Camps

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Camp Registration

Camp registration starts on Wednesday, February 21 at 8 a.m.! New for 2024 includes:

  • Scholarship requests will be open from January 2-15, 2024. Check back here soon for the scholarship request form.
  • Pick from 22 different camps this summer with a variety of themes for ages 4-14!
  • Ages 4-5: Six different themed camps
  • Ages 6-9: Nine different themed camps 9
  • Ages 10-12: Four different themed camps
  • Ages 10-14: Three Adventure Camps (which will travel offsite)

Camp Overview

2024 Day Camps

Do you want to play where the wetland things are? Maybe you want to go on a legendary quest, or even discover the truth behind some fantastical beasts! Join us this summer as we delve into nature for adventure and imagination!

Our small group day camps run from 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m. weekly June 4 - August 22 for children ages 4-12 (Adventure camps for ages 10-14). Check out our Camp Themes for exact dates, themes, and ages.

Scholarships

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

Scholarship requests are full! Staff will reach out to families that received scholarships by the opening of camp registration, February 21, 2024.

Online scholarship applications are closed. Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. 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.

Scholarship amounts offered are $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.

Junior Leaders

Junior Leader Applications Now Closed

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 your chance to Junior Leader 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

2024 Summer Camp's Junior Leader program runs from June 10 - August 22. Camp themes range from Camp Classics to Time Detectives. Springbrook Summer 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

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.

Camp Classics (June 4-6)

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.

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

Imagination Creation (June 17-18)

Do you have a crafty 4 or 5 year old? Give your child the opportunity to explore a world of artistic possibilities at our two-day camp! They’ll get the chance to learn about animal adaptations and engage in sensory play, while making beautiful take-home projects.

NOTE: Imagination Creation runs Monday and Tuesday.

Fridley Resident Fee: $50
Non Resident Fee: $66

Beast Powers (June 20-21)

Have you ever wondered how animals survive out in the wilderness? At this two-day camp, gain cool superpowers through learning about animal adaptations!

NOTE: Beast Powers runs Thursday and Friday.

Fridley Resident Fee: $50
Non Resident Fee: $66

Splish Splash (July 9-11)

You’ll need a bath after this camp! Learn and play in the water Springbrook has to offer through ponds, creeks, and streams. Fun Alert: there will be mud!

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

Nature Play (July 23-25)

Run, jump, and splash in this three-day camp where we explore Springbrook Nature Center in a new way! We’ll play nature games and look for critters in our ponds, forests, and prairies.

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

Habitat Heroes (August 20-22)

Join the Springbrook Super Squad for our final camp of the summer! Learn from your superhero leaders and build your hero skills through training, exploring, and ultimately saving Springbrook.

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

Camps for Ages 6-12

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.

Camp Classics (June 10-13)

Ages 6-12: 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.

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

Imagination Creation (June 24-27)

Ages 6-9: Calling all budding artists! Campers will get the chance to explore a vibrant array of colors, textures, and sounds, while creating unique take-home projects. This hands-on learning camp will also include interaction with live animals, sensory play, and education about habitats and creature adaptations.

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

Fantastic Forts (July 1-3)

Ages 6-7: Test your survival skills and build the ultimate fort in this three-day camp! Learn what it takes to survive in the wilderness and team up to build forts, mini rafts, and slingshots.

Fridley Resident Fee: $135
Non Resident Fee: $150

Zombie Survival (July 1-3)

Ages 8-12: Are you ready to survive anything? How about zombies? Join us for this three day camp to test your skills and defeat the zombies of Springbrook!

Fridley Resident Fee: $135
Non Resident Fee: $150

You're a Lizard, Harry (July 8-11)

Ages 6-9: Are you ready for a magical adventure at Springbrook’s Wizarding School? Campers will be sorted into houses, make a woodland wand, search for magical beasts, while attending classes on Herbology, Alchemy, Field Studies, Charms, and more.

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

Water Works (July 15-18)

Ages 6-9: With the hot days of summer, are you looking for a cool down? Take a deep dive into our everything water! Try fishing, get muddy at the creek, and explore the pond.

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

Nature Play (July 22-25)

Ages 6-9: Run wild in nature-themed adventures like tree climbing, shelter building, and exploring our ponds and creeks!

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

T.R.I.C.K.Y. Tinkers (July 29 - Aug 1)

Ages 6-9: Help! A mysterious organization is stealing Springbrook Secrets! Join T.R.I.C.K.Y., our spy agency, and use creativity, curiosity, and innovation to solve challenges and protect our secrets.

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

Mischief Makers (July 29 - Aug 1)

Ages 10-12: Welcome to the Coyote Cooperative! Operatives are heading out to cause mischief by unleashing their creativity through the exciting world of engineering, tinkering, and building.

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

Eco Explorers (August 5-8)

Ages 6-9: Delve into the mysteries of the natural world as you become a budding naturalist! Follow your passions for nature in this camp as we try pond exploration, bird watching, and wildlife tracking.

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

Time Detectives (August 12-15)

Ages 6-12: Journey through time in pursuit of the famous Chrono Criminal, Danaus Plex. The chase will have you playing prehistoric games, jousting in the middles ages, steering a wagon on the Oregon Trail, and more… Do you have what it takes to catch our villain?

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

Adventure Camps for Ages 10-14

Unless otherwise stated, Adventure Camps for ages 10-14 run 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 with two extra adventure camps this summer. These three day camps are packed with fun providing a wonderful chance for our aged out campers to return for three weeks of camp. We will climb to new heights, explore Fridley parks, canoe on major Minnesota rivers, and run with wolves.

Water Adventures (June 24-27)

Explore our aquatic recreation at Springbrook, Moore Lake, and wrap up the week canoeing the Rum River!

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

Classic Adventures (July 15-18)

Returning for another year, our classic adventures will take campers on bikes, visit the Wildlife Science Center, log roll and paddle board at a lake, and more!

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

Outdoor Adventures (August 5-8)

Build your camping skills, travel to new parks, canoe on the Mississippi, and more!

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

Camp Handbook

View our 2024 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 the week of June 17-21 or on July 4. 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 Camps (ages 10-14)

Adventure Camps with Springbrook run 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. There will be a daily sign in and sign out form. 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.