Summer Camp Awards

The Science Museum of Minnesota is dedicated to welcoming a socioeconomically diverse group of youth to our educational programs. Summer Camp Awards provide financial support to families to send their children to our camps. Awards cover the cost for one week of camp (per family) and are granted by a weighted selection process.

Details

  • Award recipients are selected starting on Monday, Jan. 27, until all award funds are depleted.

  • Applicants whose names are not selected will be notified no later than Thursday, May 1 unless more funds become available.

  • If a family’s application is selected, all children within the family, grades pre-K through 6, will receive:

    • Either:

      • Up to two week-long, half-day in-person camps

      • One week-long, full-day camp

      • One week of pre-K camp (half-day)

  • Both morning and afternoon extended care at no charge

  • A camp T-shirt

  • Families will be asked to pay a processing fee of $20 per camper. (If this fee presents a barrier to accepting the award, please ask the registration staff about the possibility of waiving it.)

  • The of a typical award is $500 per camper.

Eligibility

Anyone is welcome to apply for summer camp awards. Awards are intended for families that are experiencing financial hardship and/or qualify for one of the following forms of public assistance:

  • TANF, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 

  • MFIP, Minnesota Family Investment Program

  • General Assistance

  • WIC, Women, Infants & Children

  • Medicaid or Medical Assistance

  • SSI, Supplemental Security Income

  • Food Stamps

  • Section 8 housing

  • MN Care

  • Free or Reduced Price School Meals

  • Unemployment

How to Apply

Awards for the 2025 camp season have been distributed. To be notified when awards applications open for the 2026 summer camps season, please complete this form.