Carpenter Nature Center Summer Camp

Carpenter Nature Center Summer Camp offers plant and animal encounters, fishing, canoeing, and other outdoor activities. Its listed camp options include Fishing Fun, Forts and Fun, Animal Adventure Camp I, Animal Adventure Camp II, Nature Nuts, Pioneers, Outdoor Skills, Explorers, Namekagon Canoe Trip, BWCA Canoe Trip, and Arts in Nature.

Programs

• Summer Camp — Youth ages 5 to 17 · Carpenter Nature Center offers summer camp opportunities including plant and animal encounters, fishing, canoeing, and more.
• Fishing Fun — Campers 6–11 years old · $40–$50 per session · Single day camp at the Minnesota Campus; most of the time is spent at the river.
• Forts and Fun — Campers 7–12 years old · $65–$75 per session · Single day camp at the Wisconsin Campus; campers explore CNC’s Wisconsin Campus, learn about the 'Rules of Three', build shelters, and practice fire starting.
• Animal Adventure Camp I — Campers 7–9 years old · $65–$75 per session · Single day camp at the Minnesota Campus; activities include feeding, cleaning, and creating animal enrichments for turtles, snakes, rabbit, amphibians, and raptors.
• Animal Adventure Camp II — Campers 10+ · $65–$75 per session · Single day camp at the Minnesota Campus.
• Nature Nuts — Children ages 5 & 6 · $130–$150 per week · Week-long day camp at the Minnesota Campus with hands-on activities introducing campers to the outdoors.
• Pioneers — Children ages 7 & 8 · $180–$200 per week · Week-long day camp at the Minnesota Campus with hands-on activities introducing campers to the outdoors.
• Outdoor Skills — Youth ages 10 and older · $130–$150 per session · A three-day camp at the Minnesota Campus focused on outdoor skills including shelter and fire building, orienteering, fishing, archery, and more.
• Explorers — Children ages 9-11 · $230–$250 per week · Week-long day camp at the Minnesota Campus with a Thursday overnight sleepover and Friday pickup at noon.
• Namekagon Canoe Trip — Youth ages 12–15 · $300–$325 per session · A three-day camp with a three day/two night canoe trip on the Namekagon and St Croix Rivers; canoes, paddles, food, cooking equipment, tents, transportation, and PFDs are supplied.
• BWCA Canoe Trip — Youth ages 13-17 · $400–$425 per session · A four-day, three-night camp for youth in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness; canoes, paddles, food, cooking equipment, tents, transportation, packs/drybags, and PFDs are supplied.
• Arts in Nature — Children ages 7–10 · $130–$150 per session · A three-day camp at the Wisconsin Campus focused on art and nature exploration.

At a glance

• Ages: 5–17 years old
• Price range: $40–$425
• General schedule: Summer camp registration opens January 2027. Camps are held in June, July, and August 2027. Single-day camps and multi-day camps are offered.
• Facility hours: 8:00 am–4:30 pm daily

Last updated November 4, 2026.