Minnesota Women’s Press 2026 Youth Resource Guide: Jobs, Camps, and Activities
Summer Programs for Kids
Adventures in Cardboard
Build arms and armor, battle on trails as you seek out magical relics of power! contact@adventuresincardboard.com
Camp Fire Minnesota
You belong here. ✨ Over 100 years of inspiring growth, adventure, and connection in nature for all through day & overnight camps, Northwoods trips, and teen leadership. info@campfiremn.org, 612-235-7284
Camp Pillsbury
Camp Pillsbury is a premier co-ed sleepaway camp for kids ages 6-17. Programs include: Musical Theatre, Circus Arts, Trapeze, Dance, Rockband, Equestrian, Woodworking, Visual Arts, Sports, Technology, Watersports, Magic, Gymnastics, Fashion Design & more. Camp Pillsbury is located an hour south of Minneapolis. Attend a two or three week session, or stay the whole summer! Save lots the longer you stay! camppillsbury@gmail.com, 507-214-2200
Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts
Foci MCGA offers youth glass camps (ages 9-17) and adult classes to learn glassblowing, kilnworking, stained glass, flameworking, and more! Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts 2213 Snelling Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404, contact@mnglassart.org, 612-759-8476
Franconia Sculpture Park
Safe, fun, and inspiring space for youth to create, engage, and explore, focused on sculpture and contemporary art. info@franconia.org, 651-257-6668
Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies
Half-day camps for beginning to advanced strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion students. July 21-25 in Minneapolis. Scholarships available. mail@gtcys.org, 651-602-6800
The Loft’s Young Writer’s Program (Loft Literary Center)
Creative writing classes for youth ages 6-18 taught by award-winning and published authors. loft@loft.org, 612-215-2575
Midwest Karate Kids
We teach non-contact, traditional Japanese karate to folks aged 6 and up and run karate summer camps for kids. shotokankaratemn@gmail.com; midwestkaratekids@gmail.com, 612-870-1795
Minnesota Farmers Union
Minnesota Farmers Union Foundation summer camps are designed for ages 5-18 and give kids the chance to discover new passions, step away from screens and build skills that last a lifetime. Overnight and day camps. camp@mfu.org, 651-639-1223
Saint Paul Urban Tennis
SPUT offers affordable youth tennis programs year-round for ages 5-18. We welcome all skill levels and backgrounds, making tennis fun and accessible to all. Check out our new all-girls tennis lessons, clinics and summer camp! admin@urbantennis.org, 651-222-2879
Studio Seven
Fine art program for children ages 7-18. Instruction includes renaissance studio techniques, outdoor landscape compositions, still life and figure studies. kahlowcurtis@gmail.com
Tamahay Camp for Girls
Tamahay is a technology free, outdoor learning environment where self-confidence is gained through activity. info@tamahay.com, 218-652-3033
YMCA of the North
Summer opportunities at the YMCA are endless! Visit our website for available programs. 612-230-9622
YWCA Minneapolis Summer Smash Camp
Summer Smash Summer Camp at YWCA Minneapolis offers full-day fun for grades K–4 with STEAM activities, arts and crafts, cultural learning and outdoor play in a safe, supportive environment.
Workforce, Scholarships, Internship Opportunities
Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center
Explore art made with heat, spark, or flame this summer! 4-day camps in blacksmithing, welding, glass, and more. info@cafac.org, 612-294-0400
Dunwoody – P2C
The Pathways to Careers (P2C) Summer Experience Program is a 3-week summer program for current high school juniors and seniors to explore in-demand trades and technology careers while preparing for college. Selected students may receive a scholarship of up to $10,000 per year for two years to attend Dunwoody after high school. Application Deadline is April 15, 2026. p2c@dunwoody.edu, 612-381-8160
Mentor Minnesota
Expanding the mentoring movement by providing support and resources to Minnesota Youth Mentoring Programs. mentor@mentormn.org
Minnesota Center for Glass Art / Foci Glass
Get hands-on with glass during one of our signature Glass Discovery introductory experiences or sign up for a multi-week Core Class and begin your glass adventure! contact@mnglassart.org, 612-759-8476
MN Department of Labor and Industry Apprenticeships
Customized and hands-on, apprenticeships allow you to learn and earn. Your wages increase as you master job-specific skills through classroom and on-the-job training. Apprenticeships offer rewarding careers and flexible work/life balance.
Minnesota Youth Program
Short term employment and training (classroom and hands-on) for low-income and at-risk youth age 14-24 needing workplace skills. Kay.Tracy@state.mn.us, 651-259-7555
Sprockets Saint Paul
A network that connects young people in Saint Paul to high-quality after-school and summer programs through our Program Finder. Check out Sprocket’s interactive program map here. jwiedow@ywcastpaul.org, 651-265-0720
For 2025 coverage, Minnesota Women’s Press earned a community leadership award, three photography awards, and four editorial awards, including for coverage of social issues and for our Spring 2025 “Know Your Rights” special section supported by Unidos MN. Our publisher was named Journalist of the Year by Violence Free Minnesota for gender-based violence coverage.
