Scroll to see camp titles, descriptions, and dates. Location varies by camp—note the property when selecting your camps!
Summer Camp Choices
For kids entering Grades 1–2
June 16–19: Baa, Cluck, Moo
It’s morning on the farm and there are jobs to do. Baa, cluck, moo. Can you guess what’s to see? I’ll give you a clue! Baa, cluck, moo. Play games at the farm and feed the animals, too. Baa, cluck, moo.
Cost: $260
Location: Main Property in West St. Paul
June 23–26: Campfire Cooking
Spend the week learning techniques to be a true campfire chef! Practice your match skills and learn to build the perfect cooking fire. Enjoy eating your way through the week as we cook on a stick, in foil, and with cast iron.
Cost: $265 ($5 materials fee included)
Location: Main Property in West St. Paul
July 7–10: Backyard Bugs
Spend the week learning about different bugs, how to tell them apart, and searching for them across ecosystems. Build your own bug catching gear and unleash your inner artist with bug-themed art projects. Channel your inner entomologist and discover the buzz about bugs!
Cost: $260
Location: Main Property in West St. Paul
July 14–17: Party Animals
It’s party time! There’s a very special birthday at Dodge and all the animals are invited, but the Mail Snail needs your help to deliver the invitations! Look for clues to find the missing envelopes hidden in the woods, prairies, and wetlands. Visit the many animals of Dodge from the farmyard chickens to the slithery snakes and hand-deliver their party invites. Get ready to party with decorations, games, and treats!
Cost: $260
Location: Main Property in West St. Paul
July 14–17: If You Give a Kid a Summer Camp…
They will want a snack to go with it! Jump into the story with this book-based camp and take part in baking and cooking, art projects, a puppet show, animal adventures, and more! One thing is for sure: if you give your kid this summer camp, they’ll have lots of memories that come with it.
Cost: $260
Location: Shepard Farm in Cottage Grove
July 21–24: Survival Skills
Learn tips and techniques for surviving in the wild! Construct shelters that will protect you and your friends from the elements. Hone your fire building skills and learn the different techniques to start and manage a small campfire.
Cost: $260
Location: Main Property in West St. Paul
July 21–24: Into the Wild
Through forest and prairie, under sun and cloud, adventure across Shepard Farm for four days of wild fun! Learn and practice survival skills, build forts, explore wildlife, and make new friends as you travel ‘Into the Wild’.
Cost: $260
Location: Shepard Farm in Cottage Grove
July 28–31: Wild Minnesota
Snakes, salamanders, and owls are just some of the wild animals that call Minnesota home. Meet animals up close, play games, and explore the nature center you get to know some of the wild creatures in our state.
Cost: $260
Location: Main Property in West St. Paul
July 28–31: Hidden Hollow
Once upon a time in a forest not too far away, a host of fairy tale creatures made themselves at home. Join us in the Hidden Hollow as we enter a world filled with fairies, magical creatures, and adventures! Through stories, art projects, and nature activities, your child will learn through the whimsy and wonder of the outdoors.
Cost: $260
Location: Shepard Farm in Cottage Grove
August 4–7: Best of Dodge
Nature will be your playground as you hide in the prairie grasses, climb trees in the woods, and explore the ponds. Hold chickens, catch frogs, and build shelters—there is so much to do at Dodge. Bring your sense of adventure!
Cost: $260
Location: Main Property in West St. Paul
For kids entering Grades 3–5
June 16–19: Forts and Fires
Practice the skills that will make you an outdoor champ. Build a simple and snug survival shelter to protect you from the elements and serve as your home base. Start a one-match (or no match) fire to keep you warm, cook food, and send signals. This camp will leave you ready for your next outdoor adventure!
Cost: $260
Location: Main Property in West St. Paul
June 23–26: Camp Howl: Unleash Your Inner Werewolf
Join us for an unforgettable summer adventure at Camp Howl, where the magic of the full moon comes to life! This unique camp offers a thrilling blend of outdoor fun, imagination, and educational activities all centered around the fascinating world of werewolves.
Cost: $260
Location: Main Property in West St. Paul
July 7–10: Tracking and Trapping
The natural world is full of creatures that construct and create pathways for easier access through fields and forests. Explore how to read these signs to learn how animals move through their habitat. Along with tracking, learn to build and test bushcraft traps.
Cost: $260
Location: Main Property in West St. Paul
July 14–17: Westward Ho!
Step back in time to the year 1848 and experience the hardships and triumphs of pioneers on the Oregon Trail. Be transported to the heart of the American frontier where you’ll learn about pioneer life, survival skills, and the trials of a westward journey through a variety of challenges, hands-on activities, and games.
Cost: $260
Location: Main Property in West St. Paul
July 14–17: Naturalist 101
All naturalists start somewhere! For most, it’s as a kid catching insects, hugging trees, and listening to birds. This camp is designed to give budding naturalists chances to discover activities that draw them closer to nature. Whether meeting an animal, exploring moss with a magnifying lens, or eating lunch under a tree, this camp will bring them closer to the natural world.
Cost: $260
Location: Shepard Farm in Cottage Grove
July 21–24: Guardians of Dodge
Sometimes magic and wizards are not enough— Dodge needs you to become a Guardian! Learn the Guardian skills of fire, shelter, and tracking. Forge foam weapons and master their use. Dodge needs protectors—Dodge needs you!
Cost: $265 ($5 materials fee included)
Location: Main Property in West St. Paul
July 21–24: Mini Master Chefs
Join us for a fun-filled camp where young culinary artists will discover the magic of cooking! Explore the exciting world of food through hands-on cooking experiences, creative projects, and delicious culinary adventures both in the kitchen and around a campfire.
Cost: $260
Location: Shepard Farm in Cottage Grove
July 28–31: I Spy Adventures
Spark your curiosity and ignite your imagination as you sharpen your detective skills and explore the world! Develop observation skills to become a pro at spotting camouflaged animals, solving puzzles, and looking for hidden objects. Mystery and adventure await!
Cost: $260
Location: Main Property in West St. Paul
July 28–31: Lumberjack Camp
Minnesota has a rich history of lumberjacking. Embrace your inner Paul Bunyan by living your week in the outdoors, chopping, sawing, and learning the lumberjack way!
Cost: $260
Location: Shepard Farm in Cottage Grove
August 4–7: Dodge's Greatest Hits
Return to some of your favorite outdoor summer camp activities! Build forts and shelters, make fires and cook food over them, and forage for wild foods. Explore, create, and play in the woods, wetlands, and prairies of Dodge.
Cost: $260
Location: Main Property in West St. Paul
For kids entering Grades 6–8
June 23–26: Nature's Rainbow: Natural Dyes
Embrace your inner scientist and unleash your inner artist in this four-day exploration into the world of natural dyes! Learn all the steps for dyeing fibers and fabrics from preparation to final rinses. Venture through the ponds, prairies, and forests of Dodge to collect botanical beauties, then experiment with heat and chemical reactions to create a rainbow of natural hues.
Cost: $275 ($15 materials fee included)
Location: Main Property in West St. Paul
July 7–10: Nature Detectives
Each day animals leave clues behind in the forests, prairies, and ponds at Dodge Nature Center. Using keen powers of observation, deduction, and science, unlock mysteries of nature!
Cost: $260
Location: Main Property in West St. Paul