At summer camps, kids encounter challenges that motivate them to reach their full potential, gain new skills, and experience fun-filled adventures. In the state of Minnesota, there are various camp opportunities for children that choosing the right one is often challenging due to the abundance of options.
If you’re looking for day camps or overnight camps that offer profound summer experiences within a secure and encouraging environment in the state, we’ve included options for boys and girls for this 2023 season. Check out the following best summer camps in Minnesota.
Best Summer Camps In Minnesota
1. Camp Foley
Operating for almost nine decades, Camp Foley is a co-ed, residential summer camp based in north-central Minnesota, right on the shores of Lower Whitefish Lake. The students engage in activities that help them learn essential skills like cooperation, independence, and leadership styles.
Camp Foley offers an environment specifically designed for children. It makes sure each child, irrespective of their interests, gets unique and valuable experiences that allow them to prosper. The camp accepts co ed campers between the ages of 8 to 16 and admits almost 130-160 students per camp session. Currently, they offer 3 sessions, each three weeks long. The camp dates are June 13 through August 15th.
It provides more than 30 different activities so that your child can have a wonderful time. Some thrilling activities include wall climbing, paintball, waterskiing, canoeing, and arts & crafts.
2. Swift Nature Camp
Experience the incredible benefits of spending time in the Northwoods at Swift Nature Camp! Nestled in the heart of the great outdoors (only 2 hours from Minneapolis). SNC has been an outpost for connecting with the natural wold, making amazing friends and guiding children to a life of kindness.
The program follows a traditional camp model that mixes over 55 land and water activities, with daily choice by campers. Specialized activities include Petting Zoo, Lego Building, Clowning, and Sling Shots. Adventure trips by canoe, bike, or foot are always a big hit. Nothing beats sleeping in a tent and cooking your meal over an open flame.
This camp’s smaller size is one of its greatest strengths, as it allows for a personalized, supportive approach to camp life. The warm and welcoming environment fosters growth, friendship, and adventure, creating an unforgettable experience for every camper. It’s reassuring to know that each camper will be heard, respected, and appreciated at Swift.
SNC is open to boys & girls 6-17, so let your child disconnect from technology and reconnect with nature at Swift Nature Camp. They’ll gain invaluable skills, independence, and memories that will last a lifetime. Register now and give your child the gift of nature!
3. Camp Lebanon
Camp Lebanon is a co-ed summer camp that has been providing quality summer experiences for almost 75 years. The camp location is in Burtrum. The place values teaching children the love of God and additional knowledge of their religion.
Their overnight camps provide several different youth summer camp programs that are categorized by age. Any child who is in grades 1st to 12th can find a place at camp. There are also family camps so the entire family can join in.
Whether you’re looking for something calm, adventurous, or educational, there is something here for everyone! The camp offers ziplining, swimming, hiking, ice-skating, and even group games like laser tag.
This Christian camp has a vivacious and upbeat spiritual environment. It’s one of the top Christian summer camps in Minnesota and has been specifically designed to give the campers opportunities to grow spiritually, mentally, and socially.
4. Camp Pillsbury
Camp Pillsbury is a performing arts camp with located in Owatonna on the Pillsbury College campus, only one hour away from the Twin Cities, MN. They have several summer camps for both boys and girls that last between three, six, and nine weeks.
Campers between the ages of 6 and 17 create their own schedule and join all sorts of activities like dance, band, acting, visual arts, arts and crafts, circus, and much more at this sleepaway camp. All the courses are led by talented and adept instructors.
Camp Pillsbury focuses on inspiring campers to become the best at what they like while offering a supportive environment at their specialty camps. The camp accepts campers from all over the U.S and provide the perfect atmosphere to help kids reach new heights and try new things.
It’s one of the only few programs in the gopher state that is specifically focused on the arts as well as offering other camp activities to keep the same traditional camp experience.
5. Camp Fire
Located in St. Louis Park in Minnesota, Camp Fire is a non-profit organization and one of America’s longest-running youth development entities formed in 1910. Camp Fire organizes youth summer camps and clubs to inspire students to become better humans while making memories they remember throughout their lives.
The main aim of their full day camps and sleepaway camps is to give children a chance to grow and learn new things. Apart from personal skills like teamwork, resilience and sportsmanship, they also learn outdoor skills. To accomplish this objective, the camp hosts different summer programs like school-break adventure days, teen leadership programs, and family and community programs. You can find them in different camp locations.
For 2023, their programs will be tailored for youth ages 4 to 16. Campers can participate in rope courses, rock climbing, mountain biking, archery, and canoeing. The primary purpose of summer camp is to have fun, and Camp Fire makes sure that your child gets just that.
6. Camp Birchwood
Camp Birchwood is an all-girls summer camp where girls from different parts of the state come and engage in all sorts of typical camp activities like horseback riding and rock climbing.
All of the programs are designed to make nature inviting and exciting. It allows campers to acquaint themselves with an unfamiliar environment. It also helps the children embrace lessons that only come when learned through personal experience.
Each day, a camper chooses four activities that they want to do. This helps their character development teaching them skills like sportsmanship, independence, and decision-making.
The instructors and counselors encourage children to swim in the calm waters, run around the beautiful green landscape, and dig their toes in the dirt. They make sure a child receives a proper outdoor education to gain valuable outdoor survival skills. It’s suitable for girls enrolled in 2nd to 8th grade.
7. Camp Chippewa
Established in 1935, Camp Chippewa is one of the best summer camps for young boys between the ages of 8 till 17. The camp sessions last for 2 to 8 weeks and give boys an experience they can cherish for a long time.
Camp Chippewa is located in the ever-green Chippewa National Forest on the beautiful Cass Lake in Bemidji. The camp is the perfect mixture between land and water. It gives children an ideal chance to escape the hustle-bustle of the digitized world and appreciate the wonders of nature. The camp facilities provide everything a child needs to have a memorable summer.
The camp focuses on providing students with sports and camp activities that promote physical and emotional growth. So that, after spending a few weeks at camp, they emerge as strong, confident, and happy children who are ready for another year full of school assignments.
8. Adventures in Cardboard
Adventures in Cardboard offers thrilling day camps for kids in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Coed campers can join in on fun activities that involve role-playing games, Minecraft, and more. Boys and girls ages 8-17 can enjoy a day camp where they build cool armor, cardboard castles and have a real-life wizard battle.
It’s more than just a typical summer program. Campers also learn important life skills while making new friends. With camp facilities that include a castle built by campers, what more could a kid want.
There are different camp session dates starting from June and ending in August. There are very few specialty camps that can match the magic at Adventures in Cardboard.