the challenges of the future such as climate change and food security.

You will work as a team to uncover some of the mysteries of the botanical world and find out how plants sit at the heart of almost all life on earth. You’ll pick up careers advice, learn about experimental design and develop your lab and communication skills.

View the example programme here.

The programme will run at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh:

Dates: Monday 5th – Friday 9th August 2024

Times: 9.30am – 4.00pm (1.00pm on Friday)

Secondary pupils heading into S5 or S6 after the summer holidays. 

The cost is £225 per person for the five-day programme.

Please book via the RBGE Online Shop.

If you have to cancel for any reason, please contact us via schools@rbge.org.uk to discuss.

1 Sessions
We provide a flexible timetable of activities to respond to changes in the Garden, weather or to the needs of the group.  

2 Ratios
We have 15 places on this week long activity and there will be at least one other adult helper as well as the group leader.

3 Garden Rules
Young people will agree to keeping the rules of the garden to ensure their own safety and that of the others in the group as well as respecting the plants and animals that live in the garden and other visitors. 

4 Supervision and Behaviour
Young people will be supervised by our staff and volunteers who have undergone Disclosure Scotland checks. Respect for each other and nature are at the heart of everything we do so we will agree on a simple code of conduct for the week. We expect young people and all adults to abide by this. 

5 Health and Emergency Information
We will contact you after your booking has been confirmed for health and emergency contact information. This must be supplied prior to the holiday club beginning otherwise your child will not be allowed to participate.

6 Medical Treatment
Depending on the severity of injury/illness, parents/carers will be contacted via phone call or informed at the end of the day. In the case of an emergency, you authorize the RBGE Head of Education (and RBGE staff authorized by them) to give permission for any emergency medical treatment, including anaesthetic, as considered necessary by the medical authorities present, and for the Garden’s first aiders to administer first aid as appropriate.

7 Absences
Contact us as soon as possible by schools@rbge.org.uk if your child is unable to attend any of the sessions they are booked on. We will share the group leader’s mobile number at the start of the week for any issues, eg late arrival.

8 Photography
We may take photographs and/or video footage during the week which may be used for future publicity or published by RBGE. There will be opportunity to give or withdraw photo consent for your child prior to the holiday club beginning.

9 Personal Property
We can take no responsibility for valuables that are brought to the sessions. Bringing them is at your own risk.  

10 Food
Young people must bring lunch, snacks and drinks for the day. Please bring a water bottle which can be topped up throughout the day. We will have designated snack and lunch times. Please inform us if your child needs to eat out with these times due to a health condition or has any allergies we should be aware of.

11 Toilets
Staff and volunteers will stay outside and will only assist if absolutely necessary.

12 Additional Needs
We want our programmes to be as inclusive as possible, but we don’t have the resources to provide 1-to-1 support for young people with additional needs. A carer can accompany a child with additional support needs free of charge. Please contact us via email schools@rbge.org.uk to discuss this and anything else we need to be aware of.

13 Complaints
Should any issues arise, that would cause you to complain this should be addressed in writing to the Head of Education, schools@rbge.org.uk

Please note that we reserve the right to vary the terms and conditions above, with prior notice.