Join Outdoor Recreation School instructors for an exhilarating week of precision, skill and camaraderie. Shoot long, recurve and compound bows. Develop and refine proper technique by learning the National Training System’s 11 steps to shooting. Get tips to shoot proficiently from varying distances while exploring a walk-around course and shooting from an elevated platform. Discover primitive hunting techniques and challenge yourself with shooting games. Equipment provided.

Explore some of the best activities in the parks with the Outdoor Recreation School. Try stand-up paddleboarding, archery, log rolling, geocaching, canoeing and more. Enjoy new adventures while making new friends. Equipment provided.

Spend your mornings learning the art of archery at the range with Outdoor Recreation School instructors. Shoot a compound bow, learn range safety and develop proper techniques while playing fun target games. In the afternoons, head to Eastman Nature Center to explore the outdoors with hands-on activities, games and adventures. From discovering local wildlife to exploring trails, each day brings a new way to connect with nature while having fun with friends.

Calling all adventurous kids! Explore, play, create and enjoy some of your favorite camp activities at the end of the summer. Bring your sense of adventure. Extended care available for an additional $75; drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m. and pick-up ends at 5 p.m.

In Extreme Fishing Camp, participants will learn to fish different bodies of water in search of various species like: panfish, bass, northern pike, walleye, catfish, redhorse sucker and more! Try different techniques and hone skills while learning from experienced Outdoor Recreation School instructors and professionals in the fishing industry. Try angling from a watercraft and from a riverbank. Equipment provided. Each day, campers will meet at one of four parks: French Regional Park, Fish Lake Regional Park, Silverwood Park and Mississippi Gateway Regional Park. Parents are responsible for drop-off and pick-up on each day of camp at one of the locations listed above. These locations will be communicated in the pre-camp email. Transportation to specific fishing locations will be provided by Outdoor Recreation School staff during camp hours.

Extreme Fishing Camp, participants will learn to fish different bodies of water in search of various species like: panfish, bass, northern pike, walleye, catfish, redhorse sucker and more! Try different techniques and hone skills while learning from experienced Outdoor Recreation School instructors and professionals in the fishing industry. Try angling from a watercraft and from a riverbank. Equipment provided. We will meet at different parks throughout the camp, including Hyland Lake Park Reserve, Lake Minnetonka Regional Park, The Landing and Bryant Lake Regional Park (Note: the June camp will not visit Bryant Lake). Parents are responsible for drop-off and pick-up on each day of camp at one of the locations listed above. These locations will be communicated in the pre-camp email. Transportation to specific fishing locations will be provided by Outdoor Recreation School staff during camp hours.

Stay overnight in a rustic log cabin with your family. Try summer camp activities such as archery, climbing, nature programs and crafts, or spend time relaxing on your own. Meals are on your own and cooked at outdoor grill sites. Camp activity equipment, advice, firewood and cooking/eating utensils provided. Maximum one cabin per family (maximum eight people). $240 per cabin plus tax.

Experience the joy of summer camp and spending family time together in nature. Spend the afternoon and evening exploring the park and learning wilderness skills. Discover wild edibles, try building a campfire, roast a hot dog, create a campfire dessert and paddle a canoe at dusk. $40/person.

Venture through the marvels of the farm. Learn about the animals, prepare snacks straight from the gardens, and investigate the farm’s natural areas through insect hunts, art projects and games.

Trace the route your food follows from our fields to your fork! Prepare fresh recipes with ingredients harvested directly out of the gardens and from the farm. Become stewards of the land as you learn what it takes to grow fruits and vegetables, and discover how milk, honey and other food make it to your dinner plate.

Join the Outdoor Recreation School for a summer camp focused on fishing and other fun recreation activities! Spend time each day learning about fishing equipment, how to safely handle a pole and a fish, tie knots and cast your line. Try awesome recreation activities such as canoeing, geocaching, archery, slacklining and more. Equipment provided.

Learn the basics of fly fishing equipment, casting skills, knot-tying, how to match the hatch, reading the water and fly presentation. Join Outdoor Recreation School instructors while you develop fly fishing skills, explore methods and watch demonstrations by professionals in the industry. Fishing equipment provided. Transportation to specific fishing locations will be provided by Outdoor Recreation School staff during camp hours.

Search for frogs and toads and turtles in their natural habitat. Explore the park, play games and feed animal ambassadors from the Gateway Center. Meet new friends, explore the environments that these critters inhabit and learn how these cool animals survive. Combine with Backyard Bugs Camp for four days of fun.

Young wizards and witches get ready to enter a world where things are not as they seem! Learn the secret arts of herbology, potions, mysterious creatures and more. Craft your own wand, play games and prepare for a wild ride of fantasy nature adventures while exploring our magical world. Extended care available for an additional $48; drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m. and pick-up ends at 5 p.m.

Does your child have a special adult in their life like a grandparent, aunt or friend? Together, they can share time in the woods learning about nature, meeting our animal ambassadors and building special memories. This is designed for youth and an older adult. Parents get to hear the stories later! $131/pair. Ages 6-9 plus adult. NOTE: There is no additional child rate for this camp; all registrations are priced per pair.

Does your child have a special adult in their life like a grandparent, aunt or friend? Together, they can spend time in the woods learning about nature, meeting our animal ambassadors and building special memories. This is designed for youth and an older adult. Parents or guardians get to hear the stories later! $140/pair. Ages 6-9 plus adult. NOTE: There is no additional child rate for this camp; all registrations are priced per pair.

Spend two nights in a rustic log cabin making memories with your grandchildren (up to eight people per cabin). Join naturalist-led activities such as rock climbing, pond exploration, campfire cooking and crafts, or spend time relaxing on your own. All meals included. Maximum three children per grandparent. This camp is for grandparents and grandkids—parents get time at home! $325 per cabin plus tax.

Become an expert in the grossest parts of nature! Eat bugs, cover yourself in mud and find the grossest smells. Learn how to identify different kinds of animal scat and even dissect a squirrel. Extended care available for an additional $60; drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m. and pick-up ends at 5 p.m.

Join Outdoor Recreation School instructors for an exciting week of precision, skill and camaraderie. Discover the world of archery by shooting a compound bow, learning range safety and developing proper techniques. Get tips to shoot proficiently from varying distances. Discover primitive hunting techniques and challenge yourself with shooting games. Equipment provided.

Get a taste of the time-honored tradition that is summer camp. Enjoy classic camp activities such as archery, crafts and campfires. Have adventures with new friends while exploring the woods of Baker Park Reserve. Make memories that last a lifetime! Extended care available for an additional $48; drop-off begins at 8 a.m. and pick-up ends at 5 p.m.

Straight from the beloved "Little House" books by Laura Ingalls Wilder and the stories of Minnesota's own Minnie Ellingson Tapping, we'll discover the lives of these two real children. Explore their childhood in the Big Woods, on prairie farms and in small towns. Make new friends as we attend a one room school and help with family chores. Activities include cooking and crafts, all in the 19th century setting and buildings of The Landing.

Walk in the bootsteps of a farmer to experience caring for the animals. Learn how we raise healthy livestock while you assist with chores and participate in hands-on activities to discover what each animal gives back to us.

Dig into nature and get messy, muddy and wet! Play games with water and explore aquatic habitats. Build with mud, sticks and leaves. Paint with your hands and feet, make gooey concoctions, and meet slimy worms and bugs.

Join instructors from the Outdoor Recreation School to explore methods for river fishing and learn about unique river fish like gar and drum. Hunt for river critters to use as bait for catfish, carp, bass and other large fish. Drop a line from shore and, while wading, head down river to find secret fishing spots. Watch demonstrations by professionals in the fishing industry. Equipment provided. Reservations required by two weeks prior. Transportation will be provided by Outdoor Recreation School staff during camp hours to specific fishing locations.

Join art instructors from Silverwood Park at French Regional Park for three mornings to explore the creative arts and natural world. Cozy up for a story or song, observe the wild surroundings and create an art project inspired by your discoveries. $66 per person. Ages 2-5 with an adult, siblings under age 2 are free but must register.

Discover the mystery of the monarch butterfly and its migration. Catch and tag monarchs before they fly to Mexico. Search the prairie for insects and make fun monarch crafts. Designed for children who have not completed kindergarten. $34/person. Siblings welcome with registration.

Spend your summer days exploring the outdoors through hands-on adventures and nature discoveries! Team up with the Outdoor Recreation School and Richardson Nature Center to uncover the critters and creatures that call Minnesota home. From nature hikes and creek or lake explorations, to log rolling, geocaching and more, every day brings a new adventure. All equipment is provided.

Explore nature as an artist with drawing, painting and photography! Our art adventures will take us near and far: hike, canoe, gather inspiration and materials from nature. Try gesture sketches, and paint in watercolor and ink. Use a camera to create engaging photos, paint the outdoors and try your hand at land art. Make and take your own art tools, and canoe and be inspired by new scenes. Equipment and supplies provided.

Who runs the (natural) world? GIRLS! Join this all-girl camp to try new things and reinforce skills all while spending time outdoors. Make new connections with other campers, build independence, explore the nature center as well as the town of Victoria. Try your hand at projectiles, carving, weaving, alternative fire starting and more. Bikes and helmets required for one day. Extended care available for an additional $48; drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m. and pick-up ends at 5 p.m.

Spend your days on and in the water! Build your paddling skills with coaching from Outdoor Recreation School instructors. Go on adventures and play games while paddleboarding, kayaking, log rolling and canoeing. No previous experience required. Equipment provided. We will do alternative activities in the event that weather conditions prevent us from doing planned water activities.

Finally, the captain has a boat! But there's a twist (because of course there is). Follow maps, start fires, pilot canoes, build shelters, search for wild edibles and practice using all of your senses and, of course, look for treasure. All while trying to figure out who is attempting to foil the plans of the captain and ruin his big boat reveal party.

Grab a magnifying glass and go exploring! Hike through woods and fields in search of natural wonders. Dip in the pond and sweep in the prairie to discover insects and other creatures. Observe wild and captive animals, play games and create nature-inspired art.

This collaborative camp brings together naturalists from Richardson Nature Center and the University of Minnesota Raptor Center. Richardson Nature Center hosts the first day of camp. Activities include meeting resident raptor ambassadors, discovering their natural history and behaviors, learning the requirements to care for and train birds in captivity, and exploring habitats to search for wild birds. The second day includes a field trip to The Raptor Center. Campers will learn how the veterinary clinic rehabilitates and cares for injured birds and will get a behind the scenes tour of The Raptor Center’s education department to see many different species of raptors up close. Bus transportation to and from The Raptor Center will be provided.

Use nets, trowels and jars to catch and observe the critters that crawl, hop and fly. Discover insects, arachnids and other amazing arthropods found in the park. Play games, make bug-themed art and meet animal ambassadors with a connection to bugs.

Before Elm Creek was a park reserve, these 5,200 acres were home to many different groups of people. Learn about the Indigenous people who were the first caretakers of this land. Then learn what it was like to immigrate to Minnesota as Swiss farmers and make this land home. Practice playing historical games, cook a historical recipe and travel back in time to meet some of the early settlers in this area. The camp is designed for campers who love to learn about history and use their imaginations.

Paddle into the past and see if you have what it takes to be a voyageur! Each day explore the ins and outs of the fur trade with a new activity, from animal tracking to a day of trekking across the water. Play games and meet friends at the rendezvous. Then gather the furs, get into your canoe or raft, and paddle home.

Hear the stories of pioneer girl, Laura Ingalls and participate in pioneer chores, games and crafts. Spend your days exploring the Big Woods and prairies like Laura.