Ely Adventure School Summer Camp
Ely Adventure School, 13813 Otter Road, Ely, MN 55731
About
Ely Adventure School Summer Camp offers days filled with berry picking, fort building, nature hikes, hamocking, and fire building. Each day starts in a forest classroom where children gather before heading out to their chosen adventures, which can include making up their own games and inviting others to join. Children are allowed to follow their own interests, and teachers recognize that children are capable of self-driven exploration and offer real choices over activities in small peer groups.
• Ages: 3–10 years old
• Schedule: Half-day and full-day programs run Monday through Friday from June 8th to August 28th
• Price: Half day (8am–Noon) $27 per day; Full day (8am–5pm) $39 per day
The camp offers half-day hours from 8am to noon and full-day hours from 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday, between June 8th and August 28th. The Ely Adventure School provides a simple, healthy snack in the morning and another in the afternoon, along with plenty of water for refilling water bottles. Families are asked to send a lunch, a water bottle, and appropriate clothing and footwear, including a bag, rain jacket, close-toed shoe option, extra set of clothes, sunscreen, and a lunch.
The Ely Adventure School states that its summer camp develops confidence and social skills in youth while fostering a lifelong love of learning and fun through outdoor play, community-building, and self-driven exploration. The program focuses on social skill building, self-driven exploration, leadership practice, physical skills development, and learning about the natural world. Instructors focus on building trust by listening to each child, keeping a similar daily routine, and presenting clear and fair expectations, and small peer groups are an intentional part of the setting.
The leadership team includes Educator, Director, and Founder SunShine Gardner, along with board members Sal DiVita, SunShine Gardner, Megan Thiele, Jack Duchin, and Leah Reusch. A testimonial from SunShine Gardner notes, “We are always finding a way to say yes to a child’s creative ideas.” The Ely Adventure School summer camp programs strive to provide affordable child care opportunities for families in Ely and the surrounding areas and invite families to ask about scholarship options.
Families are asked to sign up only for weeks they know they can attend by May 1st, and after May 1st, payment is expected for any week reserved whether the child attends or not. If requested weeks are full, a wait list is created, and if the week is open, the child is signed up for the requested weeks. Sign-up for Summer 2026 is available. If it is challenging to send a child with the requested gear each day, families are invited to email or call so the program can help figure it out.
Last updated February 22, 2026.
• Ages: 3–10 years old
• Schedule: Half-day and full-day programs run Monday through Friday from June 8th to August 28th
• Price: Half day (8am–Noon) $27 per day; Full day (8am–5pm) $39 per day
The camp offers half-day hours from 8am to noon and full-day hours from 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday, between June 8th and August 28th. The Ely Adventure School provides a simple, healthy snack in the morning and another in the afternoon, along with plenty of water for refilling water bottles. Families are asked to send a lunch, a water bottle, and appropriate clothing and footwear, including a bag, rain jacket, close-toed shoe option, extra set of clothes, sunscreen, and a lunch.
The Ely Adventure School states that its summer camp develops confidence and social skills in youth while fostering a lifelong love of learning and fun through outdoor play, community-building, and self-driven exploration. The program focuses on social skill building, self-driven exploration, leadership practice, physical skills development, and learning about the natural world. Instructors focus on building trust by listening to each child, keeping a similar daily routine, and presenting clear and fair expectations, and small peer groups are an intentional part of the setting.
The leadership team includes Educator, Director, and Founder SunShine Gardner, along with board members Sal DiVita, SunShine Gardner, Megan Thiele, Jack Duchin, and Leah Reusch. A testimonial from SunShine Gardner notes, “We are always finding a way to say yes to a child’s creative ideas.” The Ely Adventure School summer camp programs strive to provide affordable child care opportunities for families in Ely and the surrounding areas and invite families to ask about scholarship options.
Families are asked to sign up only for weeks they know they can attend by May 1st, and after May 1st, payment is expected for any week reserved whether the child attends or not. If requested weeks are full, a wait list is created, and if the week is open, the child is signed up for the requested weeks. Sign-up for Summer 2026 is available. If it is challenging to send a child with the requested gear each day, families are invited to email or call so the program can help figure it out.
Last updated February 22, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.