Ney Nature Center Camps

Ney Nature Center Camps includes hands-on nature activities, outdoor fun, trails, wildlife, science experiments, arts and crafts, and team-building games. Specific camp sessions include wildlife activities, snacks, crafts, games, shelter and fire building, exploring local ecosystems, swimming, kayaking, cookouts, fishing off the dock, canoeing, pond wildlife, oak savannah exploration, zipline canopy tours, hammocking, maps, compasses, GPS, celestial bodies, puzzles, campfire cooking, and high ropes course work.

Programs

• Summer Camps — 4-14 depending on the session; age splits listed as 4-5, 6-8, 9-11, and 12-14 · Weekly camp groups; full-day camps 9:00 am-4:00 pm; half-day camps 9:00 am-11:30 am · Hands-on nature activities, outdoor fun, trails, wildlife, science experiments, arts and crafts, team-building games. Registration opens in January.
• Day Camps — 4-14 depending on the session · Listed on the site as a camp category.
• Seasonal Break Camps — Listed on the site as a camp category.
• Tiny Tadpoles — 4-5 years old · June 8-11; June 22-25; half day 9:00 am-11:30 am · Half-day camp with wildlife, snacks, crafts, games, and outdoor fun.
• Outdoor Adventure I — 6-8 years old · June 8-11 · Shelter and fire building; exploring local ecosystems through hands-on activities.
• Lakeside Adventure II — 12-14 years old · June 15-18 · Fully offsite at Cedar Lake Farm in New Prague; includes swimming, kayaking, cookouts, fishing off the dock, canoeing, and exploring Cedar Lake Park Farm.
• Ney Spy Safari — 9-11 years old · June 15-18 · Exploring the park, pond wildlife, and oak savannah.
• Lakeside Adventure I — 9-11 years old · June 22-25 · Fully offsite at Cedar Lake Farm in New Prague; swimming, kayaking, and shore activities.
• Outdoor Adventure III — 12-14 years old · June 29-July 2 · Zipline canopy tour, kayaking Lake Washington, and overnight hammocking experience.
• Wayfinders Camp — 9-11 years old · June 29-July 2 · Science and art of wayfinding, maps, compasses, GPS, celestial bodies, puzzles, and challenges.
• Outdoor Adventure II — 9-11 years old · July 6-9 · Hammocking, hiking, exploration, campfire cooking, and high ropes course.
• Amazing Animals — 6-8 years old · July 6-9 · Discovering Minnesota wildlife through games, art, and hands-on activities.

At a glance

• Ages: 4–14 years old
• General schedule: Summer camps run in weekly sessions. Full-day camps are 9:00 am-4:00 pm and half-day camps are 9:00 am-11:30 am.
• Facility hours: Education Building open Monday through Friday 9:00 am-5:00 pm; exploration hours are sunup until sundown.

About the provider

The Ney Nature Center manages and protects the Ney Wildlife Preserve through education and interaction with the natural world.

All programs require registration to attend unless otherwise noted. Camp full? Email [email protected] to get on the waiting list. Scholarships are available for families that qualify. Members-Only registration opens January 14th; General Public Registration opens January 25th at 9:00 AM.

What families say

“We always have a great time. Seriously, this place offers some of the best field trips! The activities are so interesting too. Our students are challenged to calculate and come to conclusions.” — Elementary school teacher

Last updated November 4, 2026.