article by Stephanie Hobby

If you’re looking for a summer camp that is a little off the beaten path, Montana has a wealth of unique offerings to keep your children busy and engaged all summer long, whether you are interested in cultivating their love for outdoor adventure, STEM activities, history, or other recreation. Here are a few options to consider:

MONTANA LEARNING CENTER

Based in Canyon Ferry, offers a variety of STEM summer camps for school-age children. High school students can choose from astronomy in Camp Explore the Universe, which makes use of the largest collection of the most powerful, publicly available telescopes in the state; Camp Extreme Yellowstone Expedition, a 6-day, 5-night adventure in the wilderness of Yellowstone, complete with zip lining and white water rafting, while studying Yellowstone’s thermal pools and wildlife; Big Sky River Quest: The Missouri Breaks, a 46-mile canoe trip along this historic waterway to study ancient people as well as the Lewis and Clark trail; or Dinosaur Camp, in partnership with the Carter County Museum in Ekalaka to participate in an active dinosaur dig. montanalearning.org

LONE MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS CAMP

Two-week sessions of wilderness life located in Big Sky, with over 100 acres of meadows, mountain trails, creeks, and a spring-fed pond for hiking, exploring, archery, canoeing, wagon rides, crafts, gold panning, as well as learning about farm life and Native American history. Ages pre-K through 14. Email Farmer Dave at lonemtnfarm@gmail.com for more information and a current application.

MONTANA WILDERNESS SCHOOL

Has the goal of fostering a deeper connection to the natural world and leadership skills; ages 14-18, based in Bozeman. montanawildernessschool.org

DINOSAUR CAMPS

Montana is ripe with opportunities for the budding paleontologist in your house! For younger dinosaur enthusiasts, the Carter County Museum also hosts its annual Dino ShinDig, which kicks off with a Dinosaurs and Dark Skies event on July 23, but the official weekend is the 25-26, full of paleontology lectures, children’s activities, a silent auction, and other fun. cartercountymuseum.org/dino-shindig

ALPENGIRL

Based in Bozeman, AlpenGirl camps encourage tween and teen girls to embrace adventure. With nearly three decades of history, AlpenGirl is now expanding to women’s tours, with the same destinations as their iconic youth trips, including the closer-to-home Mountain West and Pacific Northwest, to across the US and Europe. For those going into fifth grade through high school. Visit alpengirlcamp.com for more.

WILDLIFE CAMPS

Check with ZooMontana zoomontana.org and Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary yellowstonewildlifesanctuary.org in Red Lodge for summer camp offerings for younger children.

CIRCUS CAMP

If you’re able to make the trek to Bozeman, you could offer your kids a truly unique experience, where your 5-14 year olds can run away to the circus. Each session invites campers to learn acrobatics, juggling, unicycle, clowning, aerial arts, and more. 406cirque.com/summer-camp

Originally printed in the March 2026 issue of Simply Local Magazine

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