Popular local options include Adventures in Cardboard,
Articulture, Minnehaha Academy, and Southeast Minneapolis Soccer
By Tesha M. Christensen
Take an unforgettable adventure to Africa this summer or
spend a week at Hogwarts. Focus on ballet, Irish dance or tap. Experience the
circus. Go for gold in the Animal Olympics at the zoo or create something great
at the Friends School. Try tennis, soccer, or mountain biking. Dabble with
clay, book arts or sewing. Step back in time and be a history detective.
That’s just the start of the youth camp options available in
the Twin Cities area. Browse below for more information on some of the camps
offered locally.
IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD
ADVENTURES
IN CARDBOARD
Construct giant castles, get lost in colossal mazes, build
suits of armor and more during these five-day, full-day sessions for ages 8-17.
Buses available from Powderhorn Park. New this year: Teen Weeks and Advanced
AiC.
Cost: $339
http://julianmcfaul.com/
612-532-6764
ARTICULTURE
A variety of art disciplines and mediums with themes like
mirror images, urban forest, theater, art car, or paper and book arts offered
for ages 4-18. Five-day, half- and full-day sessions available.
Cost: $124-275
612-729-5151
CIRCUS
JUVENTAS
Explore international circus arts at Circus Juventas.
Five-day, full-day sessions offered for ages 6-15. Or make your own camp with
Circus Sampler Days.
Cost: $85-405
651-699-8229
http://www.circusjuventas.org
FORT
SNELLING
Experience the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Become a
history investigator. Or, try out what life as an archeologist is like. Camps
range from one day to one week.
$45-$250
612-341-7555
MINNEHAHA
ACADEMY
A variety of athletic, academic and enrichment programs are
offered, including woodcarving, viola and cello, combat robots, puddlestompers,
fencing, movie making, sewing, painting, rocket science, drumming, and more.
Half- and full-day, one- to three-week weekday sessions. Camp Minnehaha, a full
day camp for pre-k to grade 8, includes daily devotions, games, indoor and
outdoor activities, daily swimming lessons and a weekly off-campus activity.
Cost: $36-500
612-728-7745, ext. 1
SE MINNEAPOLIS SOCCER
Southeast Soccer fields a
variety of girls and boys teams for ages U9-U18 at beginner, intermediate and
advanced competitive levels. Consider the Lil’ Dribblers soccer program for
ages 4 -8, or summer traveling teams.
612-396-9511
YMCA
Explore the variety of Y Summer Programs at over 60
metro-area locations. Programs include flexible three-, four-, and five-day
options. There’s something fun for everyone from preschool through grade nine.
Cost: $80-350
IN THE TWIN
CITIES
ANIMAL
HUMANE SOCIETY
Unleashed summer campers entering grades 3-10 spend a full
week immersed in animal learning and fun. NEW this year: Campers will spend
their time exclusively in the shelters.
Cost: $120-300
http://www.animalhumanesociety.org/camps
763-489-2220
ARTSTART
Grab your passports and join ArtStart artists on
an unforgettable adventure to Africa through the arts. Pre-school children ages
4-5 years register for “A Start with the Arts” offered morning only the week of
July 10-14 and 17-21. Youth ages 13 years and older register for “Camp CREATE”
offered June 19-22 Youth select classes taught by professional artists from
multiple arts disciplines— music, creative movement/dance, and visual arts. As
a result of participating in this 5-day immersion experience, youth gain
artistic knowledge and skills, learn about the people, geography and
environment of a place and create art works and performances inspired by the
culture.
Cost: $145-$295. 651-698-2787.
http://www.artstart.org/summer-immersion
ALEXANDER
RAMSEY HOUSE
Solve mysteries of the past in this three-day History
Detective Camp for ages 10-13. Or, young ladies ages 9-12 can step back in time
in a unique Finishing School for Young Ladies day camp.
Cost: $200-$220
612-341-7555
BLACKHAWKS
OF ST. PAUL
Blackhawks offer several exciting half- and
full-day soccer camps for players ages 5-18 that encompass a wide variety of
activities and skills. Specialty camps focus on specific skills such as ball
control, shooting, and goalkeeping.
Cost: $85-195
651-894-3527
CAMP
COMO
Spend some time “Monkeying Around” with your primate pals, go for the gold in
“Animal Olympics”, take an “African Adventure” without leaving Como,
or try on the hat of a zookeeper or gardener in “Behind-the-Scenes!”. Como’s camps focus on developing
children’s appreciation for the natural world through play and exploration,
behind-the-scenes experiences, interactions with zookeepers and gardeners, and
up-close encounters with plant and animal ambassadors Five-day, half-day or
full-day sessions for preschool to grade eight. Extended care available.
Cost: $135-155
651-487-8272
CAMP
SUNRISE
Camp and canoe while learning leadership and teamwork skills
in a seven-day resident camp for youths age 13-18 who live within the city
limits of Minneapolis or St. Paul. Held on the St. Croix River in Rush City and
organized by YouthCARE.
Cost: free
612-338-1233
CONCORDIA
LANGUAGE VILLAGES
Experience cultural and language immersion; 15 languages to
choose from. Resident camp for ages 6-18 and family camps.
Cost: $960-$4,510
1-800-222-4750
http://www.concordialanguagevillages.org
CREATE
SOMETHING GREAT AT FRIENDS SCHOOL
Want to make a film just like the professionals do? Feel
like biking 10 (or 20!) miles a day? Have a secret stash of poems you want to
share? Feel a need to express yourself through paint and paper-folding? Maybe
you'd rather argue for the defense in a real courtroom? Friends School will be
the place to do that--and more--from June 19-Aug. 4 for
ages 4-14. Weekdays, half- and full-day. Extended day care in the
mornings and afternoons and need-based financial aid
available.
Cost: $105 to $295
651-621-8941
DODGE
NATURE CENTER
Explore prairies, wetlands and woodland trails during full-
and half-day, four-day camps offered for students entering 1-8 grades. Shorter
sessions available for ages 3-6.
Cost: $50-200
651-455-4531
FARM
TO TABLE
Make butter, ice cream and bread while learning
about science, agriculture and history at the Bruentrup Heritage Farm in
Maplewood. Plus, students will play old-time games like townball and do arts
and crafts. Three four-day sessions offered in July and August.
Cost: $150
651-748-8645
FIDDLE
CAMP
Fiddling
taught by master Swedish and American fiddlers, whistle making and folk
dancing.
Cost:
$235-305
www.yfaminnesota.weeby.com
FOCCI MN
CENTER FOR GLASS
From fusing to casting to glass blowing, ages 9-18 are
introduced to the mesmerizing medium of glass through immersive half-day,
five-day experiences.
Cost: $325-425
612-623-3624
http://tinyurl.com/foci2016
GERMAN
LANGUAGE AND CULTURE CAMPS
Speak, hear, sing, and create in German while
exploring subjects ranging from history and art to science and music during
five-day, half-, full- and extended-day sessions for grades K-3 at the Germanic
American Institute.
Cost: $130-150
651-222-2979
http://gai-mn.org
GIBBS
MUSEUM OF PIONEER AND DAKOTA LIFE CAMPS
Travel back in time and learn about life in the 1800s.
Explore seasonal Dakota activities including the maple sugar camp, wild rice
village, life in the tipi, hunting games, methods of travel, language and song.
Or enroll in Gibbs Girl or Digging history sessions. Three-day, half-day camps.
One-day Pioneer PeeWees camps offered for ages 4-5.
Cost: $19-99
651-646-8629
HAMLINE
YOUNG WRITERS
High school students ages 15-18 can explore the craft,
prepare for college, and connect with other young writers in the Twin Cities,
while working closely with Hamline Creative Writing faculty and published
authors.
Cost: $400
651-523-2476
IRISH DANCE
Professional Irish Dance training by director Cormac O'Se,
an original member of Riverdance.
612-722-7000
www.osheairishdance.com
JUGHEADS
JUGGLING CAMP
Half-day, five-day sessions and single day sessions
for beginners through experts ages 8-18 enhance hand-eye coordination, boost
concentration and build self-confidence.
Cost: $30-110
612-229-3348
KID YOGA
Yoga infused throughout the day via story, dance and games for
campers age 5-12. Located on the Greenway = daily field adventures.
Cost: $75-335
612-202-5164
LEONARDO’S
BASEMENT
Girls and boys ages 6 to 17 can design and build their
creative ideas, mixing art, science and technology during partial-day, weekday
camps. There are more than 115 classes available over 10 weeks.
Cost: $185-370, scholarships available
612-824-4394
www.leonardosbasement.org
LOPPET
ADVENTURE CAMPS
Roller ski, mountain bike, canoe and more during
adventure camps for ages 9-13 at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis. Equipment
provided during the full-day, five-day sessions.
Cost: $200
612-604-5330
MINNESOTA
WALDORF SCHOOL
Join the Minnesota Waldorf School for good,
old-fashioned summer fun June 12 to Aug. 18. Outdoor games, natural crafts,
water play, gardening, caring for the school’s chickens, and much more, all on
their beautiful 8-acre campus. 70 East County Road B, St. Paul. For children
ages 3.5 to (rising) 6th grade.
Cost: $150- $275
651-487-6700 x202
http://mnwaldorf.org/summercamp
MILL CITY
MUSEUM
Play music, get creative, bake bread and construct books
while exploring the rich culture along the Minneapolis riverfront district.
Campers aged 9-11 will explore a new experience each day at four arts centers.
Cost: $225-$250
612-341-7555
NORTHERN
CLAY CENTER
Work with sculpture, tiles, or wheel-thrown pottery
in half or full-day sessions for ages 6 and up.
Cost $160-305
612-339-8007
TECH CAMPS
Use LEGO bricks, gears and motors to construct and program
robots. Opt to learn to code or create your own video game. Math Addvantage
offers five-day, half-day camps for grades 2-8.
$215
http://mathaddvantage.com
SCIENCE
MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA
Summer programs for youth ages 3 to 16 combine science, art,
drama, and literature in ways that encourage kids to actively discover and
examine concepts for themselves. Programs also offered at the Lee & Rose Warner Nature Center, the
state's oldest outdoor environmental education facility.
Cost: $60-345
651-221-4511, 651-433-2427
STEPPING
STONE THEATER
Learn about devised theater, music and other performance art
forms during these one- to two-week, half- and full-day sessions for those preK
to grade 12. Two theater classes offered in collaboration with the Science
Museum and Minnesota Zoo.
Cost: $125-475
SPIRIT TAE
KWON DO
Fun, exciting camps that combine physical fitness and
education are offered throughout the summer for school-age kids. Register early
for discounts.
651-428-6172
ST.
PAUL ACADEMY
Make your own games and design circuits. Take a
writing workshop entitled: “A Week at Hogwarts.” Debate, play chess, learn
about mathematical modeling and forecasting, make movies or delve into creative
science options. Eight options at SPA cover a wide range of academic, arts, and
enrichment activities for grades 2-12. The Minnesota Institute for Talented
Youth offers the ExplorSchool for students in grades 4-6.
Cost: $195-385
651-698-2451
http://www.spa.edu
ST. PAUL BALLET
Summer is a great time to try dance. Programs include
workshops and camps for ages 3 and up, weekly drop-in classes for teens
and adults, and a new "mommy and me" baby class.
Cost: $8.50-20
651-690-1588
ST. PAUL
URBAN TENNIS
Located at 30+ sites, with
several locations in the Midway-Como neighborhoods, St. Paul Urban Tennis
offers a summer program for all age groups and skill levels. Tennis lessons
combine high quality instruction with life skills learning. Sampler Camps offer
a condensed, 4-day version of the lesson program. Scholarships available.
612-222-2879
TEXTILE
CENTER CAMPS
Sew, knit, felt, dye and more. Take home completed
fiber items from three- and five-day, half-, full- and extended-day sessions
for ages 6-16.
Cost: $87-370
612-436-0464
TRAPEZE CENTER CIRCUS CAMP
Students ages 8-17 enrolled in the weeklong, half-day camps
will experience a variety of circus disciplines (including Trampoline, Static
Trapeze, Acrobatics, Circus Bike, and of course Flying Trapeze).
Cost: $275
651-262-9477
WEST BANK
SCHOOL OF MUSIC
There's
something for everyone at WBSM this summer! Camps: Rock, Pop, Funk, Brass, and
Girls Rock – Ensembles: Jazz, Gypsy Jazz, Fiddle, String Quartet, and Irish – Guitar
Classes: Blues, Celtic, and Finger-style – and more.
612-333-6651
WHITE BEAR CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Painting, drawing, clay,
theatre, writing, glass and much more for ages 6-14.
Cost: $23-$97
651-407-0597
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is not a comprehensive list of every
camp in the Twin Cities. If you would like to be included in next year’s guide,
please send us detailed information on the camp.
