Bakken Summer Camps
Summer Camps
Discover, Invent, Build. Summer Starts at The Bakken.
Campers design, build, and show their inventions during summer camps 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.
Every Session:
Students learn to responsibly use tools and technology
Students spend time outdoors during break
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 (6:1, or better)
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date.
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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. See below for camp pricing.
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Wednesday, January 14 (12 p.m.)
Scholarship Drive Access Open + Scholarship Applications Open
We are committed to making youth programs accessible to all, regardless of financial means. Up to 15 summer camp spaces will be made available during our scholarship drive to individuals who make a significant tax-deductible donation to our scholarship fund.
Wednesday, January 21 (12 p.m.)
Bakken Museum Member Access Open
Bakken Museum Members get early access to the museum’s summer camps. In addition, Household and Supporting Members receive a 10% discount on registration for all museum camps and classes. A limited number of spots are reserved for members on a first-come, first-served basis. Once those spots are filled, additional spots will be made for general registration starting January 28.
Tip: for ease of access, we suggest purchasing your membership and setting up an online account before summer camp opens on January 21. Become a member here.
Wednesday, January 28 (12 p.m.)
General Registration Available to Everyone
On January 28, everyone can register for summer camps! Camps fill up quickly. Once a camp is full, you can join our notification list to stay up to date when more spots become available.
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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.
| Start | End | Time | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/22 | 6/26 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Register |
| 6/22 | 6/26 | 1:00 pm. – 4:00 p.m. | Register |
| 7/6 | 7/10 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Register |
| 7/6 | 7/10 | 1:00 p.m – 4:00 p.m. | SOLD OUT |
| 7/20 | 7/24 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Register |
| 7/20 | 7/24 | 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Register |
| 7/27 | 7/31 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Register |
| 7/27 | 7/31 | 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Register |
| 8/17 | 8/21 | 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | SOLD OUT |
| 8/17 | 8/21 | 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Register |
Young Makers Camp
Cost: $250, $225 for members of The Bakken Museum
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.
Dates & Times:
IF your session is sold out, join the notification list to be alerted when spots become available:
LIMIT: Each camper may attend one session of camp per summer.
At St. Paul
NEW for 2026!
We are partnering with the University of St. Thomas to host multiple weeks of camp in Saint Paul. Our offsite version of Camp Innovation will be pretty much the same as what we do at the museum. We will create a mini makerspace on the St. Thomas University campus, with many of the same tools and materials we love at the Bakken. The materials may be constrained, but the creativity will be limitless.
The offsite version of Camp Innovation will still focus on student designed projects, and we will still have a Big Show at the end of the week to celebrate the hard work of our campers. We hope to peek into some of the engineering labs at St. Thomas and maybe talk to some of the staff and students there.
Location: Schoenecker Center at the University of St. Thomas
2210 Summit Ave, St Paul, MN 55105
Cost: $450, $405 for members of The Bakken Museum
Camp Innovation
Campers entering grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 will design and build their own project.
Campers will be challenged, their creativity will be stretched, and their problem-solving skills will be exercised as they practice the innovation process.
LIMIT: Each camper may attend one session of camp per summer.
*The Bakken Museum seeks to be an inclusive and supportive environment for all learners. Our “Girls” camps are open to trans girls, cis girls, non-binary young people, and/or any gender expansive young people.
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
| Week | Dates | Grades | Gender | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 15-19 | 4–6 | Coed | Sold out |
| 2 | June 22-26 | 4–9 | ALL GIRLS | Sold out |
| 3 | June 29-2 | 7–9 | Coed | Sold out |
| 4 | July 6-10 | 4–6 | Coed | Sold out |
| 5 | July 13-17 | 4–6 | Coed | Sold out |
| 6 | July 20-24 | 4–6 | Coed | Sold out |
| 7 | July 27-31 | 7–9 | Coed | Sold out |
| 8 | Aug 3-7 | 4–6 | Coed | Sold out |
| 9 | Aug 10-14 | 4–6 | Coed | Sold out |
| 10 | Aug 17-21 | 7–9 | Coed | Sold out |
| 11 | Aug 24-28 | 4–9 | ALL GIRLS | Sold out |
At The Bakken
SOLD OUT
Design and build your own project with full access to the museum makerspace and all of the tools and materials.
Location: Bakken Museum
3537 Zenith Ave S, Minneapolis, MN
Cost: $480, $432 for members of The Bakken Museum
Four Day camp the week of July 4 is $390, $351 for members
IF your session is sold out, join the notification list to be alerted when spots become available:
Reviews from parents of summer camp participants
“My kids had a lot of fun and learned a lot about being creative, working through the engineering process and seeing success in building something new that they can feel proud of.”
“Loved how excited by all the activities and guides the kids were EVERY day they came home. It was awesome to hear how hands-on they were - including using soldering irons the very first day! Impressive. A great way for the kids to spend the week learning and playing.”
“My son loved this camp and can't wait to go back! Very well organized, and the project showcase was a great event at the end.”
Camp 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. Interested in becoming a Bakken Museum Summer Camp Educator?
Contact André Phillips to be alerted about opportunities.
Scholarships
Scholarships to The Bakken Museum’s summer camps are funded by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education Summer Academic Enrichment Program and donations from generous supporters. You can help provide enriching summer camp experiences to students by making a tax-deductible donation here.
FAQs
Visit our frequently asked questions webpage to learn all the ins-and-outs of summer camp at The Bakken Museum.
View the summer camp FAQ here.