Leadership Camp

Farmers Union Youth Leadership Camps are all about helping young people become good citizens by planting the seeds of responsibility, leadership and cooperation in an environment where those qualities can grow and flourish.

Farmers Union Summer Senior Camp 2023/Kathryn Petzel photo

Camp registration is open!

Camp Dates & Cost

Explore camping options and dates by age category.

Registration closes a week before camp starts.

 

Northern Camp 2025

 (Ages 9-13)

Monday, June 23 - Friday, June 27

MFU Lake Sarah Campground
20049 Campground Rd SE
Erskine, MN 56535

Southern Elementary Camp 2025

 (Ages 8-11)

Tuesday, July 8 - Friday, July 11

Sibley State Park
800 Sibley Park Road NE
New London, MN 56273

Southern Junior Camp 2025

 (Ages 11-14)

Monday, July 14 - Friday, July 18

Sibley State Park
800 Sibley Park Road NE
New London, MN 56273

Senior High Camp 2025

 (Ages 14-18)

Sunday, July 20 - Friday, July 25

Sibley State Park
800 Sibley Park Road NE
New London, MN 56273

Day Camps

Twin Cities Farm Tours

 (Ages 6-10)

Tuesday, June 10 - Thursday, June 12

Drop off:

305 Roselawn Ave. E.
St. Paul, MN 55117

Southern Day Camp

 (Ages 6-10)

Tuesday, Aug. 5 - Thursday, Aug. 7

Myre-Big Island State Park
19499 780th Ave.
Albert Lea, MN 56007

Theme Nights 2025

Take a look at the 2025 theme nights below!

 

Meme Night

Bring your favorite internet inside jokes to life with Meme Night! From viral videos to vintage reaction faces, Meme Night is your chance to dress up as your favorite meme and bring online laughs to the offline world. With meme-worthy games, music, and challenges, it’ll be a night to remember – with amazing new photos for Insta to prove it!

Put the Farm in Farmers Union

Yeehaw! Dust off those boots and grab your overalls, it's time to head down to camp. On this wild and rowdy night, we’re bringing the full farm experience to Farmers Union. Whether you're a rootin’-tootin’ cowboy, a laid-back barn cat, or a dancing scarecrow, there's a place for everyone in this down-home hoedown. Get ready for country tunes, corny contests, and barnyard fun!

Decades Night

Take a trip through time as we spin some classics and step into the past! Whether you're rocking poodle skirts from the '50s, disco from the '70s, or Y2K-core from the '00s, Decades Night is your chance to dress up, dance through history, and celebrate the trends that made each era unforgettable. Pick your decade and get groovin’ — retro vibes guaranteed.

Awards Banquet

A camp tradition! Put on your best dress clothes and join us for an evening of fine dining, fine music, and camp awards.

BBQ Dad vs Soccer Mom (Senior Camp)

Grab your aprons or fanny packs, the ultimate suburban showdown is here! It’s dads with grilling tongs vs moms with team snacks in a battle of backyard glory. Will you be cracking dad jokes in New Balances or cheering on your squad from the minivan sidelines? No matter your side, expect hilarious games, fierce (but friendly) competition, and enough cargo shorts and post-game oranges to last the night.

What is Farmers Union camp?

Our camp is affordable and open to everyone, regardless of your current or past farming background. It’s all about helping young people become good citizens by planting the seeds of responsibility, leadership and cooperation in an environment where those qualities can grow and flourish.

A Common Foundation

Campers have opportunities to develop these qualities through some of the simple, day-to-day tasks at camp. These activities provide a common foundation for all campers to share the responsibility of making camp a fun, safe place to be and are the foundation of developing cooperation skills that can last a lifetime.

There are other ways campers can develop their leadership and cooperation skills, too.  Some may choose to share a special skill on talent night or run for a director’s position on the board of the camp’s cooperative concession store.

Leadership & Cooperation Skills

Leadership and cooperation happen at all levels of Farmers Union Leadership Camp, and sometimes these skills are demonstrated in an act as simple as helping a younger camper with a craft project or assembling a costume to wear at a theme night.

Campers develop strong leadership roles by participating in groups where campers are taught the importance of legislation and how it can affect their community, and how to become an effective leader. Farmers Union Leadership campers can make a difference in their communities.

MFU strives to provide an environment that continually fosters growth for young people. One of the many ways the organization achieves this is by allowing campers to take an active role in shaping the educational component of camp. The Youth Advisory Council is elected each year by their peers at Senior Camp, and throughout the year discuss, select, and build the base for the annual educational theme.

Activities and Fun

But camp isn’t only about education. It’s also about providing a safe environment where campers can hang out, be kids and have fun. Campers get to sing at campfires and dress up in crazy costumes for theme-night. They can swim, play games, go on nature hikes and much more.

Most of all, campers can meet young people from throughout the state – both urban & rural with whom they can build lifelong friendships.