Camp Resources

The safety and health of all of our community is of the utmost importance. If any of the following applies to your camper DO NOT send your camper to camp:

•  is feeling ill or showing symptoms of illness
•  has vomited within the last 24 hours
•  has a fever (100 degrees or higher)
•  has crawling lice

If any of these develop while at camp, your camper will need to be picked up promptly. Please call 612-235-7284 to inform us of your situation so we can work with you on the options that day and for the rest of the week.

In the best interest of fellow campers and staff, your camper must be illness and fever free for 24 hours before attending or returning to camp. Each family’s situation is unique. If you have any concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us for clarification.

To prevent the spread of lice, we ask that you check your camper and do not send them to camp if you discover lice. We do not allow sharing hats, combs, or brushes. 

If a camper is exposed to a communicable disease, their caregiver will be notified. Camp Fire Minnesota has protocols in place to respond to communicable disease cases. We closely monitor and follow guidelines and recommendations from the Centers of Disease Control and MN Department of Health. Additionally, we collaborate with Camp Fire National, American Camp Association, and camp and medical professionals to plan and train for safe programs.

We can accommodate meals for campers with the following dietary restrictions: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, pork-free, and dairy/lactose-free. We cannot guarantee no cross-contamination for severe allergies such as lactose and celiac disease. Our programs, including all camp prepared meals and snacks, are entirely nut-free; when packing lunches from home, please ensure it is also nut-free. In our Day Camp program, campers can bring lunch and snacks from home, so we cannot guarantee this program will be completely nut-free. Please reach out prior to camp to discuss options.

If we cannot accommodate your camper’s specific dietary needs during overnight camp, we can accommodate campers bringing their own meals to camp. We are happy to send families a meal schedule ahead of time so that they can send meals that are close to the planned menu, if desired.  

All medications, both prescribed and over-the-counter, must be turned in to the health center upon arrival at camp. 

Please keep any prescriptions or other medications brought to camp in the original containers with original labels and place them inside a ziplock bag along with a photo of your camper. Give medications to health or administrative staff at check-in. All medications are dispensed by designated, trained camp staff. Per health policy, please bring a completed Request to Administer Medication at Camp release form, if medications of any kind are being sent with your camper (including Epi-Pens, Auvi-Qs, and inhalers). Blank forms will also be available at camp.

We welcome campers with diabetes and are trained to safely administer injection medication. Our health office has a refrigerator specifically for refrigerated medications. Camp staff are trained in administering emergency medication, including Epi-Pens, Auvi-Qs, and inhalers.  

The relationship between a camper and their counselor is at the heart of the camping experience. Camp Fire staff members are carefully selected for their maturity, patience, camping skills, and desire to work with youth, as well as their commitment to acting as positive, caring role models. In addition, all staff are trained in youth development, age-appropriate activities, behavior management, and group management skills. These counselors are further supported by a leadership team of program and administrative staff, who are all dedicated to seeing that the needs of campers are met. All camp staff must pass a complete background check and reference check. 

Camp Fire is accredited by the American Camp Association. ACA accredited camps have met or exceeded up to 300 nationally recognized standards. These standards are continually evaluated and updated to reflect state-of-the-art camp practices. They address everything from program quality, to food preparation, to the qualifications of medical personnel and professional staff. Visit ACA’s website at acacamps.org for further information. 

All campers and staff wear life jackets while boating, swimming in the deep section of the lake, or using the water trampoline.  

Day campers entering 3rd grade and older and all overnight campers will have the opportunity to take a swim check led by certified lifeguards and supervised by the Waterfront Coordinator. This check determines if campers can swim without a life jacket in the enclosed, shallow water section of our swim area. Campers who do not pass the check or who opt out of the check will always wear a life jacket in the water, including the shallow section.  

During the check, campers will: swim from one dock to the other and back without touching the bottom, and tread water for 30 continuous seconds. Depending upon availability of lifeguards, campers who do not pass the swim check may have the opportunity to retake the test the following day. 

Our property and facilities have adequate shelter for rainy days, but getting from one building to another may produce muddy, wet feet and possibly wet clothing if proper rain gear is not worn. Please send your camper with extra clothing for cool mornings and hot afternoons, as well as the occasional rain shower. 

Staff routinely check the weather to monitor for changing conditions. In the case of severe weather, please do not call. The phone lines need to be kept clear for emergency use.  

There is ample emergency shelter space for all campers and staff. Campers and staff will remain in shelter spaces until the severe weather has passed, including during check-in and check-out times.  

All staff are trained on emergency procedures. 

Summer camp features all-gender, boy, and girl restrooms and showers. All showers are private stalls.  Expectations in these spaces are reviewed at the start of camp.

Campers can change in their cabins, restrooms, shower stalls, or changing stations which are locked stalls. All campers will get to choose where they change based on whatever they are comfortable with. Counselors always supervise these areas if campers are using them. If changing in the cabin, the counselor will be outside.

Overnight cabins are screened-in, open-air, and electricity-free. They feature 8-16 bunks for campers and 2-4 bunks for staff. Staff sleep near the entrances and exits to cabins and are available if campers need them in the night.  

Cabin preferences are selected during registration. Camp Fire summer camp offers boy, girl, and all-gender cabin options.

Counselors are then placed in cabins based on their preferences as well as what leadership think would provide the best possible experience for campers.

At camp we spend the majority of our time outdoors. Depending on the weather conditions, mosquitoes and tick may be an issue. We recommend sending spray or stick bug repellent with your camper.  

We recommend day campers check for ticks when they return home. Camp staff remind overnight campers to check for ticks often.  

It is very common for campers to miss home and feel anxious their first night at camp. Our staff are trained to help support campers through these challenges. While these feelings usually subside after the first night, sometimes they can persist. In these cases, we may call home to discuss what would be best for the camper. As a best practice, we typically do not allow campers to call home during a stay at overnight camp. This tends to make homesickness worse and makes it harder for the camper to build independence at camp. Campers who don’t call home tend to have a much better experience and adjust to camp life much quicker. Please contact us in advance of camp if you believe your camper will need extra support with the transition to camp and we can discuss options. 

Families can help campers get ready for the transition to camp. Involve your camper in the decision of which camp to attend, discuss what camp will be like before you attend, and practice elements of the camp experience – like using a flashlight, sleeping in a sleeping bag, or sleeping over at a friend’s house. Campers are welcome to bring comfort items from home, and we encourage you to attend our pre-camp events to get to know Camp Fire. Plus – view our collection of Get Ready for Camp videos before camp for tips, tricks, and camp traditions!

Day Camp:

• Most campers arrive between 8:30 am and 9:00 am
• The day starts with small group games
• Campers do activities with their group, such as swimming, archery, arts and crafts, or outdoor skills
• Lunch time! Some campers bring their own lunch (nut-free) and others eat our hot lunch
• Before being picked up, campers do more fun activities with their group
• Most campers are picked up between 4:00 pm and 4:30 pm.

Overnight Camp:

• Campers wake up around 7:00 am and head to an early morning activity like Polar Bear Swim or Rockin’ Robin
• Breakfast time! We also sing and make announcements for the day
• Campers split by group to complete camp chores called “kapers”, including sweeping the dining hall, watering the garden, or taking out the trash.
• After kapers, campers will do 2-3 activities with their cabin group.
• Lunch time!
• After lunch, campers head back to the cabin for Rest Hour – this is a great time to journal, read, write a letter home, or just take a nap.
• Campers do 2-3 activities with their cabin group in the afternoon. Which will include swimming every day.
• Dinner time! Sometimes a special dessert is served.
• After dinner, we have Opportunity Block where campers choose an activity each day. They can choose art, archery, climbing, hiking, and much more.
• The evening ends with big group games, a campfire, and/or more time with your cabin group.
• By 9:30 pm, everyone should be in bed sleeping soundly!

Mini-Overnight Camp:

• Campers wake up around 7:00 am and head to an early morning activity like Polar Bear Swim or Rockin’ Robin
• Breakfast time! We also sing camp songs and make announcements for the day
• Campers split by group to complete camp tasks called “kapers”, including sweeping the dining hall, watering the garden, or taking out the trash.
• After kapers, campers will do 2-3 activities with their cabin group.
• Lunch time!
• After lunch, campers go back to their cabin for Rest Hour. This is a great time to journal, read, write letters home, play quiet games with their friends, or just take a nap
• Campers do 2-3 more activities with their cabin group in the afternoon. Which will include swimming every day.
• Dinner time!
• After dinner, we have Opportunity Block where campers choose an activity each day. They can choose art, archery, climbing, hiking, and much more.
• The evening ends with big group games, a campfire and/or more time with your cabin group.
• Lights out by 9:30 pm!

We love to celebrate birthdays at summer camp! Please notify staff before bringing birthday treats to camp so we can best fit time into the program week and advise on quantities and allergy concerns. All food brought to camp must be nut–free. 

If your overnight camper has a birthday during camp, they get a special treat from our Camp Fire cooks.

Camp Fire’s summer photographer will take photos daily, and photos will be uploaded to our photo gallery a few times each week. A link to the photo gallery will be shared with you before your week of camp.

Overnight campers love getting mail at camp! There are a few ways to send a note to your camper. 

1. Pre-write letters: After dropping off your camper with their counselor at their cabin, families can visit our letter-writing station and write notes for your camper to read each day they are at camp. 
2. Use Bunk1: You can send Bunk1 notes to your camper. We check and distribute these daily. Sign up and learn more here.
3. Snail mail: You can send mail to Camp Fire Minnesota and we will distribute it to your camper. Please allow at least three days for delivery. We suggest you send pre-addressed envelopes/postcards including postage with your camper so they can write home too. 

Camper mail should be sent to: 
Camp Fire Minnesota
Attn: Camper’s Name
3300 Tanadoona Dr 
Excelsior, MN 55331 

We are a diverse community committed to creating a welcoming experience where each camper can bring their full selves to camp. Discover more about Inclusion at Summer Camp.

All families will acknowledge our Inclusion Statement when registering for summer camp:

“Camp Fire believes in the dignity and the intrinsic worth of every human being. We welcome, affirm, and support young people and adults of all abilities and disabilities, experiences, races, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, religion and non-religion, citizenship and immigration status, and any other category people use to define themselves or others. We strive to create safe and inclusive environments that celebrate diversity and foster positive relationships. All are welcome at Camp Fire.”

We want you to feel prepared and excited for camp, so we put together a collection of videos featuring camp tours, tips, and traditions. Watch now!