Dakota City Heritage Village Camps, Classes, and Tours

Dakota City Heritage Village Camps, Classes, and Tours includes 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 while watching the carpenter at work. Children use writing slates and chalk in the one-room school, do 1900-era lessons using lesson books, use slate boards with chalk, crayons, and pencils, and have outside recess playing an old-fashioned game. Camps and tours also include touring historic buildings in the Village, doing chores in the family home, dressing in old-fashioned clothes, practicing a trade, visiting Village buildings, playing vintage games, enjoying hands-on activities, and, in some cases, having a hand-dipped ice cream cone at the drugstore, withdrawing money at the bank, and attending special entertainment for a last-day program.

• Ages: 3–12 years old
• Schedule: Try It Hands on Camp is one full day from 9:00 am–3:00 pm, and Master Apprentice and Junior Apprentice camps are 4 days long.
• Price: School tours cost $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.

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 describes itself as a 501(c)3 non-profit that is 100% community funded, with donors, sponsors, and volunteers supporting camps, classes, tours, and special events. It offers group tours, Scout tours, special programs, birthday parties, weddings, and village tours by appointment only, and notes that Home School Tours are tailored for mixed ages starting at age 3, with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 60 students per tour. For 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.

Dakota City Heritage Village notes that its 2026 Summer Camps have a “Farm Life” theme. It also states that accessibility improvements have been made, including lowered thresholds, removed unnecessary steps, and added or updated ramps. The leadership team includes a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, a member at large, several directors, and an Office and Program Coordinator.

Last updated July 26, 2026.