Start your mornings at the archery range with instructors from the Outdoor Recreation School. Learn the fundamentals of the sport and sharpen your aim with fun games and challenges, including a trip to the wooded Elm Creek Archery Range. Then swap arrows for different adventures in the afternoons with Mississippi Gateway naturalists. From catching river critters and cruising on a bike to building campfires, geocaching and more—you’ll pack a whole lot of outdoor fun into one unforgettable week. Transportation to the Elm Creek Archery Range is provided. Extended care available for an additional $75; drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m. and pick-up ends at 5 p.m.

Learn about insects through movement and games. Use nets and shovels to catch bugs on land and in water and watch them move. Get up close with live animals and make treasures to take home. Combine with Frogs Toads and Turtles Camp for four days of fun.

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.

Ride along the Mississippi River and explore how the power of the river shaped the many cultures who called what is now Minnesota home. Enjoy the scenic and historic river and the layers of stories while enjoying the ride. Discover the vital role the Mississippi played in creating the "Mill City". Stops include a brew pub to celebrate the clean water and brewing traditions along the river. Beer samples available for purchase. Participants must bring their own bike and helmet and be able to ride a 15-mile loop at a leisurely pace with stops. $15/person.

Go on adventures through woods, fields and water. Build forts and fires, and catch fish and frogs. Go on a bike ride, learn about animal camouflage and cook over a campfire. Bikes and helmets provided. Extended care available for an additional $75; drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m. and pick-up ends at 5 p.m.

Do you dare sign up for this adventurous camp? Play games, find and cut rocks, build things, catch and feed critters, and explore the park by foot or on an optional bike or scooter ride. Get ready for fun days filled with daring activities. Campers must provide their own bike or scooter and helmet for the optional adventure; training wheels and balance bikes are welcome.

Make a meal over the campfire and enjoy it with others while the Mississippi River flows as your backdrop. We will be making tacos, corn on the cob, berry cobbler and spiced apple cider. While our food cooks, try your hand at some more advanced fire-starting techniques. Finish the evening with conversation, and if you desire, wine or beer bring from home. $10/person.

Make a meal over the campfire and enjoy it with others while the Mississippi River flows as your backdrop. We will be making tacos, corn on the cob, berry cobbler and spiced apple cider. While our food cooks, try your hand at some more advanced fire-starting techniques. $10/person.

Smallmouth bass, redhorse, a variety of minnows and even Minnesota’s state fish (the walleye) are all fairly common in this part of the Mississippi River. Learn about the fish of all shapes and sizes that live here and how they play a role in this complex aquatic ecosystem with hands-on experiences and up-close encounters through with live fish. All ages welcome. Free.

Drop in at any time to meet a few of our live animals up close and discover what makes these critters unique! All ages welcome. Free.

Explore the river’s shoreline for agates and other cool rocks. Discover their history and stories. Get some great identification tips to start your own rock collection. Drop in anytime. Free.

Make your own boat out of natural materials, then see if it will float! Learn about what makes things float and the kinds of boats that use the Mississippi River. Drop in anytime. Free.

Scoop for small aquatic animals along the edge of the river. Learn about what they eat, who eats them and what they tell us about the health of the mighty Mississippi River. Drop in anytime. Free.

Drop in any time to look for rocks along the banks of the Mississippi. Learn how to identify your finds and bring your best rock related questions to see if you can stump the naturalist! All ages welcome. Free.

Drop in and meet some of our animal ambassador turtles and learn about the unique adaptations they have to help them live in rivers. Take a stroll along the Treetop Trail doing turtle trivia. Drop in anytime. Free.

Hike the trails near the prairie and uncover the pages of "If You’re Not from the Prairie" by David Bouchard as you go. Complete the trail and the story! Find a naturalist out on the trail to learn more about the plants and animals that call the prairie home. All ages welcome. Free.

After answering Acer Township’s call for help with a neighboring village attacking their farms, you discovered that the entire village looks to have been poisoned. You suspect you know the culprit but you have no proof. Jump into adventure along the banks of the Mississippi River, gather evidence by testing the river’s health, raft down the river itself and risk the possibility of nature fighting back. This camp will involve the playing of Dungeons and Dragons inside and doing activities outside.

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.

Interested in chasing fish on the Mississippi River? Join instructors from the Outdoor Recreation School and from Fishing for All for this unique guided fly fishing experience. Enjoy time in a stable, comfortable, oar powered float boat with a guide and another angler. Learn how to read the river, decide which flies and techniques work best, and learn how one can experience trophy bass fishing from locations close to home. Previous fly fishing experience is strongly recommended for this program. All fishing gear and a catch-and-release fishing license are provided for use during the program. A brimmed hat and polarized sunglasses are strongly recommended, but not required. Please bring your own packed lunch and nonalcoholic beverages. $250/person.

Learn skills to be comfortable outdoors; we’ll build different kinds of forts, practice making fire in several ways and cook over the fire. Practice reading a map, explore the river and meet some forest animal neighbors.

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.

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.

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.

Rivers literally shape the world around us. They cut through soil and rock, they build islands, and they move across landscapes. Explore the Mississippi River looking for landforms, and experiment with a stream table to see what kinds of landforms you can create. $6/person.

Learn the basics of archery and elements of safety. Practice fundamental skills, participate in fun challenges and enjoy the thrill of hitting the target. Compound bow and other equipment provided. $12/person.

Learn the basics of archery and elements of safety. Practice fundamental skills, participate in fun challenges and enjoy the thrill of hitting the target. Compound bow and other equipment provided. $12/person.

Spend quality time in your body moving, breathing and filling your cup with the beauty and wildness of nature. Practicing both indoors and outdoors (weather permitting), we will explore mindful movement inspired by a range of traditions including yoga, qigong, functional movement and dance. Drawing from the seasonal wisdom of summer to support our collective health, each session includes a wellness lesson, a guided meditation and 45 minutes of gentle movement and stretching. We will close with ten minutes of sound meditation for deep relaxation and a short silent meditation. Come for your well-being and stay for the friendship. Please wear sunscreen and comfortable clothing that is easy to move in. Bring a water bottle, a yoga mat (some available to borrow) and any props you find helpful. About the instructor: Kali Higgins is a wellness coach, teacher, retreat leader and sound healing practitioner. She received her Master's in Holistic Health from St. Catherine University in 2011. Her integrative approach to healing is informed by nature and spirituality. She is certified in astrology, Ayurveda, herbalism and sound healing. $12/person.

The Mississippi Muse series explores different aspects of the Mississippi River through a scientific and creative lens. In August, it's all about mussels. Explore different river species, their habitat and their significance in the ecosystem, plus interact with real mussels. Then, get creative with gelli plate printing, making textured prints with mussel shells and other objects found by the river. $20/person.

The Mississippi Muse series explores different aspects of the Mississippi River through a scientific and creative lens. In July, dive into water quality, what impacts it, and how water quality affects our ecosystems and drinking water through hands-on tests and observations. Reflect on your discoveries with various paper art, including marbling (suminagashi) and cyanotype, using water from the Mississippi. $20 per person.

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 us for a guided 7.5-mile kayak adventure from Mississippi Gateway Regional Park to Kroening Nature Center. Paddle past several islands and search for birds along the river. Dress for weather conditions with clothing and shoes that are okay to get wet. Kayak, paddle, life vest and shuttle service provided. Previous kayak experience required.

Challenge yourself, or your team, as you geocache your way to fascinating questions about the Mighty Mississippi. Can you answer them all?  Finish the evening with conversation and, if you desire wine or beer brought from home. $6/person.

Learn about native mussels and their role in the river ecosystem while floating down the Mississippi and exploring the natural shoreline. Beginners are welcome. Participants will paddle and do some lifting with the team while guided by experienced naturalists. Safety equipment and shuttle provided. We will get wet during this experience, mostly just feet to knees. Bring water, sunscreen, and your sense of adventure. $35/person.

One Plant at a Time is a group that invites you to build a personal connection with plants along the Mississippi River. By spending dedicated solo time in nature and sharing insights together in community, we move beyond traditional plant identification toward a mind-body experience rooted in quiet observation, reflective writing and hands-on creation. Each session is an invitation to engage all your senses. Depending on the season, we may work with willow, wood nettle or native wildflowers, using art forms like sketching, cyanotypes, plant fiber and macrophotography to deepen our connection to the plant world. By letting these plants express themselves through our creative practice, we discover new depths of inspiration and interconnection in nature one plant at a time. Participants are encouraged to bring a notebook as well as a favorite outdoor chair or blanket. We will meet near the front entrance of the Gateway Center. $10/person.

Nature School is an outdoor, inquiry-based preschool program that supports child development through nature play and exploration. Designed for children ages 4 – 6, it helps the next generation foster connections with themselves, each other and the natural world. To enroll children must be 4 or 5 years old by September 15, and fully potty trained. Test Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-11:30 AM. September 15, 2026 – May 20, 2027.

Float down the Mississippi and explore the natural shoreline. Discover birds, minnows, mussels and more! Beginners are welcome. Participants will paddle and do some lifting with the team while guided by experienced naturalists. Safety equipment and shuttle provided. $35/person.