Learn about MCTC's programs and the careers they prepare you for in our hands-on camps on our beautiful campus in downtown Minneapolis. Taught by MCTC faculty and students, Career Exploration Camps are held in our college classrooms and labs, featuring the latest technology. It’s your opportunity to get a taste of college life and a potential career, while learning new skills and having fun!

All camps are $199 per session (scholarships available) and meet from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Lunch is included. On Friday afternoon, we’ll have a completion celebration where you can show off the projects you worked on during the week, receive your certificate of completion, and learn how to continue your education and career pursuits. Friends and family are invited to join the celebration! 

Choose from the following sessions:

Adventures in Architectural Design
Tracy Boyle and Nathan Johnson
July 22 – 26, ages 13+
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Architects and designers create all kinds of spaces, from skyscrapers to kitchen remodels, and parks to furnishings. This camp will introduce you to the range of skills and the creative process used by architects and designers. Over the course of the week, you will learn about the design process – from concept to construction – and design a space or object of your own. Working in our professional design labs, you’ll use SketchUp, an easy-to-learn 3D modeling software, to create model of your design and then present your finished product to the class. To get a taste of the more powerful, industry-standard software tools architects use, you’ll get a demo of Autodesk Revit. We’ll also take a walking tour to an architecturally significant building in downtown Minneapolis as well as visit an architectural office where you’ll be able to ask questions of professional architects and designers.

Be Your Own Boss: Entrepreneurship Boot Camp
Jason Cussler
July 22 – 26, ages 13+
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Are you the type that dreams of new products and services, or likes to come up with money-making ideas? Like the thought of being in charge? Find out if you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur!

During this intensive week, you’ll learn about the rewards and challenges of starting your own business. We’ll explore the various resources and the skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur by examining case studies of current entrepreneurs. Working in student-driven small groups, you’ll use kickstarter.com as a model for creating your own mock business concept and learn how to pitch your idea to customers, investors, and the broader community. (Note: we won’t actually be launching any kickstarter campaigns during camp). Whether or not you plan to start your own business in the future, if you’re creative and like to interact with others, this boot camp will teach you universal skills that can be applied in any setting.

Building Systems Boot Camp: Construction Electricity and Solar Energy
Dean Weikle and Chris Jarosch
July 29 – August 2, ages 14+
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A new building isn’t complete until its systems are installed and functioning properly. As construction methods change and we ask more of our buildings, such as alternative energy sources and “smart” technology, building systems must quickly adapt. This camp will introduce you to an important field within the construction trades: electrical systems. We’ll start by learning the basic concepts of electricity with hands-on projects in simulated wiring booths. You’ll learn to safely use electricians’ hand tools while working on a circuit that you would have in your house.

Next we’ll explore the cutting edge of alternative energy resources: solar power. Studies have projected that solar energy could provide 10% of the nation’s electricity by 2025. Working in our brand-new solar training lab with functional equipment installed on the roof, you’ll learn the basics of solar photovoltaics (converting light into electrical current) from instructors working in the solar industry. Hands-on projects will introduce the layout of the system that captures the sun’s energy and transforms it into electricity and the equipment used for photovoltaic applications. We will also discuss career opportunities in this growing, future-focused industry.

Building Systems Boot Camp: HVAC-R and Solar Energy
John Singel and Mike Wilson
July 29 – August 2, ages 14+
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A new building isn’t complete until its systems are installed and functioning properly. As construction methods change and we ask more of our buildings, such as alternative energy sources and “smart” technology, building systems must quickly adapt. This camp will introduce you to an important field within the construction trades: heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems (HVAC-R). We’ll start by learning introductory heating and cooling concepts, the basics of building ventilation, and the fundamentals of refrigeration.

Next we’ll explore the cutting edge of alternative energy resources: solar power. Studies have projected that solar energy could provide 10% of the nation’s electricity by 2025. Working in our brand-new solar training lab with functional equipment installed on the roof, you’ll learn the basics of solar thermal energy (hot water heating) from instructors working in the solar industry. You’ll work on hands-on projects using the equipment used for solar thermal applications. You’ll also learn about career opportunities, including the job growth prospects as Minneapolis undertakes major building projects like the new Vikings stadium.

Cool Science = Hot Biotechnology
Rekha Ganaganur
July 22 – 26, ages 15+
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Do you like to investigate and do research in science? Look for clues and solve problems? Biotechnology is one of the fastest growing fields in science. In this camp, you’ll discover the infinite possibilities that await you in scientific fields, learn about careers in science and engineering and meet professionals working in these fields.  Our days will be chock-full of hands-on activities, including working with DNA and protein, growing cells in petri dishes, seeing the gene silencing in curly and dumpy worms, barcoding DNA from a plant, and gathering information about suspects in a simulated crime scene investigation. A combination of hands-on activities, a taste of college life, valuable advice from career and college admissions experts, plus plenty of fun will make this summer camp a great learning experience.

Cook Up a Culinary Career
Peter Katsiotis
July 22-26, ages 13+
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Great cooking isn’t just about recipes, it’s about techniques. There are a wide array of exciting career opportunities in the culinary field, but we all have to eat. This camp will teach you those techniques that you’ll be able to use for a lifetime, whether you become the next Food Network star or just enjoy cooking for your family and friends. Working in our professionally-equipped kitchen, led by a professional Chef Instructor, you’ll have fun preparing your own meals each day. We’ll make a number of popular foods from scratch, such as pasta, Alfredo sauce, pizza dough and pizza. You’ll also learn how to make a breakfast dish, BBQ, Caesar salad, and dessert. As a final project, you’ll prepare lunch for your fellow campers and dine together in the college’s formal dining room.  

Digital Filmmaking Bootcamp
July 29 – Aug 2, ages 13+
This camp is now full. If interested, please call 612-659-6500 to be placed on our waiting list.

Digital Photography Sampler
Kristine Heykants
July 29 – Aug 2, ages 13+
This camp is now full. If interested, please call 612-659-6500 to be placed on our waiting list.  

Calling all future fashionistas and trendy teens! Do you love fashion and wonder how clothing is made? Are you interested in learning how to sew? This camp will introduce you to the basics of fashion design and sewing techniques used in the apparel industry. You’ll focus on design principles while sketching a garment, learn how to operate industrial sewing equipment and practice basic garment construction. By the end of the week, you’ll have created and constructed a series of items, starting with a tote bag and continuing with a t-shirt and skirt as time permits. We will provide all the necessary materials to complete projects, including fabric for projects. However, if you would like to choose your own fabric, you can purchase/bring:

• 2 yards bottom weight fabric (for tote bag)
• 2 yards knit fabric (for t-shirt)
• 2 yards knit or woven fabric (for skirt) 

Let's create some rockin' designs inspired by your favorite artists and musicians! Almost everything you see has some element of graphic design–concert posters, magazines, album covers,packaging, books, signs, street art, advertisements. This class will introduce you to the wide array of possibilities in the graphic design field. Through a series of fun and fast-paced assignments, you'll make design decisions including image manipulation, basic typography, layout, and digital illustration using the Adobe Creative Suite for Mac (Photoshop and Illustrator). You'll get to combine analog and digital techniques by digitally enhancing sketches you create. We’ll also explore and discuss current design trends. By the end of the week, you will have developed a design process and attained a more critical visual vocabulary through experimentation, exploration, and group critiques.

Bring your ideas for a self-directed project on the very first day (favorite artists or musicians, any drawings or sketches that you have created) and any dry art materials (sketchbook, colored pencils, markers, scissors, magazines clippings, or photos).

Web Design Boot Camp: I Can Has Interwebz?!?
Ryan Huffman and Mandy Tensen Woolery
July 29 – Aug 2, ages 13+
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Web designers create all kinds of websites, from social media, to business, to entertainment. In this camp we’ll explore the many aspects of designing and creating Web pages. You’ll discover the core anatomy of a Web page and how it functions, learn to create and style your own content for a website, and develop a basic understanding of HTML 5 elements and how to implement them. You will learn the principles of effective Web design, as well as practice authoring and troubleshooting HTML code. Using the Adobe Dreamweaver software, you will learn how to build introductory level websites while incorporating Cascading Style Sheets. Upon completion of camp, you’ll have enough experience to explore creating various webpages on your own and an idea about the array of career opportunities in this field.

Registration information

The registration deadline is two weeks prior to the camp start date and space is limited so please register early. If space is available, we will continue to accept registrations after the deadline. Full payment is due at the time of registration.

To register online: Easily register online through the register now links above. A parent or guardian will also need to submit a signed copy of the required waiver to our offices prior to the camp start date.

To register by mail:  Complete the registration and waiver forms and send them along with a check for your full $199 payment to:

Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Continuing Education Summer Camps
1501 Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55403

To register by phone: Call us during business hours at 612-659-6500 with your credit card handy. A parent or guardian will also need to submit a signed copy of the waiver form prior to participating in camp.

Tuition Assistance and Scholarships

After you register

If you register online, you will receive a registration confirmation by email. If you register by mail or phone and provide an email address, you will receive a registration confirmation by email. About one week before camp, we will send all parents/guardians of campers detailed information about location, drop off/pick up, daily schedule and things to bring. If you have a question at any point, we’re here to help–please call 612-659-6500 or email victoria.lauing@minneapolis.edu.