Dakota City Heritage Village Camps and Tours

Dakota City Heritage Village Camps and Tours includes hands-on activities such as helping with chores at the Harris House, gathering eggs at the farm, bartering and shopping at the general store, and touching items at the blacksmith. Participants may watch the carpenter at work, learn in a one-room school using writing slates and chalk, and do 1900-era lessons using lesson books, slate boards with chalk, crayons, pencils, and school books. Camps and tours can also include dressing in old-fashioned clothes, practicing a trade, visiting Village buildings, playing vintage games, and receiving a hand-dipped ice cream cone at the drugstore, with special entertainment offered for the last-day program in some camps.

• Ages: 3–12 years old
• Schedule: Master Apprentice and Junior Apprentice camps run for 4 days; the Hands on day camp is one full day; the Try It Hands on Camp is one day from 9:00 am–3:00 pm, with the 2026 Try It Hands on Camp scheduled for June 17, 9:00 am–3:00 pm
• Price: School tours are $8 per person, with no charge for one teacher and one aide/para/chaperone per class and $8 for additional adult chaperones; the one-day Try It Hands on Camp costs $50 per camper

For the Try It Hands on Camp, each camper must bring a water bottle, a bag lunch, and their own transportation, while Dakota City provides all supplies and an afternoon snack. Registration for the Try It Hands on Camp requires a completed registration form and payment, with space limited and spots filled as registrations with payment are received, and a registration deadline of June 5.

Dakota City Heritage Village states that its mission is to connect, through education and interpretation, current generations to the life and agricultural heritage of early twentieth century rural Dakota County. The organization is a 501(c)3 non-profit that is 100% community funded and describes volunteers as the bedrock of Dakota City, preserving heritage for future generations with the help of generous donors and exceptional volunteers. The leadership team includes President John Storlie, Vice President Lisa Machacek, Secretary Sue Strese, Treasurer Rhonda Rademacher, Member at Large Kris Akin, Directors Brandon Bruha, Rob Caho, Karen Hayes, Terry Lomas, Addy Machacek, Ann Meyer, John Moore, and Sandra Weber, along with an Office and Program Coordinator. The theme for the 2026 summer camps is “Farm Life,” and children experience life on a rural farm in 1900, including animals to care for and chores to do, through hands-on activities in historic buildings.

Last updated February 22, 2026.