The University of Minnesota Twin Cities might quiet down in the hot months, but the University’s mission — which includes not only education, but public engagement — marches on, rain or (hopefully) shine.
Not only are these events fun and affordable (often free!), but you’re sure to leave having learned something new!
And sure, summer doesn’t officially begin until June 21, but when the weather turns, Minnesotans don’t have time to wait around. Bookmark this guide and be sure to check back; we’ll update it with more adventures as summer hits its glorious stride.
Gear up with outdoor gear rentals
When: All year round
Bikes, canoes, camping, backpacking, and climbing gear. These are the tools of summer, but if you don’t own them, no problem. The University of Minnesota RecWell’s Center for Outdoor Adventure offers outdoor equipment rentals to everyone. We almost hate to reveal this best-kept secret, because we like readily available access to gear, too, but you can rent everything from mountaineering gear to paddle boards at shockingly affordable prices.
Where’s the beef (and ice cream and cheese)? At the Meat and Dairy Salesroom
When: Wednesdays, 2-5 p.m.
Summer is grilling season in Minnesota, and there’s a hidden gem on the St. Paul campus known affectionately (and perhaps somewhat disturbingly) as the “Meat Lab.” For students who work in the lab (officially the Andrew Boss Laboratory of Meat Science), measuring, grading, and butchering are only the start of their learning. Their next assignment is to prepare a wide variety of processed meats for sale in “Goldy’s Smokehouse,” the retail store in the Meat Lab’s basement.
Important to note: You can also get delicious University of Minnesota ice cream (and cheese) there. Limited hours on Wednesdays from 2-5 p.m. means it’s an extra rare opportunity, but you can get some serious deals on dairy and meat. Read all about the Meat Lab.
Visit the Bell Museum before the bell tolls
When: All year round, but especially this summer
There is more to do at Minnesota’s official natural history museum than we can possibly list here. Also, the Bell has a woolly mammoth, so really, we shouldn’t have to do much persuading. From star parties and new planetarium shows to learning how to catalog and prepare natural history specimens, to birding, visitors can explore the origins of the universe, the diversity of life on earth, and take a walk through the state of Minnesota, featuring the Bell’s world-famous wildlife dioramas.
This summer you can also awaken your inner scientist at the Bell's Solution Studio, featuring interactive games inspired by cutting edge research from the University of Minnesota’s Minneapolis St. Paul Long-Term Ecological Research program, where researchers are learning how air, water, soil, plants, animals and even humans are impacted by and adapt to an urban environment. Visitors will solve challenges inspired by this cutting edge research!
Kids especially can engage all their senses in the Bell's renowned Touch & See Lab with 10,000-year-old fossils, living plants and animals, and more. The Bell's green roof and observation deck — as well as a learning landscape of native plants, geology gardens, and solar station — allow for outdoor wandering as well.
To get started, visit the Bell’s programs and events calendar, schedule of exhibits on view and coming soon and summer camps for grades K-8.
Bonus: Don't miss the University's Weisman Art Museum and the Goldstein Museum of Design. They always have something interesting to see and learn.
Youth camps for curious kids
When: Various dates throughout the summer, but register early
The University of Minnesota doesn’t just educate college students. Hundreds of youth camps and enrichment programs are offered in every corner of the state. Whatever your child’s interests — from 4-H or the Kids who Stutter camp, to a week of climbing trees (while learning about arborists) or learning about bees at the Bell Museum — you’ll find a program that fits and faculty and staff who excel in enlightening minds and sparking curiosity.
Camps fill up fast, so if you miss out this year, plan ahead for next summer. Find programs and learn more at Youth Central.
May Markets and more at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
When: Weekends on the back end of May
Nature’s best ideas live at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, where Minnesota’s State Fruit (the Honeycrisp apple) got its start, along with countless other edible and ornamental plants — from the Frontenac grape that launched a billion-dollar midwest cold-hardy wine industry, to marvelous chrysanthemums and audacious azaleas.
Summer is truly the Arb’s time to shine — there’s too much going on to list it all here — but you can begin to soak it up early while shopping from 60 local artists beginning with May Markets. Each weekend you’ll enjoy live music and food and beverages, and you might just get some landscaping ideas while you’re there. Check out the Arb’s full calendar of events.
Experience hands-on discovery during Twin Cities STEMFest
When: June 6, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Join hundreds of pre-K–12 students, their families, and community members in the Twin Cities in early June during STEMFest, a large-scale community event that connects students and families directly with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) employers, educators, and innovators. Not only might students find themselves making instant ice cream, flying a drone, or orchestrating a robot battle — they'll begin to understand how their interests can translate into real careers in science, technology, engineering, and innovation-driven industries, while gaining familiarity with the companies and sectors shaping the future workforce. More than 20 departments from the University of Minnesota will exhibit at the event, which will be held on the University's campus at the Maturi Pavilion. Register and learn more.
Revel in all things raptor this summer at The Raptor Center
When: June, July, August
Raptors today are not of the “Jurassic Park” kind, but these modern birds are the only surviving lineage of dinosaurs, making eagles and hawks feathered relatives of their prehistoric counterparts. On the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus in St. Paul sits a center unique to the Midwest and renowned around the nation and world — The Raptor Center (TRC), housed within the University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
The center is a cherished resource for research, rehabilitation, and education, and this summer it will offer a slate of summer raptor camps for youth, including Enraptured with Raptors (June 15-18), Raptor Biomimicry and Engineering (July 6-10), Raptor Myth and Legends (July 27-31), and more. If you can’t make a camp, tours are held most days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Read more about The Raptor Center and these magnificent sentinels of the sky.
‘Science of Craft’ summer courses at Itasca Biological Station
When: June, July, August
No other state can claim the start of the Mississippi River, and the headwaters of one of the world’s greatest rivers are truly a special place. Itasca State Park protects it and allows the world to enjoy its recreational magic, while the University of Minnesota Itasca Biological Station is there for the science.
This summer, you can head to the headwaters station for a different kind of immersion in nature with Science of Craft courses, including nature-writing immersion with “Writing the Wild.” You’ll learn from professional writers and University professors Kathryn Nuernberger, an essayist and poet, and Marlene Zuk, a world-renowned evolutionary biologist and author of widely read nonfiction science books with titillating titles like “Sex on Six Legs: Lessons on Life, Love and Language from the Insect World.”
Other courses include “The Science of Fly Fishing” and “Drawn to Nature: Observing and Documenting Itasca State Park.” The courses are limited to small groups and are likely to fill, so don’t wait for inspiration to strike.
Tour the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center lab
When: June 3 and Sept. 9, 3-4 p.m.
Minnesota loves its lakes and rivers, and if you’ve ever visited the fish pond at the Minnesota State Fair, you know we love what lives in those waters just as much. But not all of our aquatic creatures bought a ticket for the ride, and so they gotta go.
This summer, join scientists for a guided tour of the more-than-10,000-square-foot Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center Containment Lab, where you'll get an inside look at the state-of-the-art facility and the innovative research underway. It's a perfect opportunity for anyone curious about the world of science and the protection of one of Minnesota’s greatest resources. (The center’s sister — the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center — is the only research center of its kind in the country focused on land-bound invasive species.)
A Summer of Quirky Quantum Physics
When: Tuesdays, June 23-July 28, 7-8 p.m.
In 2025, this series was called “A Summer of Astounding Astrophysics.” It proved so popular that every session was standing room only, each with more than 250 attendees. This year, the University’s School of Physics and Astronomy is offering “A Summer of Quirky Quantum Physics” and has moved the sessions to a larger auditorium — but that doesn’t mean it won’t fill — it's first come, first seated, so arrive early. Attendees can learn about gravity, superconductors, quantum computing and more. Best of all: it’s free!
Make a splash at the World's Largest Swimming Lesson
When: June 25, 5-7:30 p.m.
The World's Largest Swimming Lesson is a global drowning prevention event organized by the World Waterpark Association with a simple message: learning to swim saves lives. The University of Minnesota’s recreation and wellness center (RecWell) will offer free swimming lessons for all ages during the event. Participants ages 6 months and older (including adults) are welcome; ages 6 months to 3 years must have a parent/guardian with them in the water. If you miss it, RecWell offers Gopher Swim School private and semi-private lessons to the public — a popular choice for adults and families with busy schedules.
Under the Hood - Machine Learning and AI Summer Program
When: July 13-24
The University of Minnesota has been leading AI innovation for years (we helped invent recommender systems via GroupLens), but earlier this year brought widespread efforts to drive AI education and innovation across Minnesota all under one roof with the launch of its AI Hub. This summer, 11th and 12th graders can get in on the action at “Under the Hood,” a machine learning and AI summer program that is miles beyond your typical classroom.
The program teaches students about mathematical engines, the Python code and the ethical frameworks that drive modern innovation. Whether you’ve never written a line of code or you’re ready to architect advanced neural networks, any student entering 11th or 12th grade for the 2026-27 school year will find their crew here working on high-stakes problems across medicine, gaming, history and more. Register here.
Beyond the Prompt: Building Custom Tools with AI
When: June 1-24 (Registration closes May 31)
AI is all the rage, and if you're not an 11th or 12th grader who qualifies for the Under the Hood course mentioned above, you can still get in on the AI action this summer. The University's Department of Computer Science & Engineering will offer a four-week, in-person short course covering the basics of building applications with AI. This course is designed to be accessible for all professionals, regardless of coding experience. Students will go beyond basic AI prompting and learn the skills needed for AI-assisted app development. Through guided, hands-on exercises, students will build a functional custom application tailored to their personal or professional needs.
Behold, the horsepower of the sun
When: Kind of every day if you look up, but especially on Northrop Mall, July 24-25
For the first time in history, this summer the American Solar Challenge, which pits teams across the country in a race against… err… in partnership with the sun, will start from the University of Minnesota’s Minneapolis campus. This is a fiery hot deal, as one of the most grueling solar car competitions on the planet sees the UMN Solar Vehicle Project student team go against competitors from around the nation as they race to Amarillo, Texas.
The race kicks off July 25, but a solar car showcase on campus takes place Friday, July 24, and is open to the public. The team’s car runs on solar power, but donations keep the car rolling and help the students with equipment purchases, travel and more.
In 2022, the UMN team took first place in the Multi-Occupant Vehicle Class at this race, so here’s hoping the sun shines equally as bright on the home team this year.
Expand your idea of a classroom
When: Various dates, starting soon
It’s not a university without academic courses, and the University of Minnesota has plenty to choose from this summer for the curious and credit-seeking alike.
Want to learn about AI? Try “Beyond the Prompt: Building Custom Tools with AI” (registration closes May 31). Want to learn about bees? Take “Beekeeping Basics for Beginners” or any number of other hands-on public beekeeping classes for beekeepers. Want to combine learning and outdoor adventure? Embark on a 10-day field study course in Ely, Minnesota, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness with “Park and Protected Area Management Field Studies” or any number of Field Biology Program courses. Want to take courses from the comfort of your air-conditioned, mosquito-less home? Try online courses from any of the five University of Minnesota campuses around the state.
Free beekeeping education for Minnesota Veterans
Speaking of beekeeping, the University of Minnesota provides free beekeeping education for Minnesota Veterans through the Bee Veterans program, which aims to create community through hands-on beekeeping training, while promoting the proven recreational, therapeutic and professional benefits inherent in working with honey bees. The program is for Minnesota veterans with any level of beekeeping experience (including no experience). Space is limited and pre-registration is required for most events. Upcoming dates include June 7, July 19 and Aug. 9. Bee Veterans apiary, MSP airport.
Universe in the Park
When: More than 15 dates throughout the summer, beginning July 10
Look up at the stars this summer with the University of Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics during Universe in the Park, a summer telescope observing program at state and local parks and nature centers around Minnesota. At these events, representatives of the Astrophysics Institute will present a short (~20-minute) outdoor public talk and slide show. Presentations cover a variety of astronomical topics such as the history of matter, how astronomers "see" and a journey through our solar system.
Bonus: Explore additional one-time outreach events for youth from the College of Science and Engineering, which are designed to spark and increase interest in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Migratory and Urban Bird Institute
When: Aug. 10-12
Designed for educators, this free, interactive three-day migratory and urban bird training will help teachers develop skills for engaging youth in birding, bird conservation and the process of science.
Get together with the University of Minnesota at the Great Minnesota Get-Together
When: Aug. 27-Sept. 7
The Great Minnesota Get-Together wouldn’t be as great without the University of Minnesota, which has been present at the Minnesota State Fair for generations. And new this year: the University of Minnesota will have a presence at county fairs in Dakota, Stevens, Steele, Otter Tail and Pine counties. Check statefair.umn.edu later this summer for the full listing of University buildings, tents, and events.
Honorable mentions
June 25 - Frontier Issues in Organ Transplantation: New Approaches to Saving Lives & Securing Trust
June 25 - SUPERIOR: A 50-Year Photographic Journey with Craig Blacklock
July 9 - 4-Week Online Therapeutic Yoga Series: Reducing Low Back & Hip Pain
July 10-11 - University of Minnesota’s Pulmonary and Critical Care Summit
July 14 - Nourishment in Every Season: Online Cooking and Nutrition Summer Workshop
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities hosts hundreds of events throughout the year, from world-renowned speakers and performers to exhibits, festivals, educational camps for kids, and more. Explore all events on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Events Calendar.
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