Overview

Campers design, build, and show their inventions during summer camp at The Bakken Museum. In addition, campers will practice creative thinking skills, learn magic tricks, play games, and explore science, math, technology, and engineering in a fun, engaging environment. Students learn to responsibly use tools and technology and spend time outdoors on our grounds at the adjacent park. Bakken educators, camp counselors, and volunteers provide guidance and room for failure, encouraging students to share their challenges and celebrate successes. Campers go home with a project of their own design and benefit from a low student-to-staff ratio (4:1).

Additional Information

2024 Registration Dates

• Scholarship Drive Access Open + Scholarship Applications Open: Wednesday, January 17 (12 p.m.)
• Bakken Museum Member Access Open: Wednesday, January 24 (12 p.m.)
• General Registration Available to Everyone: Thursday, February 1 (12 p.m.)

Scholarships

The Bakken offers income-based scholarships to help provide access to its youth programs. Two levels of scholarship are available based on income, and space is reserved in each summer camp session for scholarship applicants. Scholarships are funded by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education Summer Academic Enrichment Program and donations from generous supporters.

Member Discount

Members at the household, senior household, and supporting levels receive a 10% discount on registration to all camps and classes throughout the year.

Waitlists

Waitlists will be made available as sessions become full. Once a camp is full, you can join our notification list to stay updated when more spots become available.

Camp Types and Ages

• Young Makers Camp (Grades 2-3): A special half-day camp for aspiring makers and inventors. Campers get practice using basic tools and learn the Bakken Museum's invention process while designing and building a unique take-home project. This camp has a morning session from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and a separate afternoon session from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Camp Innovation (Grades 4-9): Campers will design and build their own project with full access to the museum makerspace and all of the tools and materials. Campers will be challenged, their creativity will be stretched, and their problem-solving skills will be exercised as they practice the innovation process. Camps for 7th, 8th, and 9th graders are mostly intended to give older campers a chance to work among their peers, with projects and challenge solutions tending to be more advanced and/or complex.

Sample 2024 Young Makers Camp Dates (PM Session)

• July 8-12 (1 p.m.-4 p.m.)
• July 15-19 (1 p.m.-4 p.m.)
• July 22-26 (1 p.m.-4 p.m.)

Off-site Summer Camp (St. Paul)

The Bakken Museum and St. Paul Urban Tennis (SPUT) will team up to offer a combined science, technology, tennis, engineering, and math summer camp (STTEM) at the Eastview Recreation Center in St. Paul. Students ages eight through 13 will play tennis and design, build, and showcase their very own inventions. The STTEM camp is free for all participants and SPUT has given priority to youth from underrepresented and historically excluded communities within the STEM field. Dates: August 14 through 17.

Daily Activities

Students engage in a variety of hands-on activities that ultimately prepare them to design and build their own projects over the course of the week. They will have a set of tools and materials available, participate in games, work on group problem-solving challenges, learn about electricity and circuits, take part in hands-on safety training with tools in the makerspace, engage in activities to inspire creativity, and put together daily take-home science-based magic tricks. Students will work with camp staff to create their own original creations utilizing the Bakken Museum's invention process: Think It, Make It, Improve It, Show It.

Safety and Supervision

The programs use real tools and materials, and with that comes some inherent risk. This is especially true when students are working with sharp, hot, or heavy tools. Staff provide supervision and guidance to minimize risks and ensure a safe environment. The team is trained in safety protocols, including basic first aid.

Camp Staff

Experienced educators lead camps, supported by high school and college-aged counselors who have a passion for STEM and experience working with children.

Participation Limit

Camp is restricted to one week per camper so we may share this experience with as many students as possible.

2025 Pricing (for reference)

• Young Maker's Camp (Grades 2-3):
  • Five-day camp: $240
  • $216 for Household and Supporting Members
• Camp Innovation (Grades 4-9):
  • Five-day camp: $470
  • $423 for Household & Supporting Members
  • Four-day camp: $380
  • $342 for Household & Supporting Members