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

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

Scholarships: The Bakken Museum is committed to making youth programs accessible to all individuals regardless of their financial situation. 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. Processing time may vary and we will respond to request as quickly as possible. This may take up to a week. View our complete scholarship guide here to learn more and apply.

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)

Member Access: 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.

Young Makers Camp (Grades 2-3):

• Five-day camp: $240, $216 for Household and Supporting Members
• Half-day camp with 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):

• Five-day camp: $470, $423 for Household & Supporting Members
• Four-day camp: $380, $342 for Household & Supporting Members

Lunch: 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.

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 are also encouraged to bring their own water bottle to prevent frequent trips to the drinking fountain.

Outdoor Time: 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.

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

Drop Off and Pick Up: 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.

All-Girl 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. 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).

Refund Policy: Cancellation Before the Program Start Date:

• More Than 6 weeks: You may cancel at any time at least 6 weeks before the program begins. A $50 administration fee will be deducted from your refund.
• Two to Six weeks: A refund is only available if we can fill your space. If we fill your spot, we will issue a refund minus a $50 administration fee. We will notify you as soon as possible if your spot is filled and a refund is approved.
• Less than Two weeks: No refunds will be issued for cancellations made within 14 days of the start date of the program.

Behavior Policy: At The Bakken Museum, we have three core rules: Be Safe, Be Aware, and Be Respectful. These rules apply to how campers interact with tools and materials, staff, fellow campers, and themselves.

• Be Safe: Use tools and materials properly and follow safety instructions from staff.
• Be Aware: Pay attention to your surroundings and be mindful of how your actions affect others.
• Be Respectful: Treat staff, fellow campers, and yourself with kindness and consideration.

Media Policy: We love showcasing the creativity and ideas of young people! During most of our programs, The Bakken Museum takes photos and videos of students and their projects. We use this media to document our programs. We occasionally share the amazing work of our participants with the community through our website, social media, and other marketing materials. By registering your child for a program at The Bakken Museum, you are permitting us to use photos and video clips of your child for promotional purposes. Rest assured: Our priority is student safety and privacy. All marketing materials are edited or designed to omit student names and/or other identifying details. Opt-Out Option If you prefer that your child not appear in promotional photos or videos, please let us know. To opt out, email our program manager, Andre Phillips at [email protected] at least 48 hours before the program starts. Opting out will not impact your child's participation in the program. If you have any questions about how we use media or our privacy practices for minors, feel free to reach out to us.

Shoes: 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. So far, we have had a 100% success rate with this, and we would like to keep it this way.

Waitlist: If a session is filled, you can join our notification list. Throughout the season, if spots become available, we will periodically reach out to everyone on the list for that week. After being emailed, you will be able to register for the open spot(s) on a first-come/first-served basis until the session is full again.