Discover, Explore, and Grow with Nature!
Join us for an unforgettable adventure at Ney Nature Center! Our camps are designed for curious minds and adventurous spirits, offering hands-on learning and outdoor fun in the heart of nature. Campers will explore trails, encounter wildlife, conduct science experiments, and create art inspired by the great outdoors.
With programs tailored to various age groups, our camps foster creativity, teamwork, and a lifelong appreciation for the environment. Led by experienced educators, every day brings new discoveries and lasting memories.
Highlights Include:
- Interactive nature hikes
- Fun and educational science experiments
- Creative arts and crafts projects
- Team-building games and activities
Age Groups:
We offer camps for ages 4-14 depending on the session. Read session description for more information.
Why Choose Ney Nature Center?
- Experienced and caring staff
- A safe and inspiring outdoor setting
- Opportunities to connect with nature and new friends
Spots are limited, so register today to secure your camper’s place in the adventure of a lifetime! Camp full? Email info@neycenter.org to get on the waiting list!
We provide scholarships for families that qualify, click here to learn more.
Summer Camps
Registration will open in January. This year we will have two weekly camp groups with two different themes and age groups. The age splits for camp groups are as follows; 4-5 years old, 6-8 years old, 9-11 years old, and 12-14 years old. What should my child bring to camp? Other questions? Click here!
Full-day camps: 9am-4pm
Half-day camps: 9am-11:30am
Members-Only registration opens January 14th
General Public Registration opens January 25th at 9:00AM
| Dates | Camp Name | Ages |
| 6/8/2026 – 6/11/2026 | Outdoor Adventure I | 6-8 |
| 6/8/2026 – 6/11/2026 | Tiny Tadpoles A | 4-5 |
| 6/15/2026 – 6/18/2026 | Lakeside Adventure II | 12-14 |
| 6/15/2026 – 6/18/2026 | Ney Spy Safari | 9-11 |
| 6/22/2026 – 6/25/2026 | Lakeside Adventure I | 9-11 |
| 6/22/2026 – 6/25/2026 | Tiny Tadpoles B | 4-5 |
| 6/29/2026 – 7/2/2026 | Outdoor Adventure III | 12-14 |
| 6/29/2026 – 7/2/2026 | Wayfinders | 9-11 |
| 7/6/2026 – 7/9/2026 | Outdoor Adventure II | 9-11 |
| 7/6/2026 – 7/9/2026 | Amazing Animals | 6-8 |
| 7/13/2026 – 7/16/2026 | Countdown to Takeoff | 9-11 |
| 7/13/2026 – 7/16/2026 | Time Travelers | 6-8 |
| 7/20/2026 – 7/23/2026 | Naturalist-in-Training | 12-14 |
| 7/20/2026 – 7/23/2026 | Pirate Camp | 6-8 |
| 7/27/2026 – 7/30/2026 | Dig It! | 6-8 |
Outdoor Adventure I
June 8-11th | 6-8 years old
Gear up for a week of excitement at Outdoor Adventure Camp! Campers will practice new skills like shelter and fire building, and exploring local ecosystems through hands-on activities. Perfect for young adventurers ready to connect with the great outdoors!
Tiny Tadpoles A
June 8-11th | 4-5 years old
Half day camp 9:00am-11:30am
Do you have a little one who loves to spend time outside? This half day camp is perfect for the smallest of explorers! Together we’ll enjoy the best of Ney and nature – wildlife, snacks, crafts, games, and more will help to guide the fun!
Lakeside Adventure II
June 15-18th | 12-14 years old
Ready to get the most out of a week on the lake? This fully offsite camp at Cedar Lake Farm in New Prague includes all of the favorite activities of Lakeside Adventure I such as swimming and kayaking, but with additional fun curated specifically for our oldest campers! We’ll enjoy cookouts, fishing off the dock, canoeing, and exploring the best that Cedar Lake Park Farm has to offer.
Ney Spy Safari
June 15-18th | 9-11 years old
Experience Ney’s wild side and explore the park in a whole new way. Every day will bring a whole new excursion! Whether we’re hopping onto the wagon to reach the farthest points of the park, getting up close with pond wildlife, or trekking through oak savannah, our Ney Safari campers will have the opportunity to see for themselves the best parts of Ney. With so many unique ecosystems to investigate, who knows what we’ll discover along the way.
Lakeside Adventure I
June 22nd-25th | 9-11 years old
Join us lakeside this summer as we take adventure to the beach! Fully offsite at Cedar Lake Farm in New Prague, campers will enjoy a variety of activities not typically available at Ney. Whether we’re swimming, kayaking the lake, or hanging out on the shore, this camp is the definition of fun in the sun. So grab your sunscreen and towel, and get ready for a week of fun at Cedar Lake Farm!
Tiny Tadpoles B
June 22nd-25th | 4-5 years old
Half day camp 9:00am-11:30am
Do you have a little one who loves to spend time outside? This half day camp is perfect for the smallest of explorers! Together we’ll enjoy the best of Ney and nature – wildlife, snacks, crafts, games, and more will help to guide the fun!
Outdoor Adventure III
June 29th-July 2nd | 12-14 years old
For the oldest Ney campers, this last of the Outdoor Adventure camp series is for those campers who love spending as much time outside as possible and who are looking for an opportunity to not only visit old favorites, but to discover brand new activities offered in no other Ney camp – flying through the air on Kerfoot’s 14-line zipline canopy tour, enjoying a relaxing day kayaking Lake Washington, and experiencing the camp culmination of an overnight hammocking experience. This is one adventure you won’t want to miss out on!
Wayfinders Camp
June 29th-July 2nd | 9-11 years old
Navigate your way around the Ney Center as we learn about the science and art of wayfinding. We’ll create our own maps, and learn how to find our way using compasses, GPS, celestial bodies, and more. Come prepared to put your skills to the test with exciting puzzles and challenges, and gain confidence as we traverse the Ney wilderness.
Outdoor Adventure II
July 6th-July 9th | 9-11 years old
Attention all adventurers! Ready for a bigger challenge? Join us for Outdoor Adventure II which includes all of the favorites from Outoor Adventure I like hammocking, hiking, and exploration, but gives campers the opportunity to venture further, and try out new skills such as cooking a meal over a campfire and testing your limits in the sky on Kerfoot’s 4-story high ropes course.
Amazing Animals
July 6th-July 9th | 6-8 years old
Calling all animal lovers! Spend the week discovering the fascinating wildlife that calls Minnesota home. Campers will meet our animal ambassadors, explore diverse habitats, and learn how creatures survive and thrive through games, art, and hands-on activities.
Countdown to Takeoff
July 13th-July 16th | 9-11 years old
3.. 2.. 1…! We’re all clear to launch! In this New to Ney camp, we’ll be focusing on all things that can take flight. If it flies, floats, glides, or explodes, you can count on us to be right there to investigate. Prepare to get creative as campers will be tasked with making their own items to launch, while still having plenty of time for some old favorites such as archery, and atl atls.
Time Travelers
July 13th-July 16th | 6-8 years old
Get ready to step back in time with us as each day of this hands-on camp will allow campers to experience what life was like in the past. The historic Ney homestead will serve as a backdrop for this unique camp experience. Whether 10,000 years ago or the turn of the century, every era had its own challenges and fun – time traveling campers will get to experience it all.
Naturalists-in-Training
July 20th-July 23rd | 12-14 years old
Ever wanted to know what goes on behind the scenes at Ney? What does it take to work at a nature center? A zoo? If you love animals, want to spend as much time outside as possible, and are looking for the chance to hone your leadership skills, this is the camp for you. Each day we’ll focus on a different aspect of what it means to be an environmental educator, whether that’s working with captive educational animals, land management projects, working with children, or simply finding fun in the company of others. This camp is the perfect opportunity for our oldest campers to put their skills to the test, and to see if they have what it takes to be a Naturalist!
Pirate Camp
July 20th-July 23rd | 6-8 years old
Ahoy ye scurvy dogs! Have you got what it takes to be a pirate? The Frog Pond Pirates are looking for new crew members. Come test your skills as we jump into nature. From identifying where to camp during our time on land to reading a map, you will need to understand nature to survive! We will hunt for treasure, learn to navigate, and battle on the tallgrass prairie seas. Adventure awaits! Full-day camp.
Dig It!
July 27th-July 30th | 6-8 years old
Roll up your sleeves and prepare for the MESSIEST camp that Ney has to offer! Every day will be a new adventure in mud, rocks, and slime, and all things in the dirt. Extra clothes will be a must as we dig deep to learn about burrowing animals, fossils, gardening, and more.
Seasonal Break Camps
This year Ney will be offering 2 one-day camps in fall, winter, and spring. All camps are for children ages 6-11 at the time of the camp and run from 9:00am – 3:15pm.
Register for a seasonal break camp today!
Fall Break Camps
Fall Fun [Oct 16th 2025] & Wilderness Adventures [Oct 17th 2025]
Ages 6-11 years old. 9:00am – 3:30pm
Winter Break Camps
Cozy Critters [Dec 29th 2025] & Arctic Adventures [Dec 30th 2025]
Ages 6-11 years old. 9:00am – 3:15pm
Spring Break Camps
Youth Day Camp FAQs
What should my child bring to camp?
– Lunch & reusable water bottle (we provide an afternoon snack)
– FULL change of clothes in case of mud, water balloons, or outdoor adventuring mishap!
– Dress your child as if they will be outside all day, layers are a great idea! Proper footwear for hiking, running, and playing outside will mean your camper has a wonderful experience.
– WINTER CAMPS: Please pack extra socks and other layers in case your camper’s gear gets wet from snow!
Do you offer scholarships?
We do! Visit our scholarship page to learn more and apply.
How do I register?
Once registration opens for you (either member or general public), you can click the “Register Now” button, which will show up on this site. Click the camp(s) you want to register for and add them to your cart. Once you have all camps in your cart, click the cart/check-out icon in the top right-hand corner. Please make sure you have received a receipt for your registration, it will come from info(at)neycenter.org
Do you offer beforecare or aftercare?
We do not at this time, but you can drop off your child as early as 15 minutes before start time and as late as 15 minutes after end time. Please do not drop your child off at camp earlier than 15-minutes prior to camp start time. Camp staff are busy during this time, and will not be available to supervise. If you need to pick your camper up early from camp, please contact Ney staff in advance so preparations can be made.
My child is too old or too young for the camp I want to register them for. Can I register them anyway?
Ney Nature Center offers seasonal camps (spring, fall, winter) for campers aged 6-11. Summer Day Camp at Ney offers camps in four age categories: 4-5, 6-8, 9-11, and 12-14. Our camps are designed for the ages listed, and Ney policies do not allow for campers to attend camps outside of their age group. For teens, we recommend they apply for our Junior Leader Volunteer program, it is all the fun of camp but they earn volunteer hours for skill building or resumes, and we are happy to serve as a reference on future job applications. We encourage camper families to reach out if they have campers that are interested in camps outside their age groups – this can allow us to plan for furture summers, providing more camps in different high-interest age groups, and more high-interest topics.
My child has accessibility needs. Can you accommodate them?
We will always do our best to accommodate all accessibility needs. Please contact us directly so we can work with your family to make this a great experience. Also be sure to list any accomodation needs during your registration process.
Is your question not answered here? Contact us directly via email or phone.
CAMP POLICIES
Cancellation Policy: We reserve the right to cancel a camp at any time if our staff or board deems it necessary for health or safety reasons. If Ney cancels prior to the beginning of camp, a full refund will be provided; if it is during the week, we will calculate a remaining per-day refund.
Refund Policy (UPDATED 2025): 29 days or more before the first day of camp, you can receive a full refund by emailing or calling us. Between 28 and 15 days before the first day of camp, we can provide a 75% refund. Between 14-8 days before the first day of camp you can receive a 50% refund, and within the 7 days before the first day of camp or after, no refunds are provided.
COVID-19 & Illness: We follow CDC guidelines for all our procedures. Please visit the MN Department of Health website for more information. If your camper is experiencing symptoms of ANY communicable illness, please stay home! We reserve the right to send your child home if they may be infectious. If you have questions, you can reach us by email or call us at 507-357-8580.
Camper Behavior Policy: Ney Nature Center expects participants to listen to instructors and act respectfully toward everyone, including animals, equipment, and nature. We reserve the right to send a camper home without a refund in case of a physical altercation and/or if consistent misbehavior affects other participants’ experience or safety. This is a last resort, and we ask that you communicate any strategies needed for behavior in your registration or via email before the first day of camp.