Best Summer Camps Or Workshops For Teens In Minnesota

A positive summer camp experience for your teens can leave them with greater self-esteem, increased knowledge and a lifetime of happy memories. It can be difficult to pick the right one with so many options out there. For some of the best camp offerings in Minnesota, read on.

Chan DT Musical Theatre Camp
501 W. 78th St.
Chanhassen, MN 55317
(952) 934-1525
www.chanhassendt.com

Chanhassen Dinner Theatre offers a variety of musical theatre camp experiences with its Chan DT summer camp. Led by the professionals that normally grace the stage or work behind the scenes at Chanhassen, teens will learn about the components of musical theatre, including costumes, improv and movement. All experience levels are welcome here and most sessions last half or full days for a period of one week. Options include a Teen Intensive Camp (ages 13-18) for $450 per student, a Build-a-Musical Camp (ages 10-15) for $450 per student and half-day teen sessions (ages 13-18) for $225 per student.

Related: Best Summertime Theatre Activities for Kids in Minnesota

Science Museum of Minnesota
120 W. Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55102
(651) 221-9444
www.smm.org

Innovative summer programs from the Science Museum of Minnesota are offered to teens up to 16 years old.  Full- and half-day summer camps for this age group are technology focused with topics including filmmaking, animation and 3D modeling.  The professional instructors come from a variety of backgrounds and educate on cutting-edge methods in a hands-on fashion.  Not only will science and tech skills be developed, but the camp program also integrates literature, arts and drama into the learning for a well-rounded experience.

Circus Juventas
1270 Montreal Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55116
(651) 699-8229
www.circusjuventas.org

For an original summer camp experience, check out Circus Juventas, where teens can learn circus arts. A professional training staff helps students soar to new heights no matter what their level of experience, all while maintaining a non-competitive environment. Camp instruction includes the trapeze, high wire, German wheel and more. There is a performance day at the end of the camp week where friends and family can view the newly developed circus skills.

The Art Academy
515 S. Albert St.
St. Paul, MN 55116
(651) 699-1573
www.theartacademy.net

Unleash your teen's creativity. The Art Academy offers art education this summer for the cost of $180 per student. Options include a week-long camp for 13- to 18-year-olds or a once-per-week class for eight weeks in the fundamentals of drawing and painting. Here, students will explore the use of watercolors, oils, ink and more with an impressive student-to-teacher ratio. A class in the drawing of manga, super heroes and fantasy figures is also available to 10- to 18-year-olds, with the class meeting one night a week for eight weeks.

Gopher Sports Camps
University of Minnesota Athletics
516 15th Ave. S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(612) 625-6888
www.gophersports.com

The University of Minnesota provides a wide variety of athletic camp options for teens within its Gopher Sports program. Baseball, golf, basketball, wrestling, hockey, gymnastics, diving and many more are offered. The coaching staff of each respective sport offers exceptional guidance in the fundamentals and mechanics of the area being focusing on. Many price points and ability levels are represented in the Gophers Sports Camp line-up, so contact the U of M directly for more information on the best choice for your teen.

MacPhail Center for Music
501 S. 2nd St.
Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 321-0100
www.macphail.org

MacPhail offers many options for teenage music lovers. Jazz, rock, piano, clarinet, percussion, hip hop and introductory voice camp are just some of MacPhail's offerings for teens up to 19 years of age. Each camp has its own varying prerequisites, location, dates and cost, but expect to pay roughly $300-$450 for a one-week camp session. It's a great opportunity for young adults to express themselves through music.

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Cortney Mohnk is a freelance writer covering all things Minnesota. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.