Summer & Family Camps
Eagle Bluff is home to a multitude of unique and adventurous, overnight summer camps for kids entering grades 3 through 12 as well as a family camp weekend in July.
Find an overnight camp that’s perfect for your child and family!
Our camps allow campers to experience the best of Eagle Bluff’s activities, but also has its own distinct theme. Each theme allows them to explore and immerse themselves in a new focus area of their choosing. From learning to handle raptors to discovering what it’s like to sleep outdoors in their own shelter, Eagle Bluff campers gain new skills, build their self-confidence, and foster their relationship with the natural world.
2020 Summer and Family Camps
Registration for 2020 summer camps will open later this year. Please check back in December & January for next year’s camp offerings, or enter your email address below to get notified when we post the new summer camp sessions.
Summer Camp Information
Where do campers play?
Campers will be up and down our campus throughout their different activities! They could be tackling one of our high ropes courses, scrambling up our 40 foot rock wall, and shooting arrows at the range. Beyond that, each camp specializes in different activities, such as shooting at the rifle range or exploring the ponds for frogs and turtles.
Where do campers sleep?
Campers spend their nights in our climate-controlled dormitory. Friends that come to camp together will be housed in the same room. On duty staff members sleep nearby in case they are needed in the night. As an added bonus, many of our camps also include a one or two night camp-out!
Where do campers eat?
The majority of meals take place in our dining hall, where the emphasis is on using local, sustainable ingredients, creating nutritious, kid-friendly meals, and minimizing food waste. We make every attempt to meet any food allergy or dietary needs. Each camp also has at least one meal (often more!) over the campfire.
Summer Camp Rates
Individual Camp Rates are listed with each camp. Click a camp page above to see more details.
All summer camps require pre-registration. Your camper’s placement is held by making a non-refundable deposit.
**Early Bird Rates end April 15th, 2019**
Full payment for the Early Bird rate is not due until camp check-in.
Returning Camper Discount: Enjoy 5% off the listed price if your camper attended an Eagle Bluff Summer Camp in 2018 (excluding 2018 Firearms Safety Camps). Your discount code will arrive both in the mail and via email, and is used on our Eventbrite Online Registration Page. Discounts can be applied to all 2019 camps, excluding Firearms Safety, each of the Counselor-in-Training weeks, and Becoming an Outdoors Family.
Meet the Summer Camp team
The core of our summer staff are adults aged 21 or older who have a college degree, and will have spent the previous year working at Eagle Bluff with the visiting school groups as a part of the Naturalist Fellowship.
Jenna Moon
Summer Camps Manager
Erica Hall
Summer Camps Manager
Colleeen Foehrenbacher
Education Director
Campers are supervised at all times, except when in their rooms at night. An on duty staff member will be sleeping in their own, clearly marked room in the same section of the dormitory as the campers in case they are needed in the night.
We are committed to providing an exciting but safe summer camp experience. All of our staff are first-aid and CPR certified.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my camper has special dietary requirements?
Eagle Bluff’s kitchen can cater for campers with special dietary requirements, like allergies or vegetarian preferences. Just make sure to clearly indicate your camper’s needs on their medical or registration forms. Our campus is peanut free.
Does my camper get to go on a ropes course?
It depends! Our ropes courses are best designed for 5th grade and up, so depending on the camp they will challenge themselves on a ropes course.
How do I make sure my camper and their friend room together at camp?
On the registration form, there is a place for you to indicate your camper’s roommate preferences. The Summer Camps Manager will make sure that they are placed together. If your camper isn’t coming with a roommate, they will be placed in a room with campers similar in age.
How does the Early Bird registration work?
Your campers’s registration qualifies for the discounted, Early Bird rate as long as they are registered by April 15th. Registration is completed by paying either the deposit OR the full payment. If you only pay the deposit while registering, the remaining, discounted payment is due at camp check-in, but may be turned in at any time prior to the camp start date.
What’s the difference between Firearms Safety Camp and Forkhorn I Camp?
The Firearms Safety Camp focuses mainly on completing your child’s Firearms Safety Certification. They will attend classes and complete activities that fulfill the certification process and go to our ranges to complete the field day portion. They will get to go on a ropes course while at camp, for fun. We will send you a form in the mail prior to your camper’s arrival to be filled out and brought with to camp.
Campers may also use the Forkhorn I camp to complete their Firearms Safety Certification, but the week-long camp has many more “summer camp-like” activities. If they want to complete their certification, they must complete the online portion of the certification process prior to the start of camp. They will do the field day portion while here, along with a few other hunting related activities to supplement the online lessons. The rest of the time they will be in and out of many other activities: canoeing, archery, a high ropes course, an overnight camp-out, rock climbing, and more.
How do I get to Eagle Bluff?
What’s on the packing list for my camper?
A packet will be sent out via email about one month before camp starts. It includes all of the info you’ll need to prepare for camp! The packets will also be online on the camp pages about one month prior to the start date of each camp.
Does my camper get to swim?
Depending on the camp, swimming occurs in the Root River, or in a State Park lake. When swimming where no lifeguard is present, all campers will be wearing a personal flotation device. There will also be set boundaries and adults with throw bags in case a camper requires assistance.
How do I contact my camper during the week?
You are encouraged to correspond with your camper by emailing to campers@eagle-bluff.org (please put your camper’s name in the subject line) or if you wish to send a letter to your camper, address it as follows:
Your Camper’s Name
Name of Camp
Eagle Bluff ELC
28097 Goodview Drive
Lanesboro, MN 55949
If your camper is attending a camp hosted at Eagle Bluff, but run by an outside group, please contact the person in charge of that group to reach your camper.
What happens if my camper is injured?
Every staff member has, at a minimum, current First Aid and CPR certifications. We also have individuals who are certified Emergency Medical Technicians, Wilderness First Response, and/or Wilderness Advanced First Aid. Minor injuries (i.e. scrapes and bruises) will be treated by staff in our well equipped first aid room. If any injury requiring more than basic first aid occurs, we will contact the parents immediately. In case of such an injury, we take the camper to a medical clinic in Preston or to St. Mary’s Emergency Room in Rochester. If need be, both an ambulance out of Lanesboro and the Mayo helicopter can be at Eagle Bluff in approximately 10 minutes.
Do I need to send money with my camper?
We encourage campers not to bring money. There are no vending machines available to the campers. We open the gift shop on the last day of camp when parents come to pick up campers, thus there will be an opportunity for them to purchase a souvenir.
Do I need to send snacks with my camper?
No; everything campers need, including snacks, will be provided by Eagle Bluff. This is also to prevent a food allergy reaction. If campers bring food or drinks with to camp, it will be held in the office during camp and returned to campers when they leave. (Considerations are made for those campers with medical needs.)
Can my camper bring their cell phone?
No; we ask that cell phones stay at home. Campers are only allowed to use a telephone in the case of an emergency. If the staff deems a phone call home necessary, they will help the camper use an Eagle Bluff phone to contact their parent/guardian.
What about other electronics?
We ask that NO electronics, including tablets, smart watches, handheld video game systems, or iPods, are brought to Eagle Bluff. Not only do they detract from the camp experience, we cannot guarantee their safe keeping in the dormitory.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellations made at least 15 days prior to the start of camp will receive a full refund less the deposit. Cancellations made less than 15 days will be charged the full amount.