Overview

Our all-girls camp features the same activities and challenges as the other camps, with the only difference being the composition of the class. All-girls camps are intended to present girls with the opportunity to explore activities and environments that too often appear reserved for boys. By providing a camp for girls exclusively, we hope to provide a safe, comfortable environment that empowers young women to pursue science and innovation in their lives. 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. This week of camp was focused on girls and non-binary and gender-expansive kids. Kids whose identities are significantly under-represented in STEM, making it all that much more powerful to be in an environment that intentionally supports you to lean in, try and fail and learn, ask for help and get it, and then try again. These kids are our future science teachers, inventors, engineers, artists, and creatives.

Additional Information

Inclusivity

*The Bakken Museum seeks to be an inclusive and supportive environment for all learners. Our "Girls" camps include young people who identify as cis, trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, gender queer, gender expansive and any girl-identified young person).

Daily Schedule & Breaks

• Weather permitting, we have three outdoor breaks on any full day. We step outside for a morning snack break (15 mins), eat lunch outside (30 min) and have an after-lunch outdoor break (45 min), and take another brief outdoor break (15 mins) in the afternoon to get some fresh air. A half-day camp will also have an outdoor break halfway through their day.
• 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.

Camp Features (Every Session)

• 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)

Meals & Snacks

• The Bakken Museum will provide a small, individual serving of snacks in the morning. This usually consists of something like pretzels or goldfish crackers, and we do our best to avoid common allergens.
• Students are welcome to bring their own snacks if they want more to eat or do not want the snack provided.
• 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.

Required Items

• On the first day of the session, students need to bring a bag lunch (you are welcome to include a snack for break times as well), closed-toed shoes, any masks, sunscreen, or hats if you choose, and a water bottle.
• When students are working in the makerspace, they will need to have closed-toed shoes. There are many heavy, sharp, and hot things in the makerspace, and we like our students to leave with as many toes as they started with.

Projects

• Students will keep and take home their daily science tricks and their final projects at the end of the week.
• At the end of each week of summer camp, students show their work to friends and family during a Big Show.

Staff

• Our experienced educators lead camps. Our education staff is supported by high school and college-aged counselors who have a passion for STEM and experience working with children.

Scholarships & Discounts

• Household and Supporting members receive a 10% discount on registration.
• There are two types of need-based scholarships available. 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.
• Scholarships are funded by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education Summer Academic Enrichment Program and donations from generous supporters.
• Two levels of scholarship are available based on income, and space is reserved in each summer camp session for scholarship applicants.

Registration Policies

• Camp is restricted to one week per camper so we may share this experience with as many students as possible. We are committed to keeping camp accessible to as many students as possible and are restricting participation for any one camper to one session per summer.
• Waitlists will be made available as sessions become full.