Summer Camp FAQs

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.

Wednesday, January 17 (12 p.m.) - Scholarship Drive Access and Scholarship Applications Open

Wednesday, January 24 (12 p.m.) - Bakken Museum Member Access Open

Thursday, February 1 (12 p.m.) - General registration available to everyone

Young Maker's Camp (Grades 2-3)

• Five-day camp: $230, $207 for Household and Supporting Members

Camp Innovation (Grades 4-9)

• Five-day camp: $450, $405 for Household & Supporting Members

• Three-day camp: $300, $270 for Household & Supporting Members

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. View our complete scholarship guide here to learn more and apply.

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.

Yes!

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

Become a member and save.

There are also 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.

For more information, visit our scholarship page or call André Phillips at (612) 446–3113.

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.

The Bakken Museum will provide a small, individually packaged snack 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. .

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.

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).

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 runs from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and many weeks an 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.

We recommend one week of camp per camper so we may share this experience with as many students as possible. We know that some campers want more, and you are welcome to sign up for a second week of camp; however, each week, we repeat the same challenges, tricks, and activities, and not all campers enjoy the repetition. Campers are welcome to build a new project each week, or if they know they'll be returning, work on one project over multiple weeks. That said, we are committed to keeping camp accessible to as many students as possible and are restricting participation for any one camper to at most two weeks.

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.

If you are unable to complete the waiver before you arrive, we will have a link to these forms you can complete on your personal device before releasing your student to us.

On the first day of the session, the only other things students need to bring are 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. So far, we have had a 100% success rate with this, and we would like to keep it this way.

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.

• Cancellation up to 45 days prior to your child's camp start date: full registration will be refunded, minus a $50 processing fee.

• Cancellation between 15 and 45 days prior to your child's camp start date: refunds will only be made if we are able to fill your spot, minus a $50 processing fee.

• No refunds are available within 15 days prior to the start day of camp.

We believe that good ideas are meant to be shared and kids are full of good and interesting ideas. During most programs, we take photos and videos of the students and their projects. We like to use this media to document our programs and process, and to share with others.

By registering for a youth program at The Bakken Museum you are providing permission for The Bakken Museum to use photos and/or video clips of students for promotional purposes. Please notify us if you do not want your child in promotional photos or videos.

If you have other questions, please feel free to contact André Phillips by email at phillips@thebakken.org or by phone at (612) 446-3113.