Summer Academic Enrichment Program
Looking for a fun and educational way to spend the summer? The Summer Academic Enrichment Program (SAEP) helps Minnesota students in grades 3-11 attend exciting academic camps by covering part or all of the cost.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make summer learning exciting and affordable. Check back the third week of March for the list of 2026 eligible summer camps.
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Summer Academic Enrichment Program Resources
2026 camps will be announced by the third week of March. Students will apply directly through the summer camps listed here. Student Application will open for camps to complete on behalf of their students on Monday, April 13, 2026. Please reach out to the camps directly in Mid-March regarding application process.
2025 Summer Academic Camps
Here are the summer camps that were part of the Summer Academic Enrichment Program in 2025. Click on a camp name to learn more:
- Above the EDGE, Inc
- Asian Media Access
- Augsburg University – Minnesota Urban Debate League
- Bakken Museum
- BestPrep
- Breakthrough Twin Cities
- Concordia College - Concordia Language Villages
- Friends School of Minnesota
- Hamline University – High School Summer Camps
- HealthForce Minnesota – Scrubs Camps
- MN Zej Zog
- Minnesota Institute of Talented Youth
- Saint Cloud State University - Pipeline Summer Camps
- University of Saint Thomas – ThreeSixty Journalism Summer Programs
- Walker West Music Academy
- White Bear Center for the Arts
- Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center
- We As One Education
To qualify for a stipend, students must:
- Live in Minnesota and attend one of the eligible summer academic camps listed above.
- Show financial need (based on free/reduced-price lunch guidelines)
- Be in grades 3-11 during the 2025-2026 school year.
- For grades 7-11: Have at least a “C” average in the subject area related to the camp you want to attend.
- Funds are limited, so apply early.
Students can receive up to $1,000 to help cover the cost of their summer academic camp. The stipend will never be more than the actual cost of the camp. The stipend is sent directly to the summer camp on behalf of the student.
Applications open for camps to be completed on behalf of their students on Monday, April 13, 2026. Each camp sets its own deadline, and funds are limited – so apply early directly with the summer camp. Stipends are awarded on a first come, first-served basis until all funds are gone.
Follow these steps:
- Pick a camp from the list of eligible summer academic camps
- Apply directly with that camp – they’ll guide you through the process.
- Provide the required documents (proof of income eligibility and, if you’re in grades 7-11, your grades)
- Wait for confirmation from the camp. They’ll let you know if you’ve been approved for the stipend.
When you apply, the camp will ask you for:
- Proof of income eligibility (a letter from your school showing you qualify for free or reduced-price lunch or a copy of your family’s 2024 federal tax return).
- For grades 7-11: Proof that you have at least a “C” average in the subject area related to the camp you want to attend.
The camp you applied to will let you know if you’ve been approved for the stipend. They’ll contact you directly with the details.
If you have questions about a specific summer camp or its application process, please contact the summer camp directly.
- A list of summer camps that participated last year is available on this site for reference.
- Summer camps planning to participate in 2026 will be announced in mid-March.