Hidden Pines Ranch
Hidden Pines Ranch, 10670 75th Street North, Stillwater, MN 55082
About
Hidden Pines Ranch offers a summer day camp experience that includes riding horses, horseback riding, canoeing, archery, tennis, pickleball, arts and crafts, sports, nature camp craft, outdoor education, and team building. Mini Camp is a five-day program at the beginning of the summer that includes these activities as part of the camp experience.
• Ages: 5–15 years old
• Schedule: Five-day Mini Camp session at the beginning of the summer for campers entering kindergarten through 8th grade in the fall of 2026
Hidden Pines Ranch was opened in 1983 and was born from a vision for a “country living experience” for school-age children. Claire and Paul Spilseth opened the camp in 1983, and the Spilseth family sold it to Gregg and Robin Ellingson in 1997, who owned it for 19 years. Peter and Kelly Schuna purchased Hidden Pines Ranch in 2016, and the camp is currently owned by Peter and Kelly and their three children, Gavin (19), Reese (17), and Isaac (15). Over the years, a garage with a gymnasium, a camp office, and a number of multipurpose structures were built. For 43 years, Hidden Pines Ranch has delivered experiences for campers entering kindergarten through 10th grade.
The mission of Hidden Pines Ranch is to “build great kids by teaching skills for life,” and Peter and Kelly have made this their mission in recognition of the camp’s past and present. The camp continues to provide the opportunity for children in their community to experience summer camp.
Hidden Pines Ranch offers several program tracks. The K/1 program is for campers entering kindergarten and 1st grade in the fall of 2026. The Traditional Day Camp is for campers entering 2nd through 5th grade in the fall of 2026, and from Monday through Thursday it includes morning lessons in canoeing, archery, horseback riding, team building, tennis, and more. The Bridge is available to campers entering 6th grade in the fall of 2026 and was created to provide a transition from the Traditional program to the Middle School program. The Middle School Program is for campers entering 7th and 8th grade in the fall of 2026 and offers more advanced skill building and an integrated approach. The L.I.T. (Leaders in Training) program is for campers entering 9th and 10th grade in the fall of 2026, where teens assist professional counselors.
Parent feedback about Hidden Pines Ranch includes comments that campers come home “absolutely GIDDY” and “can’t stop talking about how much fun” they are having. One parent shared that their three children “had a great summer” and that their oldest “wants to be a counselor someday.” Another parent said it was “so hard to let a 7 ½ year old go out into the world and gain independence” and that they were “so glad” they found Hidden Pines Ranch. Parents have described counselors as genuinely caring about the kids and noted that their families have attended for multiple years. Other parents have mentioned that their children wished they could come every day, that any initial worries faded as their children had “a ton of fun,” and that “all parent guilt of balancing work and family quickly disappeared” as their kids were sad when camp ended. Parents have also commented on enjoying the camp play, horse show, and Tournament of Champions, and have thanked the staff for “great summer memories” and for “all you have done for them this summer.”
Last updated June 27, 2026.
• Ages: 5–15 years old
• Schedule: Five-day Mini Camp session at the beginning of the summer for campers entering kindergarten through 8th grade in the fall of 2026
Hidden Pines Ranch was opened in 1983 and was born from a vision for a “country living experience” for school-age children. Claire and Paul Spilseth opened the camp in 1983, and the Spilseth family sold it to Gregg and Robin Ellingson in 1997, who owned it for 19 years. Peter and Kelly Schuna purchased Hidden Pines Ranch in 2016, and the camp is currently owned by Peter and Kelly and their three children, Gavin (19), Reese (17), and Isaac (15). Over the years, a garage with a gymnasium, a camp office, and a number of multipurpose structures were built. For 43 years, Hidden Pines Ranch has delivered experiences for campers entering kindergarten through 10th grade.
The mission of Hidden Pines Ranch is to “build great kids by teaching skills for life,” and Peter and Kelly have made this their mission in recognition of the camp’s past and present. The camp continues to provide the opportunity for children in their community to experience summer camp.
Hidden Pines Ranch offers several program tracks. The K/1 program is for campers entering kindergarten and 1st grade in the fall of 2026. The Traditional Day Camp is for campers entering 2nd through 5th grade in the fall of 2026, and from Monday through Thursday it includes morning lessons in canoeing, archery, horseback riding, team building, tennis, and more. The Bridge is available to campers entering 6th grade in the fall of 2026 and was created to provide a transition from the Traditional program to the Middle School program. The Middle School Program is for campers entering 7th and 8th grade in the fall of 2026 and offers more advanced skill building and an integrated approach. The L.I.T. (Leaders in Training) program is for campers entering 9th and 10th grade in the fall of 2026, where teens assist professional counselors.
Parent feedback about Hidden Pines Ranch includes comments that campers come home “absolutely GIDDY” and “can’t stop talking about how much fun” they are having. One parent shared that their three children “had a great summer” and that their oldest “wants to be a counselor someday.” Another parent said it was “so hard to let a 7 ½ year old go out into the world and gain independence” and that they were “so glad” they found Hidden Pines Ranch. Parents have described counselors as genuinely caring about the kids and noted that their families have attended for multiple years. Other parents have mentioned that their children wished they could come every day, that any initial worries faded as their children had “a ton of fun,” and that “all parent guilt of balancing work and family quickly disappeared” as their kids were sad when camp ended. Parents have also commented on enjoying the camp play, horse show, and Tournament of Champions, and have thanked the staff for “great summer memories” and for “all you have done for them this summer.”
Last updated June 27, 2026.
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