Our whole mission is to create rich experiences.
We want Ruby Ranch to provide kids with the opportunity to free play, build with their hands and interact with animals at every class we offer. We want to teach kids about the farm, how to safely handle tools and let their creativity shine during our classes. Sign up for classes/camps below.
Summer Camps 2025 go LIVE on March 1st at 9:00am!! Camps are for children ages 5-11. We also are hiring Junior Camp Guides again this year for ages 12-18 years old! This is a volunteer position for young leaders in our community that enjoy working with kids, being outdoors and around animals. You can register for these positions now through March15th by clicking here.
At Ruby Ranch we emphasize the importance of being outdoors and engaging in hands-on experiences and exploration. We encourage all campers use their five senses to learn and discover. During their time we will focus on respecting each other, the animals, the plants and ourselves. At every camp we will spend time interacting with the animals, playing games/scavenger hunts and making crafts. Each of these events will directly correlate with the camp’s theme! We offer small camper to staff ratios, daily farm adventures, and nature discoveries make camps a fun and engaging introduction to life on the farm. You may sign up for one camp or all 9! We also have automatic discounts set up so if you buy more, you save more. This applies automatically for siblings attending the same camp and/or purchasing multiple camps!
All camps are ONE day from 9:00am - 4:00pm.
Campers will bring ONE SNACK and their LUNCH. We will supply the afternoon snack!
Fun on the Farm with Big Gain - $75
June 10th or June 11th
Kick off our 8th summer at Ruby Ranch with an authentic farm experience! Campers will spend the day brushing goats, feeding alpacas, and cuddling baby animals like kitties, ducklings and chicks. Plus, they’ll meet our surprise newest addition to our farm! Other activities will include making their very own bird feeder to take home, completing a STEM challenge, and enjoying a hayride through the farm. It’s the perfect blend of adventure and animals!
Construction camp with Home Depot - $85
June 17th or June 18th
Ready, set, build! We’ve partnered with Home Depot for this camp so this summer crew will learn to safely use real tools like hammers and saws as they create something of their very own. But that’s just the beginning! Together, they’ll unleash their creativity by building natural forts in the woods and collaborating on a giant group treehouse-style fort, complete with lookout towers and secret hideouts. This masterpiece will be a lasting addition to the ranch, showcasing teamwork, imagination, and a whole lot of fun. Let’s get building!
Makers retreat with drummers garden- $95
June 24th or June 25th
A hands-on retreat for kids who love to craft, create, and explore their imagination! Campers will paint and personalize their own terra cotta flower pots, then pot their own flowers from Drummers Floral and Garden in Mankato to take home as a special keepsake. They’ll also press flowers into art pieces and create a cheerful “Be Happy” rainbow door hanger to brighten their space. Throughout the day, campers will stretch, breathe, and unwind with gentle yoga and mindfulness led by Ray Pederson, discovering how movement and creativity flow together. A lemonade station offers the perfect sunny-day refreshment as they paint, plant, and craft in the open air, making this retreat a joy-filled day of inspiration and creativity!
all american camp with Hasse Family Farms - $100
July 1st or July 2nd
Get ready to celebrate the 4th of July with a camp bursting with classic summer fun! Campers will ride, brush, and care for horses with a special visit from Hasse Family Farms, experiencing a true American tradition up close. The excitement continues with tug-of-war, parachute games, and water balloon relays! Each camper will also craft their own patriotic tie-dye shirts to wear proudly on Independence Day before enjoying a festive red, white, and blue treat. To end the celebration, campers will light up the day with sparklers, making for an unforgettable summer memory! This camp is packed with teamwork, adventure, and all the best traditions of summer!
clue camp - $85
July 8th or July 9th
Grab your magnifying glass and put on your detective hat—there’s a mystery to solve at Ruby Ranch! Campers will crack riddles, follow hidden clues, and uncover secrets scattered across the farm, unlocking mystery stations and gathering evidence along the way. Using their mini detective kit—complete with a secret message notebook, spy decoder wheel, and magnifying glass—they’ll solve clues with invisible ink, hidden messages, and code-breaking skills to inch closer to cracking the ultimate whodunit. With hands-on problem-solving, thrilling discoveries, and plenty of surprises, this camp will keep young detectives on their toes until the very last clue is solved!
Camp Rocks - $95
July 15th or July 16th
Get ready for an action-packed geology adventure! Campers will embark on an exciting quest to find hidden geodes around Ruby Ranch, then grab a hammer and crack them open to reveal the sparkling crystals inside. Creativity meets science as campers dye their geodes and craft their own rock art masterpiece to take home. They’ll also explore the different types of rocks and minerals found right here on the ranch, uncovering the secrets hidden beneath their feet. But the real treasure hunt begins at the mining expedition at the pond! With their own bags in hand, campers will pan for special stones, sift through sediment, and uncover hidden gems waiting beneath the water. This hands-on, adventure-filled camp will have kids digging, discovering, and exploring the incredible wonders of our Earth!
Wild and free with MEI - $90
July 22nd or July 23rd
Calling all thrill-seekers! This annual action-packed adventure camp is for kids who love to climb higher, aim farther, and push their limits in the great outdoors. Campers will hone their aim with archery, BB guns, and slingshots, learning focus and precision with every shot. High above the ground, they’ll scale trees and master climbing techniques, embracing the freedom of the wild. And what’s an adventure without a little engineering? Campers will build and launch their very own mini catapults, using physics to see who can send objects flying the farthest. Whether they’re aiming for the bullseye or conquering new heights, this camp is all about bold challenges, outdoor exploration, and unleashing their wild and free spirit!
Lakes, Leaves and Legends with Lakota Made- $75
July 29th or July 30th
Adventure awaits in the Land of 10,000 Lakes! Campers will learn and discover all about Minnesota’s hidden wonders. They’ll learn about loons, uncover the secret world of mushrooms, and paint their own wooden mushroom keepsake. Through hands-on science and storytelling, campers will discover Minnesota’s volcanic past with an erupting volcano experiment and bring local legends to life, from Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox to Lakota folklore. Campers will team up to build Paul Bunyan’s cabin in the woods, working together just like legendary lumberjacks! Outdoor fun rounds out the day choices of baseball, archery or a nature scavenger hunt and making pressed flower bookmarks. Whether they’re spotting eagles that nest around Ruby Ranch, racing through a relay, or unraveling myths, campers will leave with new knowledge, handmade keepsakes, and a deep love for Minnesota—its lakes, leaves, and legends!
Past Meets future - time traveler camp - $95
august 5th or august 6th
The grand finale of summer camps is here - and this is one adventure no camper will want to miss! Hop aboard the Time Machine for an epic journey through time, packed with action, exploration, and hands-on STEM challenges! In the morning, campers will step into the Viking era - crafting cardboard shields and belts before digging deeper into the past to uncover fossils and the mysteries of dinosaurs and prehistoric life. In the afternoon, it’s time to blast into the future! Campers will build and launch rockets, design futuristic gadgets, and conquer astronaut obstacle courses as they push the limits of imagination and innovation. This once-in-a-summer adventure is the perfect way to wrap up camp season, where past meets future in an unforgettable race through time!