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.

Additional Information

Young Makers 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

All members of The Bakken Museum receive early access to the museum's summer camps. Members at the household, senior household, and supporting levels also receive a 10% discount on registration to all camps and classes throughout the year.

General registration for 2026 summer camp will be announced soon. Summer camps sell out quickly. Waitlists will be made available as sessions become full.

The Bakken Museum is committed to making youth programs accessible to all individuals regardless of their financial situation. Two levels of scholarship are available based on income, and space is reserved in each session of summer camp for scholarship applicants.

Students learn to responsibly use tools and technology. Students spend time outdoors on our grounds at the adjacent park. Bakken educators, camp counselors, and volunteers provide guidance and room for failure. Students learn to share their challenges and celebrate successes. Campers go home with a project of their own design. Students benefit from a low student-to-staff ratio (4:1).

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. Students will have a set of tools and materials available that they can use in their projects and inventions. The students will participate in games, work on group problem-solving challenges, learn about electricity and circuits, take part in hands-on safety training with the 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.

Each year we come up with new challenges and tricks for our students to try. The inventions are up to the students, so they are free to come up with something entirely new and original.

Before camp, we will send you an email with logistical details, like drop-off time and location. We will also confirm student details like emergency contact information. Included in that email will be a link to review our safety, participation, and media waivers.

The major difference between this session and the rest is what the students bring of themselves to the camp. The projects and challenge solutions from this session tend to be more advanced and/or complex. Otherwise, these camps are mostly intended to give our older campers a chance to work among their peers.

The Young Makers camp is designed for innovators who will be entering 2nd or 3rd grade in the fall. To best accommodate the younger audience, this is a half-day camp that 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. Students will engage with group problem-solving challenges, skill-building, project time, and take-home tricks, and we've tailored the activities, materials, and tools specific to this age group.

Campers should bring their own lunch and water bottle. Lunches and drinks will be set aside in the morning until lunchtime. There is no microwave or refrigerator available for camper use. All lunches will be conducted outdoors, except under extreme weather conditions. This will usually happen at our picnic tables or in the grass under a tree.

Students will keep and take home their daily science tricks and their final projects at the end of the week.

Camp Innovation officially starts at 9 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. We will open the doors at 8:45 and greet arriving campers on their way in. Pick up will be available from 3:50 to 4:10 to allow for any campers who might finish the take-home activity early.

Young Makers Camp will similarly open the doors 15 minutes before camp starts and have a drop off window 10 minutes before and after the half-day ends.

Household and Supporting members receive a 10% discount on registration.

Scholarships for 85% of the program cost are available to families receiving public assistance. Scholarships for 50% of the program cost are available to other families needing assistance with a qualifying income.

We use real tools and materials in our programs, and with that comes some inherent risk. This is especially true when students are working with sharp, hot, or heavy tools. We believe that learning from mistakes is an important part of growth. Our staff will provide supervision and guidance to minimize risks and ensure a safe environment. Our team is trained in safety protocols, including basic first aid, and will act swiftly if any incidents occur.

If you have other questions, please feel free to contact André Phillips by email at [email protected] or by phone at (612) 446-3113.