2026 Camp Guide | Outdoors & Nature
March 2026
brought to you by simply local magazine
ADULT WEEKEND RETREAT “FINDING JOY FROM ASHES”
Heart and Hand Center heartandhandcenter.com | 406-587-4036
July 31 - August 2 Ages/Grades: Adults
This immersive weekend retreat focuses on rest, reflection, and renewal, helping adults reconnect with joy through nature-based experiences and guided emotional growth. Register: heartandhandcenter.com or support@heartandhandcenter.com
APEX PREDATORS & YOU: SURVIVE AND THRIVE IN THE WILD!
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
July 5 – 9, Overnight, 3:00PM Sunday to 3:00PM Thursday
Age/Grades: 9, 10, 11 years
Cost: $600
Location: 7653 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena 59602
Step into the world of nature’s top hunters and discover how apex predators are built to survive. Explore animal behavior, adaptations, and ecosystems while learning survival strategies inspired by the wild’s fiercest creatures. Design your own animal kingdoms, test your problem-solving skills, and see what it really takes to survive—and thrive—in the natural world.
Registration Deadline: June 21st Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Young-Naturalist/
BACK TO SCHOOL CAMP
Heart and Hand Center heartandhandcenter.com | 406-587-4036
August 10-14, 10am - 4pm M-F Ages/Grades: 10-16 years
Cost: $550
Campers spend the week engaging with friendly horses, creating art, hiking, and participating in leadership-based games that help build confidence and self-esteem. Time on the Heart and Hand Center’s 286-acre ranch encourages joy, connection, and growth in a calm, natural setting.
Register: heartandhandcenter.com or support@heartandhandcenter.com
BIG SKY RIVER QUEST: THE MISSOURI BREAKS
Montana Learning Center
MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
June 28 – July 3, Overnight, 10AM that Sunday to 4PM that Friday
Age/Grades: 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 years
Cost: $1,295
Location: 7653 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena 59602
Join us for a six-day, 46-mile canoe adventure through Montana’s stunning White Cliffs. High schoolers will paddle, camp, and explore the rich history of this wild river once traveled by Native Americans and Lewis and Clark, while learning wilderness skills, building leadership, and relaxing under star-filled skies in a beginner-friendly backcountry experience.
Registration Deadline: June 14th
Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Float-the-Missouri-Breaks/
BORN TO EXPLORE: MONTANA EDITION
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
July 27 – 30, 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Age/Grades: 6, 7, 8 years
Cost: $400
Location: 7653 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena 59602
Embark on an exciting Camp Discovery adventure as young explorers discover Montana’s habitats, wildlife, state symbols, and natural treasures through hands-on games, map-building, art projects, nature walks, and rock and gem exploration. Campers will create their own Montana Explorer Journal while learning about the landscapes and animals that make the Big Sky State unique. This camp blends active play, creativity, and outdoor discovery to spark curiosity and a lifelong love of exploration.
Registration Deadline: July 13th
Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Discovery/
CAMP EXTREME YELLOWSTONE EXPEDITION
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
August 2 – 7, Overnight, 10AM that Sunday to 4PM that Friday
Ages/Grades: 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 years
Cost: $1,295
Gear up for a 6-day, 5-night wilderness journey where high schoolers trek through Yellowstone’s stunning landscapes, sleep under the stars, and tackle thrilling hikes, whitewater rafting, and ziplining. Learn essential wilderness and bear-safety skills from expert guides while exploring geysers, rivers, and wildlife in one of America’s most iconic national parks.
Registration Deadline: July 19th
Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Extreme-Yellowstone/
CRITTERS & CREATURES
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
August 3 – 6, 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Age/Grades: 6, 7, 8 years
Cost: $400
Location: 7653 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena 59602
Create, discover, and explore the living world around you. Campers will investigate the plants and animals of the Canyon Ferry Lake area, from tiny insects to larger wildlife, while using natural materials for hands-on crafts and projects. Along the way, they’ll identify species, spot animal signs, and build field tools to take home, fostering curiosity, creativity, and a deeper connection to the outdoors.
Registration Deadline: July 20th
Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Discovery/
DINOSAUR DISCOVERY
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
July 6 – 9, 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Age/Grades: 6, 7, 8 years
Cost: $400
Location: 7653 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena 59602
Step into Montana’s prehistoric past and uncover the secrets of the dinosaurs! Campers will learn how paleontologists find and preserve fossils, create dinosaur habitats, and explore different fossil types. The adventure includes digging up their very own pet dinosaur to take home. Get ready for a roaring good time!
Registeration Deadline: June 22nd Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Discovery/
INFERNO SCIENCE: WILDFIRES, SURVIVAL & RENEWAL
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
June 21st – 25th, 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 real burn zones near Canyon Ferry Lake and track how wildfires move—what fuels them, what stops them, and what they leave behind. Test smoke and air quality, map burn patterns, and explore the science and strategies firefighters use to protect people and places. Then follow the comeback: see how plants regenerate, animals adapt, and ecosystems rebuild after the flames. If you’re ready for heat, action, and field science that feels like an expedition, this is your camp.
Registration Deadline: June 7th
Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Innovations/
KIDS DAY CAMP
Heart and Hand Center heartandhandcenter.com | 406-587-4036
June 15-19, 10am - 4pm M-F
Ages/Grades: 8-10 years
Cost: $550
Campers spend the week engaging with friendly horses, creating art, hiking, and participating in leadership-based games that help build confidence and self-esteem. Time on the Heart and Hand Center’s 286-acre ranch encourages joy, connection, and growth in a calm, natural setting.
Register: heartandhandcenter.com or support@heartandhandcenter.com
LITTLES CAMPS
Montana Audubon Center mtaudubon.org/center/ | 406-294-5099
June 8-August 14, 8:30 am - 12:00 pm, and 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Ages/Grades: K-2nd Grade
Cost: $165
Littles Camps spark curiosity through hands-on, sensory experiences in the natural world. Campers spend most of their time outdoors exploring and discovering the plants and animals that call the Montana Audubon Center home.
Register: mtaudubon.org/center/
MIDDLES CAMPS
Montana Audubon Center mtaudubon.org/center/ | 406-294-5099
June 8 - August 14, Morning 8:30 am - 12:00 pm, Afternoon 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm, Full Day 9:00 pm
- 4:00 pm
Ages/Grades: 3rd-5th Grade
Cost: Morning Half Day - $165, Afternoon Half Day - $165 Full Day- $275
For the Middles, camp shifts toward deeper investigation and building outdoor skills. Campers focus on individual exploration and scientific discovery while diving into the ecology of the river and surrounding habitats. Register: mtaudubon.org/center/
MY ANIMAL PLANET
ZooMontana
zoomontana.org| 406-652-8100
June 8-12
July 6-10
August 27-31
8:00 am -12:00 pm
Ages/Grades: 6-8 years
Cost: $300
Location: 2100 South Shiloh Road, Billings Why do fish have scales? Why do birds have feathers? Why don’t insects have bones? Join us as we explore the diversity of the animal kingdom through hands-on activities, as well as meet and greets with the animal residents of ZooMontana!
Register: www.zoomontana.org/summer-camps
NATURE DETECTIVES: EXPLORE, OBSERVE, DISCOVER
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
July 20 – 23, 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Age/Grades: 6, 7, 8 years
Cost: $400
Location: 7653 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena 59602
Embark on a wild Montana safari as campers investigate Montana’s amazing wildlife through hands-on exploration. Budding zoologists will learn about vertebrates and invertebrates, habitats, adaptations, and animal behaviors while discovering how humans impact local wildlife. Campers will build habitats, create bird feeders, experience bat echolocation, and uncover why some animals’ eyes glow at night, get ready for a walk on the wild side!
Registration Deadline: July 6th
Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Discovery/
OLDERS CAMPS
Montana Audubon Center mtaudubon.org/center/ | 406-294-5099
June 8 - August 14, Morning 8:30 am - 12:00 pm, Afternoon 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm, Full Day 9:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Ages/Grades: 6th-9th Grade
Cost: Morning Half Day - $165 Afternoon Half Day - $165 Full Day- $275
The Olders program challenges middle schoolers with advanced environmental concepts and leadership opportunities. Campers take part in in-depth, educational programming that explores complex local ecosystems beyond the basics.
Register: mtaudubon.org/center/
OPERATION: CONSERVATION
ZooMontana
zoomontana.org| 406-652-8100
June 15-19
July 13-17
August 10-14
8:00 am -12:00 pm
Ages/Grades: 9-11 years
Cost: $300
Location: 2100 South Shiloh Road, Billings Campers will explore how ecosystems work and will gain skills of their own in protecting the planet. Travel the world through the lens of animals that need our help and learn ways to make a difference in our own backyard.
Register: www.zoomontana.org/summer-camps
ROCK RAIDERS: MONTANA’S UL-TIMATE GEOLOGY QUEST
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
July 5 – 9, 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 for an epic geology expedition across Montana’s legendary landscapes. Campers will search for agates, quartz crystals, garnets, and sapphires while learning how geologists identify minerals and read rock formations. Through hands-on fieldwork, panning, and guided exploration, students will discover the forces that shaped Big Sky Country, one incredible find at a time.
Registration Deadline: June 21st
Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Innovations/
ROCK ON: UNEARTH THE WONDERS OF GEOLOGY!
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
July 19th – 23rd, Overnight, 3:00PM Sunday to 3:00PM Thursday Age/Grades: 9, 10, 11 years
Cost: $600
Location: 7653 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena 59602
Dig into the world beneath your feet as you explore rocks, minerals, and fossils through hands-on investigation. Campers will collect sparkling gemstones, examine striking rock specimens, and take part in an exciting fossil dig while learning about Earth’s history and the forces shaping our planet today. Perfect for curious scientists and adventure seekers alike.
Registration Deadline: July 5th
Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Young-Naturalist/
TIME FOR TEENS CAMP
Heart and Hands Center heartandhandcenter.com | 406-587-4036
July 13–17, 10am - 4pm M-F
Ages/Grades: 10-16 years
Cost: $550
This camp offers teens a supportive space to develop self-awareness, emotional regulation, and healthy relational boundaries through hands-on experiences with horses, creative activities, and time in nature. The experience is designed to reduce anxiety and support emotional well-being..
Register: heartandhandcenter.com or support@heartandhandcenter.com
TINIES CAMPS
Montana Audubon Center mtaudubon.org/center/ | 406-294-5099
June 8- August 14, 8:30am - 12:00pm Ages/Grades: 3-5 years
Cost: $99
Location: 7026 South Billings Boulevard
Tinies Summer Session builds a strong foundation for lifelong learning in a small, nurturing setting. With experienced staff and a high-quality program focused on social skills, risk management, and play-based learning, each class is limited to just eight students. Registration is offered one week at a time throughout the 10-week summer season.
Register: mtaudubon.org/center/
WATERWORKS!
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
July 13th – 16th, 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Age/Grades: 6, 7, 8 years
Cost: $400
Location: 7653 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena 59602
Dive into the magic of water at Camp Discovery! Set on the shores of Canyon Ferry Lake, campers will explore the science of Earth’s most vital resource through hands-on building, water cycle experiments, and watershed models. From investigating aquatic life to splashing into interactive learning, this camp is packed with fun, discovery, and curiosity-driven exploration all week long.
Registration Deadline: June 29th
Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Discovery/
ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE: MASTER THE ART OF SURVIVAL
Montana Learning Center MontanaLearning.org | 406-475-3638
June 28th – July 2nd, Overnight, 3:00PM Sunday to 3:00PM Thursday Age/Grades: 9, 10, 11 years
Cost: $600
Location: 7653 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena 59602
The zombies are gone, but survival is just beginning. Learn essential wilderness survival skills like building shelters, making fire, and preparing meals with limited resources while exploring the science behind extreme environments. Work as a team, think critically, and take the lead as you tackle real-world survival challenges in this immersive outdoor adventure. Are you ready to rebuild and thrive? Registration Deadline: June 14th
Register: MontanaLearning.org/Camp-Young-Naturalist/
ZOOLYMPICS
ZooMontana
zoomontana.org | 406-652-8100
June 1-5
June 22-26
July 20-24
August 17-21
8:00 am -12:00 pm
Ages/Grades: 4 & 5 years
Cost: $300
Location: 2100 South Shiloh Road, Billings
Who on this planet is the fastest, the stealthiest, the smartest, and the strongest? Campers will explore the most talented in the animal kingdom through games, activities, and meet and greets. They will also get a chance to compete against the world’s top animal athletes in the Zoolympics Games!
Register: www.zoomontana.org/summer-camps
Originally printed in the March 2026 issue of Simply Local Magazine
Never miss an issue, check out SLM's digital editions here!
