Summer Camp
Summer camp is where lifelong memories are made. Carpenter Nature Center offers a variety of summer camp opportunities for youth ages 5 to 17, including plant & animal encounters, fishing, canoeing, and more. Campers will learn to foster an appreciation for the natural world
while making friends. See what summer fun awaits your child by scrolling below!
Registration Open
If you have any questions regarding registration, camp information, being added to a waitlist, or scholarship opportunities contact:
Sarah Germscheid by emailing Sarah@CarpenterNatureCenter.org
Online Registration and Payment Form
Complete the online registration and payment form here
Single Day Camps
If you can’t join us for the week, CNC offers opportunities for single, full and half day, camps. Including 4 new camps!
Fishing Fun
Go fishing in St. Croix River from our dock! Bring your own rod and reel if you have one or use one provided. Most of the time will be spent at the river so please be prepared with a water bottle, snacks, sunscreen, and appropriate clothing.
Age: Campers 6 – 11 years old
Location: Minnesota Campus
Dates: June 17 / July 22, 2026
Times: 1:00 – 3:30 pm
Program Fee: $50 per child or $40 per child for ‘Friends of CNC’ per session.
Forts and Fun
Campers will explore CNC’s Wisconsin Campus, learn about the ‘Rules of Three’, build shelters and practice fire starting.
Age: Campers 7 – 12 years old.
Location: Wisconsin Campus
Dates: July 20, 2026
Times: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Program Fee: $75 per child or $65 per child for ‘Friends of CNC’ per session.
Animal Adventure Camp I
At this single day camp, campers will go behind the scenes and learn all about caring for the animal ambassador that call Carpenter Nature Center home. Activities will include, feeding, cleaning and creating animal enrichments for CNC’s turtles, snakes, rabbit, amphibians and raptors.
Age: Campers 7 – 9 years old
Location: Minnesota Campus
Dates: July 24, 2026
Times: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Program Fee: $75 per child or $65 per child for ‘Friends of CNC’ per session.
Animal Adventure Camp II
Age: Campers 10+
Location: Minnesota Campus
Dates: July 31, 2026
Times: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Program Fee: $75 per child or $65 per child for ‘Friends of CNC’ per session.
Multi-Day Camps
CNC offers a variety of multi-day camps for all ages including overnight experiences!
Nature Nuts
A week-long day camp for children ages 5 & 6.
Join CNC naturalists and interns as they lead hands-on activities introducing campers to the outdoors. While inspiring curiosity and appreciation for the natural world, campers will explore hiking trails, encounter plants & wildlife, and play water games. Families are invited to a picnic on Friday at noon hosted by CNC staff and campers.
Location: Minnesota Campus
Dates: June 15 – 19, 2026
Times: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Program Fee: $150 per child or $130 per child for ‘Friends of CNC’.
Pioneers
A week-long day camp for children ages 7 & 8.
Join CNC naturalists and interns as they lead hands-on activities introducing campers to the outdoors. While inspiring curiosity and appreciation for the natural world, campers will explore hiking trails, encounter plants & wildlife, and play water games. Families are invited to a picnic on Friday at noon hosted by CNC staff and campers.
Location: Minnesota Campus
Dates: June 22 – 26, 2026
Times: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm / pick up Friday at 12:00 pm
Program Fee: $200 per child or $180 per child for ‘Friends of CNC’.
*FULL* Outdoor Skills
Please contact Sarah Germscheid at (651)-437-4359 ext. 103 or sarah@carpenternaturecenter.org if you would like to be added to the waitlist.
A three-day camp specialized to foster an interest in nature for youth ages 10 and older.
Have fun while trying a variety of outdoor skills including shelter and fire building, orienteering, fishing, archery, and more!
Location: Minnesota Campus
Dates: July 7 – 9, 2026
Times: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Program Fee: $150 per child or $130 per child for ‘Friends of CNC’.
*FULL* Explorers
Please contact Sarah Germscheid at (651)-437-4359 ext. 103 or sarah@carpenternaturecenter.org if you would like to be added to the waitlist.
A week-long day camp for children ages 9-11.
Join CNC naturalists and interns as they lead hands-on activities introducing campers to the outdoors. While inspiring curiosity and appreciation for the natural world, campers will explore hiking trails, encounter plants & wildlife, and play water games. On Thursday campers will pack up for a canoe adventure at a nearby lake and camp-out at CNC Thursday night through Friday morning. Families are invited to a picnic on Friday at noon hosted by CNC staff and campers.
Location: Minnesota Campus
Dates: July 13 – 17, 2026
Times: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm / Thursday overnight sleepover, pick up Friday at 12:00 pm
Program Fee: $250 per child or $230 per child for ‘Friends of CNC’.
*FULL* Namekagon Canoe Trip
Please contact Sarah Germscheid at (651)-437-4359 ext. 103 or sarah@carpenternaturecenter.org if you would like to be added to the waitlist.
A three-day camp specialized to foster an interest in nature for youth ages 12 – 15.
Join CNC naturalists for a three day/two night canoe trip on the Namekagon and St Croix Rivers. We’ll canoe about 17 miles and camp along these rivers. Canoes, paddles, food, cooking equipment, tents, transportation, and PFDs are supplied. Canoeing experience not required.
Location: Pick up and drop off at Minnesota Campus
Dates: July 28 – 30, 2026
Times: Drop off Tuesday at 9:00 am / Pick up Thursday at 4:30 pm
Program Fee: $325 per child or $300 per child for ‘Friends of CNC.’
*FULL* BWCA Canoe Trip
Please contact Sarah Germscheid at (651)-437-4359 ext. 103 or sarah@carpenternaturecenter.org if you would like to be added to the waitlist.
A four-day, three-night camp for youth ages 13-17.
Embrace the beauty and splendor of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) in the Superior National Forest. The naturalist-led trip will include canoeing, portaging, and camping while learning & following “leave no trace” practices. Campers will experience untouched terrain, a variety of flora & fauna, and the many sounds of nature in this designated wilderness area. A pre-trip meeting at CNC with naturalists will go over how to pack your bag for the trip with a list of items to bring. Canoes, paddles, food, cooking equipment, tents, transportation, packs/drybags, and PFDs are supplied. Prior experience is preferred, but not required. Thanks to a very generous donor we are able to offer the BWCA trip at a reasonable price and are able to offer scholarship assistance if needed.
Location: Pick up and drop off at Minnesota Campus
Dates: August 4 – 7, 2026, pre-trip meeting Monday, August 3rd.
Times: Drop off Tuesday 7:00 am / Pick up Friday at 5:00 pm
Program Fee: $425 per child or $400 per child for ‘Friends of CNC.’
Arts in Nature
A three-day camp for children ages 7 – 10.
Join CNC Naturalists and local art enthusiasts for a 3-day art and nature exploration camp! Each day is organized around art themes that investigate our relationship to nature and introduce a range of imaginative experiences, materials, and tools. We will learn key art concepts, make art projects to bring home, and meet some of CNC’s Animal Ambassadors. Campers will get a take-home bag of art supplies so that they can continue to explore their art-making when camp is over.
Location: Wisconsin Campus
Dates: August 11 – 13, 2026
Times: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Program Fee: $150 per child or $130 per child for ‘Friends of CNC’.
Carpenter Nature Center offers a wide range of day camps for all ages. These camps do fill fast, so please plan accordingly. If a camp you are interested in is full, call Sarah Germscheid at 651-473-4539 ext. 103 to be added to our waitlist.
CONTACT
If you have any questions regarding registration, camp information, or something that is not addressed on this page please contact
Sarah Germscheid by calling 651-437-4359 ext. 103
or emailing Sarah@CarpenterNatureCenter.org