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. The Bakken Museum's education programs provide a supportive environment for kids to learn science, technology, engineering, and math concepts, try out tools, and unleash their inner innovators.

Additional Information

Program Details

• 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.

Camp is restricted to one week per camper so we may share this experience with as many students as possible. We know that some campers want more. However, 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.

Camp Types & Ages

Young Makers Camp

Campers entering grades 2 and 3 are invited to participate in a special half-day camp for aspiring makers and inventors. Get practice using some basic tools and learn the Bakken Museum's invention process while designing and building a unique take-home project. 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.

Limited spots available for Young Makers Camp for students in grades 2-3:

• 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.)

Camp Innovation

Campers entering grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 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. 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.

All-Girls Camp

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. *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).

Pricing

• 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.
• Camp Innovation (Grades 4-9) 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.

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. Learn about scholarship eligibility and apply.

Registration Information (2025)

General registration for 2026 summer camp will be announced soon.

• Wednesday, January 15 (12 p.m.) - Scholarship Drive and Scholarship Applications Open.
• Wednesday, January 22 (12 p.m.) - Bakken Museum Member Access Open.
• Thursday, January 30 (12 p.m.) - General registration available to everyone. Camps fill up quickly. Waitlists will be made available as sessions become full.

Staff & Safety

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. 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.

Pre-Camp Communication

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.

Offsite Program

We're bringing our summer camp to Bethel University! Join us August 14 through 17 in St. Paul for the same hands-on innovation exploration as our on-site program. Students will plan, build, improve, and show off a project of their design with support from museum educators and camp counselors.