What ages can attend this session?

This program is for children ages 7-12 only.

Do parents need to stay with their child?

Yes—all participating children must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the session.

How long is the session?

The session lasts about 1.3 hours (roughly 1-1.5 hours) and includes guided activities and free creative time.

Are materials provided or should we bring supplies?

All materials required for the workshop are provided by The Kampong.

Can younger siblings attend or wait nearby?

Younger siblings under age 7 should not attend the program; adults may coordinate childcare or supervision separately.

What is the weather cancellation policy?

Programs may be modified or canceled in severe weather; contact The Kampong or check the garden schedule for updates before arrival.

Creative Expressions for Kids at The Kampong - Miami Botanical Arts Session | Workshop | Theater

At the edge of Coconut Grove stands The Kampong, a compact botanical garden and waterfront estate at 4013 Douglas Rd. Miami, FL 33133. Here, a Creative Expressions Session for ages 7-12 turns the garden's tropical palette into classroom and stage. For roughly 1.3 hours, kids move through shade-dappled paths and historic planting beds with Alejandra Bunster, learning improvisation, storytelling, choreography, and acting while absorbing the place's living archive of rare tropical plants.

The program frames imagination as skill: exercises sharpen divergent thinking, build teamwork, and connect children to Dr. David Fairchild's legacy as a plant explorer whose collections at The Kampong helped shape American horticulture. Key features of the site include mature banyan and mango trees, seaside plantings edging Biscayne Bay, and curated collections of rare tropical fruit and ornamental palms—ideal backdrops for movement and story. Sessions pivot between structured games and open creative play; instructors use props and natural elements supplied by the garden so parents don't have to pack materials.

What makes this small, urban garden special is its layered identity as both historical estate and hands-on classroom. Unlike larger parks, The Kampong's paths bring children close to botanical specimens—leaf textures, fragrant blossoms, and fluted trunks—that invite sensory prompts for writing and acting. The waterfront provides a quiet counterpoint to the focused activities, and the site's compact scale helps instructors manage groups of up to 20 while still offering pockets of solitude for small-group work.

Practical notes matter. The meeting point is 4013 Douglas Rd. and all participants must be accompanied by an adult; the session runs about 1-1.5 hours and welcomes ages 7-12. All materials are provided. Expect shade and soft soil underfoot; closed-toe shoes and a hat will keep kids comfortable. Programs run year-round but shift slightly with Miami's seasons—mornings are typically cooler and better for energetic improvisation.

For families looking to add a creative, low-impact activity to a Miami visit, this session delivers structured learning without screens, emphasizing confidence and collaboration in a living garden. It's a chance for children to move, make, and speak in a setting that celebrates plants introduced by an early 20th-century plant explorer. Whether your child loves drama, dance, or simply running with a prompt, the Creative Expressions Session at The Kampong turns plant life into play and curiosity into craft.

Beyond classes, The Kampong functions as a pocket laboratory where young learners encounter botanical diversity rarely seen in urban settings—ephemeral blossoms, seed pods, and fragrant leaves provide immediate material for storytelling prompts. For visiting families, pairing this session with a self-guided stroll along the waterfront or a sketching break turns a morning into an educational outing. Reservations are recommended; check the garden's schedule and arrive early to find street parking.

About The Kampong - National Tropical Botanical Gardens

The Kampong — part of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens — is a historic tropical garden located in Miami, Florida on the shores of Biscayne Bay. The site preserves the Fairchild-Sweeney House and showcases the legacy of plant explorer David Fairchild through extensive exotic fruit trees, rare tropical species, and curated collections. Visitors can choose docent-led guided tours that highlight the estate’s history and plant collections, or self-guided tours that allow leisurely exploration with a provided map.

The Kampong hosts a rotating schedule of hands-on workshops and classes set in the garden landscape. Offerings include cyanotype printing for fabric, community indigo dip workshops teaching Shibori resist dyeing, edible gardening programming presented with UF/IFAS (recommended for ages 12 and up), watercolor courses led by local artist Eileen Seitz, and all-levels yoga with Sam Reynolds. Forest bathing sessions guided by neuroscientist Karina Del Punta focus on sensory practices grounded in science; evening Moonrise Forest Bathing is offered under the full moon.

Several specialty experiences such as macrophotography, ikebana, functional movement, and seasonal events invite creative engagement with plants and place. Cyanotype workshops note limited spaces to encourage advance booking. The Kampong combines plant conservation, education, and cultural programming on a historic estate, offering both structured interpretation and independent discovery for visitors interested in botany, art, sustainability, and Miami’s tropical landscape.

Public programs emphasize hands-on learning, conservation-minded practices, seasonal plant highlights, and the site supports research, education, and community engagement for residents and visitors from Miami and beyond, with year-round programming and volunteer opportunities available.