Career Exploration Summer Camps

Explorers Wanted

Discover up to a dozen different career paths. Meet other students from across the state. Get hands-on experience that’s worth exploring at Our Dakota Dreams Summer Career Exploration Camps.

Calling all South Dakota Middle School Students

Students entering 7th and 8th grade in the 2024-2025 school year can participate in free, five-day residential career exploration camps this summer. Hosted on South Dakota college campuses, these camps expose students to various career paths through fun, engaging and hands-on learning. Throughout the week, campers will spend time with instructors, take field trips to area businesses, participate in interactive exercises and more, gaining a better understanding of themselves, their career interests and how their education prepares them for professions.

group of students

2024 Career Camp Dates, Locations & Details

June 16-20, 2024 | University of South Dakota + Southeast Technical College
June 23-27, 2024 | University of South Dakota + Southeast Technical College
July 7-11, 2024 | Black Hills State University + South Dakota Mines + Western Dakota Technical College
July 7-11, 2024 | Northern State University + Lake Area Technical College
July 7-11, 2024 | South Dakota State University + Mitchell Technical College
July 14-18, 2024 | Black Hills State University + South Dakota Mines + Western Dakota Technical College
July 14-18, 2024 | Dakota State University + Mitchell Technical College
July 14-18, 2024 | Northern State University + Lake Area Technical College
July 14-18, 2024 | South Dakota State University + Lake Area Technical College

2024 Application

Applications are now closed. Stay tuned to see if you’ve been accepted. Applicants will receive an email from http://dakotadreams.com by mid-April.

What to Expect

  • Exposure to careers through hands-on learning.
  • Three full days on a university campus.
  • A day trip to an area technical college.
  • Tours of area businesses and conversations.
  • Transportation to and from off-campus field trip sites.
  • On-campus housing (four nights) in a university residential hall.
  • Campus dining facilities (all meals, snacks and drinks included).
  • Evening recreational and social activities.
  • 24/7 representative supervision.

Sample Schedule

Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday

HELP US PROMOTE THE CAMPS

To help promote the summer camps, download the free marketing toolkit below. It includes promotional social posts and an email template targeted at parents and students. Please click below to download your toolkit.

Download Toolkit

More Summer Camp Opportunities

There are other career camps offered from various institutions and organizations throughout the state. These career camps give students from a variety of grade levels opportunities to explore and experience careers firsthand.

Career Camps

Project Funding and State Support

Tutoring sessions are provided at no expense to K-12 students in South Dakota. This opportunity is being administered by the South Dakota Board of Regents and funded with federal dollars available to the South Dakota Department of Education through the American Rescue Plan.

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