Camp Fire Minnesota’s Afterschool Explorers program focuses on connecting young people who face barriers to accessing nature with engaging outdoor learning opportunities. We create pathways for students to deepen their relationship with the natural world at their school, in their community, and on-site at Camp Fire Minnesota.
Program Details
How it works
Camp Fire staff meet with students twice a week throughout the school year for two-hour blocks. Students develop outdoor learning skills while exploring green spaces in their community through a combination of school-based activities and nature field trips. You’ll find our Afterschool Explorers hanging hammocks at local parks and learning about tree identification, snowshoeing alongside the Mississippi River, fishing in the local lakes, and more. We invite participants to join us at our Excelsior location for School Break Camps during the school year and Overnight Camp in the summer.
We never want financial expenses to be a barrier to accessing Camp Fire’s programs, therefore, participants can register for afterschool programming at no cost to families. Additionally, participants access School Break Camps and Summer Camp at a sliding scale fee starting at $0.
Where can you find the Afterschool Explorers program?
During the 2023-24 school year, we are partnering with the following schools:
- Ella Baker Global Studies & Humanities Magnet School
- Folwell Community School
- Lucy Craft Laney at Cleveland Park Community School
- Nellie Stone Johnson School
- Richard R. Green Central Park Elementary
- Seward Montessori
- Pillsbury Elementary School
- Jenny Lind Elementary School
What types of schools do we work in?
Schools with a free & reduced-price lunch rate of 50% or greater and whose students lack access to nature-based after-school programs.
Although we’d love to work in every school, due to staffing capacity, we are not currently accepting new Afterschool partners.
Current Participants: Find Registration & Waiver forms here.
Questions? Contact School Programs Manager, Caroline Bowen, at carolineb@campfiremn.org
Feeling Inspired? Give today.
Our Afterschool program is made possible thanks to the generosity of our philanthropic partners.
