Camps

Camp Scholarships

Thanks to the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation, we are able to offer camp scholarships to families who express a need.

Families receiving scholarships will receive an email before the opening of camp registration on February 26, 2025.

The online scholarship applications will be opened on January 6, 2025. Children will receive one scholarship to use towards one week of summer camp. You will need to pay any difference between the camp fee and the scholarship awarded to your child.

Scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.

Scholarship award offers will be $75 for ages 4-5 or $180 for ages 6-14.

NOTE: Submitting this request does not guarantee granting of scholarship funds. Being awarded scholarship funds does not guarantee enrollment in our summer camp program.

Apply for a Scholarship

Junior Leader Applications

Junior Leader Applications open February 2025

Junior Leader Applications are now closed. Thank you to those who applied and look for more volunteer opportunities at Springbrook Nature Center's Volunteer webpage.

Check back in January 2025 for Junior Leader Application information for the 2025 Summer Camp season!

Responsibilities

Do you miss camp, and are between the ages 13-17? Join our Junior Leader Program!

Our Junior Leader Program is a way for children ages 13-17 to take a volunteer leadership role during summer camp. They will help campers find their first friend, support naturalists, and see behind the scenes of summer camp!

Junior Leaders help bring our camps to life! They might sing camp songs around a fire, dress in costume, play games, participate in the magic, and encourage our nervous campers. They are what helps to hook our campers into the adventure and imagination of summer camp.

Junior Leaders gain seven hours of service for each day of summer camp.

A Junior Leader is typically scheduled for 2-3 camps in a summer. Some of our previous Junior Leaders have volunteered for more weeks.

Typical Schedule

Springbrook Camp's Junior Leader program runs from the second week in June - third week in August. Camp themes range from Camp Classics to immersive camps. Springbrook Camps typically run from Monday - Thursday and between 9 a.m.- 3:45 p.m. Junior Leaders are expected to be at camp on their scheduled weeks from 8:45 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Camps for ages 4-5 run Tuesday - Thursday (unless noted otherwise), 9-11:30 a.m.

Children must be completely bathroom independent to attend.

*Scholarship funds are limited to one camp per child per summer while funds are available regardless of the camp fee.

Fridley Resident Fee: $75
Non-Resident Fee: $100

2025 Ages 4-5 Camp Information

Camp Classics (June 3-5)

Do you remember the summer camp of old? We’ll play in the woods, sit by the fire, get in the water, build friendships and forts! Let’s get back to the basics in this camp.

Wild Powers (June 24-26)

Find your wild side! Explore the wild powers that make plants and animals super. Meet some of Springbrook’s Educator Animals, build a creature of your own, and search for wild animals at Springbrook.

Creative Campers (July 8-10)

Chanel your inner artist with this fun filled camp. You will get the opportunity to explore creative avenues and express your art in different ways. Building friendships and sparking creativity will be inevitable!

Drip Drop (July 22-24)

This camp will be filled with water fun. Search for water creatures, explore how water moves, and get MUDDY!

Nature in Motion (August 5-7)

Water flows, the wind blows, and the water boatman rows. Study how nature moves with fun games, exploring nature, and meeting Springbrook's Educator Animals.

Splash, Slither, CROAK! (August 19-21)

Springbrook's educator animals are searching for new experiences, and they are telling us about it using typewriter?! Meet a new animal each day and complete fun adventures to help our naturalists bring excitement to our animal educators.

Unless otherwise stated, Camps for ages 6-10 run Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Camp sections are divided into age groups 6-7, 8-9, and 10-12.

*Scholarship funds are limited to one camp per child per summer while funds are available regardless of the camp fee.

Fridley Resident Fee: $180
Non-Resident Fee: $200

2025 Ages 6-12 Camp Information

Camp Classics (June 9-12)

Do you remember the summer camp of old? We’ll play in the woods, sit by the fire, get in the water, build friendships and forts! Let’s get back to the basics in this camp.

Springwood Forest (June 16-18)

Join Coden Hood and his Merry Campers on an adventure to rid Springwood Forest and the Kingdom of Springbrook of the evil Sheriff of Springbrookenham. You will learn wood craft, archery, sword fighting along with disguise making and more!

Wild Adaptations (June 23-26)

Find your wild side! Spend a week exploring the wild powers plants and animals need to survive. Meet some of Springbrook’s Educator Animals, build an animal of your own, and find wild animals at Springbrook.

Starfall (June 30- July 2)

At a Nature Center this summer not so far away.... The Empire has landed, and the resistance has risen! Join the Starfall Resistance in repelling the Celestial Conclave from Springbrook Nature Center. The Celestial Conclave is bent on destroying all habitats that are different from their own. Fight for freedom, fight for bio-diversity!!

Creative Campers (July 7-10)

Chanel your inner artist with this fun filled camp. You will get the opportunity to explore creative avenues and express your art in different ways. Building friendships and sparking creativity will be inevitable!

Crypto Creatures* (July 14-17) *ages 6-9

What lies in the woods and waters just beyond our imagination? Join us this week as we investigate what some call “mythical” creatures.

Stream Works (July 21-24)

How does a stream work? We will check out what lives under the water’s surface, build your own stream, and go with the flow!

My Side of Springbrook* (July 28-31) *ages 6-7

Want to live in the wilderness of Springbrook? Join other campers in making a wilderness life for themselves. Build a shelter, learn about plants, and thrive in the wild!

Crash! Survival Camp* (July 28-31) *ages 8-12

You have crash landed in the North Woods. Can you survive until help comes? Conquer survival scenarios to find your way out or signal for help. Campers will learn wilderness skills like shelter building, fire building, foraging, and tracking to survive.

Nature in Motion (August 4-7)

Water flows, the wind blows, and the water boatman rows. Study the motion of nature by building devices, drawing maps, and observing nature. 

Greatest Hits! (August 11-14)

Replay the greatest hits of the summer! Sing by the fire, build forts, explore nature, play camp games, creek walk and more!

Adventure Camp for ages 10-14 runs Tuesday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

*Scholarship funds are limited to one camp per child per summer while funds are available regardless of the camp fee.

New! Springbrook is hitting the road within Fridley Parks this summer. This three-day camp is packed with fun providing a wonderful chance for our aged-out campers to return for three days of camp. We will travel to Fridley parks, float on the Mississippi, and explore by bike.

Fridley Resident Fee: $250
Non-Resident Fee: $270

2025 Adventure Camp Information

Adventure Camp (July 15-17)

Explore the Mississippi with Anoka County Recreation and meet some of the parks Fridley has to offer through adventure camp. We will visit a new park each day and build new outdoor skills throughout this three-day camp.

Drop-off locations and dates:

• Springbrook Nature Center
  • July 15 + 17

• Locke Park

  • July 16

View our 2025 Summer Camp policies in our Camp Handbook(PDF, 341KB) and Half-Day Handbook(PDF, 325KB).

Camp Drop-Off and Pick-Up Time

Full Day Camps (ages 6-12)

Camp Springbrook runs most weeks Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. Please note, we do have a camp on June 19th or July 3rd. Please adhere to the posted drop off and pick up times. Our staff will be getting activities ready for your camper before 8:50 a.m., and will be preparing for the following day after 3:45 p.m. If you need to pick your child up before the camp day is over, please let the office know before 10 a.m. We will make sure your camper is close to the building at the time you specify.

Drop Off Time: 8:50 - 9 a.m.
Pick Up Time: 3:30 - 3:45 p.m.

Adventure Camp (ages 10-14)

Adventure Camp with Springbrook runs Tuesday-Thursday, 9 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. Please adhere to the posted drop off and pick up times. Our staff will be getting activities ready for your camper before 8:50 a.m., and will be preparing for the following day after 3:45 p.m. It will be difficult to pick-up your camper before the day is over due to the structure of this camp. Campers will be traveling away from Springbrook for most of our activities.

Drop Off Time: 8:50 - 9 a.m.
Pick Up Time: 3:30 - 3:45 p.m.

Half Day Camps (ages 4 & 5)

Camp Springbrook runs Tuesday—Thursday, 9-11:30a.m. Please note, we have two 2-day camps the week of June 17 - 21. Please adhere to the posted drop off and pick up times. Our staff will be getting activities ready for your camper before 8:50 a.m., and will be preparing for the following day after 11:30 a.m. If you need to pick your child up before the camp day is over, please let the office or naturalist know at drop off. We will make sure your camper is close to the building at the time you specify.

Drop Off Time: 8:50 - 9 a.m.
Pick Up Time: 11:30 a.m.

Sign-In and Sign-Out

Sign-In and Sign-Out will happen with your child’s naturalist, usually at the patio doors of their classroom. Please follow signs and check in with the staff. Staff will be checking in and out campers daily. We value your child’s safety and want to make sure that they are going home with the right person. For that reason, we will require a photo ID at pick-up.

What to Bring to Camp

(Label all items with first and last name)

• Back Pack
• Lunch and snacks
• Water Bottle
• Hat
• Complete change of clothes
• Plastic bag for dirty clothing
• Light jacket/ sweatshirt
• Towel
• Bug Spray
• Sunscreen

What NOT to Bring to Camp

• Valuables Electronic Devices
• Toys
• Multitools
• Pocket knives
• Weapons
• New school clothes (they won’t look new after camp)

Typical Schedule at Camp Springbrook

Each day at Camp Springbrook will be different, but we realize that children do well in environments in which they can count on some kind of consistency. So, we have a loose schedule set up for the summer.

Full Day Camps

• 8:50 - 9 a.m. - Camper Arrival/Quiet Activities
• 9 a.m. - Noon - Morning Activities
• Noon - 1 p.m. - Lunch and Free Play
• 1 - 3:30 p.m. - Afternoon Activities
• 3:30 - 3:45 p.m. - Camp Closing and “Cabin Time”

Half-Day Camps

• 9 a.m. - Arrival/Quiet Activities
• 9:15 a.m. - Circle Time & Activity
• 10:15 a.m. - Snack & Activity
• 11:30 a.m. - Quiet Activities and Pick-up

We will send home notes with your camper when there is something special coming up that you will need to prepare for. In addition, we encourage you to chat with your child’s camp naturalist to get the daily scoop and a notice about what is coming up in the future.