Budding Experts is our student-led interview series highlighting young people and the fun things they learn about during our programs. At Camp Fire, students learn about outdoor activities, art, STEM, and the environment from trained specialists and instructors.  

This month, we’ll hear from one of our local partner groups who recently had their annual partner overnight stay. If you’re wondering what a partner overnight is, keep reading to learn more! 

Throughout the year, folks at Camp Fire Minnesota get to enjoy one of our favorite programs: our partner overnights! Partner Overnights involve local schools and organizations who connect with us through afterschool programs, Environmental Education field trips, or other collaborations. During these two-day stays on our Excelsior property, our staff co-create activities and educational programming with our community partners for them to enjoy at Camp Fire Minnesota. 

Partner Overnights offer a great opportunity to increase group bonding, try new activities, and connect with nature—all within an hour’s drive of the Twin Cities. A few partners who have visited us this past year include Whittier Natural Leaders, MIGIZI, Exploration High School, and the Division of Indian Work.  

Check out our most recent Budding Experts video to see a Partner Overnight in action and learn an environmental education game that our partner students learned during their nature walk: Meet a Tree!  

Thank you to our partners for sharing their knowledge, community, and joy with us!  

Did you know that our environmental education curriculum is based on the Minnesota Department of Education STEM standards and social emotional learning (SEL) competencies? That means that at Camp Fire, youth strengthen their knowledge of the objectives they learn at school, becoming budding experts. 

Visit our education page to explore all the learning opportunities Camp Fire offers year-round.