Camp Pillsbury

Camp Pillsbury is a co-ed overnight (and some day) summer camp in Owatonna. It serves kids and teens ages 6–17 and is known for its unusually flexible program structure: campers essentially build their own daily schedule based on the activities they want to explore.

What makes Camp Pillsbury stand out is its “majors and minors” activity model. Each camper chooses three “majors” to focus on daily, helping them build skills in areas they care about—things like theater, dance, rock band, circus arts, sports, robotics, cooking, or visual arts. They also select three additional “minor” activities each day, giving them the chance to experiment with new interests and keep their schedule varied. Programs are typically led by experienced instructors, and the camp promotes confidence-building and creativity through this mix of focused learning and exploration.

Activity options are extensive (75+ total), spanning performing arts, sports, technology, and outdoor recreation. Examples like flying trapeze, gymnastics, acting, music lessons, robotics, digital arts, cooking, waterskiing, wakeboarding, soccer, basketball, and more. Campers live in dorm-style housing on the historic Pillsbury College campus, with shared common spaces, rehearsal rooms, athletic facilities, and performance venues where families can watch shows and presentations.

Overnight essions typically run two to several weeks between June and August, with options to attend multiple sessions. Beyond on-campus activities, the camp also hosts occasional “Adventure Days”, where campers go on chaperoned off-site outings such as amusement parks, water parks, sporting events, or local festivals, adding some classic summer-camp field-trip energy to the experience.

June 7 - August 22, 2026

315 S Grove Ave

Owatonna, MN 55060

Day Camp‍

• Full Day Campers: $500/week
• Half Day Campers: $250/week

‍Overnight Camp‍

• 2 week sessions: $2,500
• 3 week session: $3,750

‍Discounts‍

• Multi-session Discounts: 2 Sessions 10%; 3-4 Sessions 15%; 5 Sessions 20% (does not apply to half day campers)
• Sibling Discount: 10% discount given to siblings
• Young Camper Discount: 10% discount for campers who are age 6, 7 or 8 at the start of the registered session.
• Military Family discount: 10% off tuition for active military families. Please email a copy of your military ID to camppillsbury@gmail.com.

Programs can be regsitered for online here.

507-214-2200 (Office)

727-415-4631 (Mobile)

camppillsbury@gmail.com

info@camppillsbury.com

‍Contact Us Form

What Parents Like‍

• One of the most frequently mentioned positives is the sheer number of options—campers can choose from 100+ activities ranging from theater, music, and circus arts to robotics, sports, cooking, and horseback riding. Many parents say this flexibility helps kids explore passions or discover new ones. (1, 2)
• Families often highlight programs like flying trapeze, performing arts, and rock band as memorable experiences that help kids grow confidence and creativity. One parent shared that their child “came home talking nonstop” about learning trapeze and making friends from across the country. (3)
• Reviews frequently describe counselors and instructors as enthusiastic and encouraging, helping kids feel comfortable trying new things and building friendships. (2, 4)
• Some parent accounts mention that campers meet kids from across the U.S. and internationally, which adds to the social and cultural experience. (5)

‍What Parents Think Could Be Improved‍

• Some reviewers describe dorm rooms and parts of the campus as older or needing upgrades, though others appreciate the laid-back dorm-style setup. (2)
• In general discussion forums, a few parents note that their experience felt less polished compared with other camps, particularly during pandemic-era summers when programming changed. (6)

‍Our Take

‍Overall, Camp Pillsbury’s reviews point to a camp that stands out for its creative freedom, activity variety, and performance-focused programming—a big draw for kids who want to explore interests like theater, music, or circus arts while still having a classic camp social experience.

Because feedback about facilities and supervision is mixed, the most MomBrains-style due diligence is to ask a few practical questions before enrolling: How are campers supervised between activities? How are social conflicts handled? What do dorm arrangements look like for my child’s age group?