- Campuses :
- Twin Cities
- Crookston
- Duluth
- Morris
- Rochester
- Other Locations
Discover a world of hands-on interactive fun with enrichment topics that feature active participation and imagination. Kids' University camps feature approximately 2.5 hours of academic enrichment a day, introducing the fascinating worlds of agriculture, language, math or science. The rest of the day includes sports or games, swimming, rock climbing, arts and crafts, or exploring the many facets of the University of Minnesota, resulting in a great, well-rounded experience.
Think you could hold up a brick with nothing but note cards? How tall can you build a structure with 2 pieces of paper? Will your boat made out of clay hold the most people? Satisfy your curiosity and rise to the challenge of this fun and exciting new camp! Activities are hands on challenges that focus on the engineering design process. They use simple materials, allow for multiple solutions, and inspire youth to build on their natural curiosity through creative thinking, cooperation, positive use of failure and the problem solving process. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| June 24-28 | 8-9 | 6744 | $269 |
| July 22-26 | 6-8 | 6790 | $269 |
| August 5-9 | 7-8 | 6745 | $269 |
This action packed camp focuses solely on rockets and the physics of rocket flight. Learn about model rocket design, aerodynamics, building, propulsion, launching, safety, and repair. Students build a variety of rockets to take home and take part in daily launches. Whether you are serious about model rockets or just a novice, this camp is a blast for boys and girls alike. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| June 17-21 | 6-7 | 6694 | $309 |
| June 17-21 | 8-10 | 6695 | $309 |
| June 24-28 | 6-8 | 6696 | $309 |
| July 29-August 2 | 7-8 | 6697 | $309 |
Find out why Chess is the most popular game in the world. This camp covers rules, strategies and tactics as we bring the pieces to life in a fun way using creativity and imagination. Try a giant chess set, the biggest you've ever seen! The benefits of chess have been proven to help with logic, memory, analysis, reading, and more. Beginners and those with some experience are welcome. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| June 17-21 | 6-8 | 6700 | $299 |
| August 12-16 | 7-9 | 6701 | $299 |
| August 19-23 | 9-11 | 6702 | $299 |
If you are a student at a full-immersion school, this is your chance to explore new dimensions of Chinese language and youth culture. Learn to play the same games, read the same books, and share stories just like your Chinese peers like to do in China. Meet new friends or sign up with classmates to have some fun before the new school year. This camp is reserved only for those who have attended 100% Mandarin immersion programs since kindergarten. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| July 15-19 | 9-11 | 6707 | $309 |
Do you know which country is currently home to the most English speakers in the world? Believe it or not, it's China. Immerse yourself in the culture and learn Chinese! Experience the routine of a traditional exercise such as Taiji Quan or basic Kung Fu. A one hour Chinese lesson, plus a Chinese game and a project such as knot tying, paper cutting, or others will make this an exciting camp for all. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| July 8-12 | 6-8 | 6703 | $309 |
| July 8-12 | 9-11 | 6704 | $309 |
| July 15-19 | 6-8 | 6705 | $309 |
If you have ever wondered how electricity works (including earth-healthy technology like solar cells), this camp is for you! You will learn some basic facts about electricity and how it is used to make things work. Make flying saucers, crazy sounding doorbells, computer brains, and other cool projects, while learning college-level facts that are explained in a way you can understand them. When you 'wow' your parents with what you've learned, you don't have to tell them that our circuits are as fun as Legos™! Note: new topics have been added for those who have taken this camp before. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| June 24-28 | 10-12 | 6734 | $249 |
'HOO' knows why an owl can hunt in the dark, or what makes them 'silent fliers'? Our expert friends at the Raptor Center do! Now is your chance to see owls up close and find out what makes them so unique. Discover the secrets in an owl pellet and how it can give you insight on the owl's diet, too. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| July 22-26 | 6-7 | 6708 | $294 |
| July 22-26 | 6-7 | 6709 | $294 |
Discover the wonders of the night sky and explore the solar system, galaxy, and universe. Activities include investigating the Earth's rotation, the sun, planets and moon, life beyond Earth, space exploration, myths and realities. This camp also includes a session in the Bell Museum's ExploraDome. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| August 12-16 | 8-9 | 6710 | $284 |
| August 12-16 | 10-12 | 6711 | $284 |
What is electrochemistry? It's ions and electrons, metals and solutions, and much more. We'll brew up a little learning and a lot of fun as we turn familiar objects into gold and see how fuel cells work to reduce the gasoline burned by cars. Electrochemistry is also an important part of NANOTECHNOLOGY, including commercial items like hard drives, solar cells, light-up art like beautiful butterfly wings, and natural items like water-repellent lotus leaves. See how the nanoscopic world connects to the macroscopic world which we experience every day. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| August 19-23 | 8-10 | 6743 | $249 |
A unique look at the world of science, engineering, technology and mathematics is waiting for you! Participate in hands on activities and interesting topics designed to introduce you to many opportunities for an exciting future. Feed your passion or find a new one as you discover how you can create a career almost anywhere in the world. A partnership with the College of Science and Engineering is providing targeted funding for this camp. This general session for boys and girls requires an application through CSE by the deadline of 3/29/13, online at cse.umn.edu/eceps. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| July 8-12 | 14-15 | 6716 | $50 fee (if accepted) |
APPLY HERE on CSE website beginning February 11 | |||
A unique look at the world of science, engineering, technology and mathematics is waiting for you! Participate in hands on activities and interesting topics designed to introduce you to many opportunities for an exciting future. Feed your passion or find a new one as you discover how you can create a career almost anywhere in the world. A partnership with the College of Science and Engineering is providing targeted funding for this camp. This girls' only session allows access for this traditionally under-represented group on a first come, first served basis through regular registration. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| June 24-28 | 14-15 | 6715 | $50 |
Want to learn all about the birds of prey called raptors? Find out what characteristics all raptors have in common and the differences between owls, falcons, hawks, and other raptors. Take part in activities at the Raptor Center, see live raptors up close, plus attend a related field trip. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| July 15-19 | 6-7 | 6713 | $294 |
| July 15-19 | 8-9 | 6714 | $294 |
Wow, imagine a job as a zoo keeper! The newly designed primate exhibit at Como Zoo will provide our team of researchers with plenty to delve into on behaviors of different primates. Participants also meet the primate zookeepers, assist in primate food preparation, design and observe enrichment activities, and discover ape training techniques in a one of a kind camp experience. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| June 24-28 | 10-12 | 6740 | $299 |
Uncover the gross but fascinating characteristics of raptors. Learn why a Turkey Vulture poops on its feet and how it stays healthy even though it eats dead animals. Explore the difference between owl pellets and owl mutes. Try many hands-on activities and see live education owls, hawks, falcons, eagles, and a Turkey Vulture. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| July 29-August 2 | 8-9 | 6717 | $294 |
| July 29-August 2 | 10-11 | 6718 | $294 |
Discover the University of Minnesota's Equine Center and the important services it provides to horses. Get to know the horses that now live there through hands-on training in care and handling. Campers will learn how to be safe around these large animals, safe leading techniques and the basics of horse health and nutrition. Activities include horse management, feeding, basic grooming and a brief introduction to the three styles of riding. Campers will have the opportunity to sit on horses in different tack and be led in the arena to get a feel for what riding is all about. Camp does not include riding lessons. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| July 8-12 | 9-11 | 6719 | $329 |
| July 22-26 | 9-11 | 6720 | $329 |
| July 29-August 2 | 9-11 | 6721 | $329 |
Discover hidden secrets within projects such as colorful jewelry, gold plating pennies, night readers' lighted bookmarks, solar kits and more. Circuits and electrical engineering can be found in many everyday things! Young women in this camp will explore the world of circuitry in a whole new way through crafts and projects. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| June 10-14 | 12-15 | 6739 | $249 |
Get up close and personal with creepy and amazing invertebrates at the Bell Museum, including friendly Madagascar hissing cockroaches and other interesting creatures such as worms, grasshoppers and beetles. Learn about their biology and how they help keep our world healthy, green and growing. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| June 10-14 | 8-9 | 6722 | $284 |
| June 10-14 | 10-12 | 6737 | $284 |
This camp is full of ways to surprise you, whether you like math or not. Focus on the creative side and take the mystery out of math with Origami, secret codes, tessellations, polygons, fun math tricks and more. There are so many things to explore; each of these weeks will include different math related topics. Take them both for exponential fun! |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| June 17-21 | 10-12 | 6741 | $269 |
| July 22-26 | 10-12 | 6742 | $269 |
Nature provides us with many fun and delicious food options! Make ice cream and soft pretzels, cook in a solar oven, try out cattail treats, and make lunch over a campfire. Dress for outdoor activity at the Nature Center. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| June 17-21 | 9-11 | 6723 | $289 |
| August 12-16 | 6-8 | 6724 | $289 |
Bundle up for an extreme adventure! It's a journey to the harsh, polar regions of the planet with the experts from Como Zoo and Conservatory (without leaving St. Paul). Discover polar bears as they plunge into the sea, reindeer as they tussle on the tundra, penguins as they make a splash in the ocean and arctic fox as they frolic in the snow. No open toed shoes allowed! |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| June 17-21 | 7-9 | 6726 | $299 |
Come learn about life as a wildlife veterinarian at the Raptor Center, including the process of raptor rehabilitation from admission to release. Participate in lots of exciting hands-on activities and get up close and personal with live education eagles, hawks, owls and falcons. Camp also includes an extra field trip. A fun way to learn about the exciting science of veterinary medicine! |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| July 8-12 | 9-11 | 6728 | $294 |
| July 8-12 | 12-15 | 6738 | $294 |
How does an idea become a thing? What makes these new things actually work? Explore engineering through activities that let you design, test, build, and redesign products. Find out what an 'engineer' really does through fun, problem solving experiences. Create a prototype and see how it works, you can always start over and try again. Possibilities are endless! This is a unique opportunity to assist in testing new activities and teaching techniques made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation with partners from the University of Minnesota's STEM Education Center and the College of Science and Engineering. Each week will include different activities, so repeat attendance is welcome. No experience or special skills necessary. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| July 22-26 | 9-11 | 6746 | $239 |
| July 22-26 | 12-14 | 6747 | $239 |
| July 29-August 2 | 9-11 | 6748 | $239 |
| July 29-August 2 | 12-14 | 6749 | $239 |
| August 5-9 | 9-11 | 6750 | $239 |
| August 5-9 | 12-14 | 6751 | $239 |
| August 12-16 | 12-14 | 6752 | $239 |
| August 12-16 | 12-14 | 6753 | $239 |
| August 19-23 | 9-11 | 6754 | $239 |
| August 19-23 | 12-14 | 6755 | $239 |
How do fish swim and why do they form schools? What fish are here in Minnesota? Find out all about fish behavior, habitat and anatomy through dissections, collections and observations. Also, build a fishing pole, learn about fishing regulations, and go fishing (weather permitting). |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| July 15-19 | 8-9 | 6735 | $284 |
| July 15-19 | 10-12 | 6736 | $284 |
Meet the horses at the University's Equine Center and learn about the Veterinarians, technicians, researchers, horse trainers and staff in equestrian management that work with them. Get hands-on experience with basic equine skills such as heart rate measurement, identifying lameness, signs of colic, wrapping legs and treating wounds, and tests with horses exercising on treadmills. One day will be dedicated to an interactive program with Veterinary Medicine students presenting how all types of veterinarians affect the lives of different animals and people every day. Several hands-on activities and simulations will be enjoyed related to anatomy and real-life situations. No horseback riding is included and no open toe shoes are allowed. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| July 15-19 | 12-15 | 6729 | $329 |
In the tradiiton of Hogwarts, discover potions, herbology, transfiguration and the care of magical creatures. Uncover the secrets of Minnesota's 'Hedwig' and other interesting animals at the Raptor Center. |
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| Dates | Ages | Bar Code | Price |
| June 10-14 | 10-11 | 6730 | $294 |
| June 10-14 | 12-15 | 6731 | $294 |
| August 5-9 | 8-9 | 6732 | $294 |
| August 5-9 | 8-9 | 6733 | $294 |
This is an overview of camps being offered with availability updated weekly.
This is the most up to date way to view current camp openings.
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(612) 625-2242
University Youth Programs
104 St. Paul Gym,
1536 N. Cleveland Avenue,
St. Paul, MN 55108
