2026 Camp Guide | Academic
March 2026
brought to you by simply local magazine
ADVANCED KITCHEN
CHEMISTRY: THE SCIENCE OF COOKING
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
June 28th – July 2nd, Overnight, 3:30PM Sun-day to 3:30PM Thursday
Age/Grades: 12, 13, 14 years
Cost: $650
Location: 7653 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena 59602
Designed for campers ready to go deeper, this hands-on camp explores the chemistry behind cooking through experimentation and analysis. Campers will investigate chemical reactions, physical transformations, pH, emulsions, and heat transfer using real ingredients and kitchen tools. Through guided experiments and problem-solving, students will connect food science to core chemistry concepts—while still enjoying some tasty results along the way.
Registration Deadline: June 14th
Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Innovations/
BUILD IT!: UNLEASH YOUR INNER ENGINEER!
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638 June 22nd – 25th, 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Age/Grades: 6, 7, 8 years
Cost: $400
Location: 7653 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena 59602
Young engineers will explore the exciting world of simple machines, gears, levers, pulleys, and more. While discovering how they power our everyday lives. Campers will experiment, problem-solve, and design their own take-home structure, showcasing their creativity and engineering skills. Perfect for curious minds ready to build something amazing!
Registration Deadline: June 8th
Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Discovery/
CAMP EXPLORE THE UNIVERSE
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
July 19th – 23rd, Overnight, 4PM that Sunday to 4PM that Thursday
Ages/Grades: 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 years
Cost: $995
Blast off with a five-day overnight adventure where high schoolers use Montana’s largest observatory and cutting-edge telescopes to image planets, galaxies, nebulae, and more under starry skies. With hands-on activities, solar observing, astrophotography, and expert guides at Canyon Ferry Lake, you’ll dive into real astronomy and craft your own stargazing journey.
Registration Deadline: July 5th
Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Explore-the-Universe/
COSMIC DETECTIVES: HOW WE EXPLORE THE UNIVERSE
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
July 12th – 16th, Overnight, 3:30PM Sunday to 3:30PM Thursday
Age/Grades: 12, 13, 14 years
Cost: $650
Location: 7653 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena 59602
Become an astronomer for a week and discover how scientists explore space using light, optics, and clever tools. Campers build pinhole cameras, experiment with optics, create their own spectroscopes, and design a walkable solar system trail that brings the vast scale of space down to Earth. They’ll learn how astronomers classify objects—from planets to stars to galaxies—and use sky charts to navigate the night sky. The adventure culminates with hands-on time in Montana
Learning Center’s world-class astronomy program, using powerful telescopes under dark, star-filled skies.
Registration Deadline: June 28th
Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Innovations/
CSI CANYON FERRY: SCIENCE, SECRETS & SLEUTHING
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638 August 2nd – 6th, Overnight, 3:30PM Sunday to 3:30PM Thursday
Age/Grades: 12, 13, 14 years
Cost: $650
Location: 7653 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena 59602
Suit up as a forensic investigator and dive into the science behind solving crimes in this fast-paced mystery camp. Analyze evidence, decode data, and explore real techniques like DNA fingerprinting, pattern analysis, and forensic reasoning as you work to crack the case. Each day brings new clues, twists, and challenges that sharpen your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Registration Deadline: July 26th
Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Innovations/
DINOSAUR CAMP
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638 August 16th – 21st, Overnight, 10AM that Sun-day to 5PM that Friday
Ages/Grades: 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 years
Cost: $1,495
Dig into adventure at a six-day overnight pa-leontology experience in Ekalaka, MT where high schoolers uncover real fossils in the Hell Creek Formation and help prepare discoveries for museum display. Guided by experts from the Carter County Museum, you’ll learn hands-on excavation and fossil prep techniques while exploring active dig sites and making scientific memories.
Registration Deadline: August 2nd Register: MontanaLearning.org/Dinosaur-Camp/
ENGINEER IT!: DESIGN, BUILD, LAUNCH
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
July 19th – 23rd, Overnight, 3:30PM Sunday to 3:30PM Thursday
Age/Grades: 12, 13, 14 years
Cost: $650
Location: 7653 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena 59602
Step into the world of real engineering as you tackle hands-on design challenges that turn ideas into working solutions. Go behind the scenes at Canyon Ferry Dam to see how massive systems generate electricity, then explore cutting-edge aerospace technology on an exclusive visit to a local Boeing facility. Along the way, test prototypes, problem-solve
like an engineer, and see how innovation shapes the world around us.
Registration Deadline: July 5th
Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Innovations/
KITCHEN CHEMISTRY: THE SCI-ENCE OF COOKING AND BE-YOND!
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638 August 2nd – 6th, Overnight, 3:00PM Sunday to 3:00PM Thursday
Age/Grades: 9, 10, 11 years
Cost: $600
Location: 7653 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena 59602
Discover the science that makes food sizzle, rise, and transform in this hands-on culinary lab. Experiment with chemical reactions, molecular gastronomy, and everyday ingredients to create delicious—and surprising—results. From baking chemistry to edible experiments, you’ll mix, taste, and explore how science comes alive in the kitchen. Get ready to cook up some science-filled fun!
Registration Deadline: July 19th Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Young-Naturalist/
LEGO ROBOTICS: ARTEMIS LUNAR MISSION
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
June 21st – 25th, Overnight, 3:00PM Sunday to 3:00PM Thursday
Age/Grades: 9, 10, 11 years
Cost: $600
Location: 7653 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena 59602
Explore the Moon like NASA’s Artemis teams! Design, build, and program LEGO rovers to navigate the lunar surface, collect data, and complete mission challenges on a realistic Moon map. Work together to solve engineering problems, develop coding and STEM skills, and prepare for the next era of lunar exploration. Registration Deadline: June 7th
LEGO ROBOTICS: MISSION MARS
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
July 26th – 30th, Overnight, 3:00PM Sunday to 3:00PM Thursday
Age/Grades: 9, 10, 11 years
Cost: $600
Location: 7653 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena 59602
Build, code, and explore the Red Planet using LEGO robotics and teamwork. Design and program a Mars rover to navigate rugged terrain, complete mission challenges, and collect data on a detailed Martian map. Take your mission further by piloting drones for landing and exploration simulations while sharpening problem-solving and STEM skills.Are you ready to launch your journey to Mars?
Registration Deadline: July 12th
Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Young-Naturalist/
MATTER MASH-UP! WHERE SCIENCES GETS PHYSICAL
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
July 12th – 16th, Overnight, 3:00PM Sunday to 3:00PM Thursday Age/Grades: 9, 10, 11 years
Cost: $600
Location: 7653 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena 59602
Matter comes alive in this fast-paced, experiment-filled science camp. Dive into the particle world behind solids, liquids, and gases as you test strength, explore flow, and unleash the hidden power of air. Through hands-on investigations, eye-catching demonstrations, and big “aha!” moments, campers will discover how tiny particles create some seriously amazing phenomena.
Registration Deadline: June 28th
Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Young-Naturalist/
MONTANA AEROSPACE SCHOLARS – FRESHMEN & SOPHOMORE PROGRAM
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
June 28th to July 2nd, Overnight, 4PM that Sunday to 4PM that Thursday
Ages/Grades: 14, 15, 16 years
Cost: $750
Blast off in a hands-on space program where curious high school students design a hypothetical mission to the Moon, explore space careers, and collaborate with peers from across Montana. Complete the lunar challenge series to earn a spot at a five-day Summer Residency on Canyon Ferry Lake, tackling real space problems with guidance from regional STEM experts. If you’re dreaming beyond Earth, MAS is your launchpad .
Registration Deadline: February 28th Register: MontanaLearning.org/Apollo50/
MONTANA AEROSPACE SCHOLARS – JUNIOR & SENIOR PROGRAM
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
July 5th - 9th, Overnight, 4PM that Sunday to 4PM that Thursday Ages/Grades: 16, 17, 18 years
Cost: $1,000
Blast off in a hands-on space program where curious high school students design a hypothetical mission to Mars, explore space careers, and collaborate with peers from across Montana. Complete the Martian challenge series to earn a spot at a five-day Summer Residency on Canyon Ferry Lake, tackling real space problems with guidance from regional STEM experts. If you’re dreaming beyond Earth, MAS is your launchpad .
Registration Deadline: February 28th Register: MontanaLearning.org/Apollo50/
RMC AVIATION CAMP
Rocky Mountain College rocky.edu/camps | camps@rocky.edu June 2 - 4, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Ages/Grades: 9th -12th Grade
Cost: $345.71 Includes t-shirt, flight, and pizza lunch on last day of camp
Location: RMC Flight Operations Center located at the Billings Logan International Airport, 1901 Terminal Cirle
Registration and Payment questions: camps@rocky.edu
This aviation camp features a flight in a Rocky Mountain College airplane with an FAA-certified instructor, plus drone orientation and tours of the Air Traffic Control Tower, a charter aircraft company, and the Billings Airport runways and taxiways. Campers will learn about aircraft design, flight planning, aerodynamics, and aviation careers, making it ideal for students exploring professional aviation. Participants must wear weather-appropriate clothing with closed-toe shoes. Lunch breaks are scheduled, bring meals the first two days, with lunch provided on the final day.
Register: rocky.edu/camps
Originally printed in the March 2026 issue of Simply Local Magazine
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