Montana Learning Center

Get ready for a summer of curiosity, creativity, and campfire stars at the Montana Learning Center! Located on the shores of Canyon Ferry Lake, MLC’s hands-on STEM camps invite kids to launch rockets, solve mysteries, explore Montana’s wild landscapes, and cool off with recreation on the lake. Campers also gaze through powerful telescopes under some of the darkest skies in the state. From science experiments to outdoor adventures, kids learn by doing—while making friends and lifelong memories. Summer at MLC isn’t just camp… it’s an adventure in discovery.

Contact Info:

Links:

Address:

7653 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena, Montana 59602

Camps

Jun21Sun4:00 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Big Sky River Quest: The Missouri Breaks

6/21/2026 to 6/26/2026
Ages 14 to 18
Campers paddle 46 miles through Montana’s stunning Missouri Breaks—exploring the White Cliffs on a beginner-friendly canoe adventure down the Missouri River! ️

Jun21Sun9:00 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - LEGO Robotics: Artemis Lunar Mission

6/21/2026 to 6/25/2026
Ages 9 to 11
Aspiring engineers design, build, and program LEGO rovers to tackle Moon missions—solving challenges inspired by NASA’s Artemis lunar exploration!

Jun21Sun9:30 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Inferno Science: Wildfires, Survival & Renewal

6/21/2026 to 6/25/2026
Ages 12 to 14
Campers investigate wildfires up close—tracking fire behavior, testing air quality, and exploring how ecosystems recover after the flames near Canyon Ferry Lake!

Jun22Mon2:30 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Build It!: Unleash Your Inner Engineer!

6/22/2026 to 6/25/2026
Ages 6 to 8
Young engineers dive into gears, levers, and pulleys—experimenting, problem-solving, and designing a take-home creation that brings everyday engineering to life! ⚙️

Jun28Sun9:00 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Zombie Apocalypse: Master the Art of Survival

6/28/2026 to 7/2/2026
Ages 9 to 11
Survivors-in-training build shelters, make fire, and master wilderness skills as they tackle science-based survival challenges in a thrilling post-zombie adventure!

Jun28Sun9:30 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Advanced Kitchen Chemistry: The Science of Cooking

6/28/2026 to 7/2/2026
Ages 12 to 14
Advanced campers dive deeper into food science—exploring reactions, pH, emulsions, and heat through hands-on experiments and tasty chemistry!

Jun28Sun10:00 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Montana Aerospace Scholars – Freshmen & Sophomore Program

6/28/2026 to 7/2/2026
Ages 14 to 16
High school freshmen and sophomores design a mission to the Moon—building skills, exploring space careers, and earning a hands-on summer residency at Canyon Ferry L...

Jun29Mon2:30 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Young Astronaut Training Embark on an outer space adventure!

6/29/2026 to 7/2/2026
Ages 6 to 8
Young explorers train for a simulated mission to Mars—working as a team to engineer solutions, collect samples, and experience the thrill of space exploration!

Jul5Sun9:00 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Apex Predators & You: Survive and Thrive in the Wild!

7/5/2026 to 7/9/2026
Ages 9 to 11
Campers explore the world of apex predators—discovering adaptations, ecosystems, and survival strategies inspired by nature’s fiercest animals!

Jul5Sun9:30 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Rock Raiders: Montana’s Ultimate Geology Quest ⛏️

7/5/2026 to 7/9/2026
Ages 12 to 14
Campers hunt for agates, crystals, and sapphires—learning real geology through hands-on fieldwork and treasure-filled expeditions across Montana! ⛏️

Jul5Sun10:00 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Montana Aerospace Scholars – Junior & Senior Program

7/5/2026 to 7/9/2026
Ages 16 to 18
High school juniors and seniors design missions to Mars—exploring space careers, solving real-world challenges, and earning a immersive residency at Canyon Ferry Lak...

Jul6Mon2:30 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Dinosaur Discovery Calling all junior paleontologists!

7/6/2026 to 7/9/2026
Ages 6 to 8
Travel back in time as campers dig into Montana’s prehistoric past—discovering fossils, building dinosaur habitats, and excavating a take-home pet dino!

Jul12Sun9:00 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Matter Mash-Up! Where Sciences Gets Physical

7/12/2026 to 7/16/2026
Ages 9 to 11
Campers get hands-on with solids, liquids, and gases—testing strength, flow, and the power of air in a fast-paced, experiment-packed science adventure! ✨

Jul12Sun9:30 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Cosmic Detectives: How We Explore the Universe

7/12/2026 to 7/16/2026
Ages 12 to 14
Campers become cosmic detectives—using light, optics, and powerful telescopes to explore planets, stars, and galaxies under Montana’s dark skies!

Jul13Mon2:30 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - WaterWorks!

7/13/2026 to 7/16/2026
Ages 6 to 8
Dive into the science of water as campers explore lakes, watersheds, and aquatic life through hands-on experiments and splashy learning at Canyon Ferry Lake!

Jul19Sun9:00 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Rock On: Unearth the Wonders of Geology!

7/19/2026 to 7/23/2026
Ages 9 to 11
Young geologists dig into rocks, minerals, gemstones, and fossils—uncovering Earth’s history through hands-on exploration and discovery!

Jul19Sun9:30 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - ⚙️ Engineer It!: Design, Build, Launch

7/19/2026 to 7/23/2026
Ages 12 to 14
Campers think like engineers—designing, testing, and launching real-world solutions while exploring power systems, aerospace technology, and hands-on innovation! ⚙...

Jul19Sun10:00 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Camp Explore the Universe

7/19/2026 to 7/23/2026
Ages 14 to 18
Campers explore the universe using Montana’s largest observatory—capturing stunning images of planets, galaxies, and nebulae during five unforgettable days and nig...

Jul20Mon2:30 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Nature Detectives: Explore, Observe, Discover

7/20/2026 to 7/23/2026
Ages 6 to 8
Budding nature detectives explore Montana’s wildlife—investigating animals, habitats, and adaptations through hands-on activities and wild discoveries!

Jul26Sun9:00 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - LEGO Robotics: Mission Mars

7/26/2026 to 7/30/2026
Ages 9 to 11
Campers design, code, and pilot LEGO rovers as they tackle Mars missions and STEM challenges inspired by the Red Planet! ✨

Jul26Sun9:30 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - ✈️ Flight Squad: Soar to New Heights

7/26/2026 to 7/30/2026
Ages 12 to 14
Campers take to the skies—flying simulators and drones, launching rockets, and mastering the science that makes aircraft and spacecraft soar! ✈️

Jul27Mon2:30 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Born to Explore: Montana Edition

7/27/2026 to 7/30/2026
Ages 6 to 8
Young explorers discover Montana’s wildlife, landscapes, and treasures through hands-on games, art, nature walks, and their own Montana Explorer Journal!

Aug2Sun4:00 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Camp Extreme Yellowstone Expedition

8/2/2026 to 8/7/2026
Ages 14 to 18
Campers embark on a 6-day Yellowstone wilderness expedition—camping near Gardiner and exploring the park’s wild beauty through adventure and discovery! ️

Aug2Sun9:00 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Kitchen Chemistry: The Science of Cooking and Beyond!

8/2/2026 to 8/6/2026
Ages 9 to 11
Campers cook up chemistry—mixing, experimenting, and tasting their way through the science behind baking, reactions, and edible discoveries!

Aug2Sun9:30 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - CSI Canyon Ferry: Science, Secrets & Sleuthing

8/2/2026 to 8/6/2026
Ages 12 to 14
Campers become forensic investigators—analyzing evidence, cracking clues, and solving science-based mysteries in a thrilling CSI-style adventure!

Aug3Mon2:30 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Critters & Creatures

8/3/2026 to 8/6/2026
Ages 6 to 8
Campers explore the critters and creatures of Canyon Ferry Lake—discovering plants, insects, and animal signs while creating nature-inspired projects to take home!

Aug16Sun3:00 PM

Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake - Dinosaur Camp

8/16/2026 to 8/21/2026
Ages 14 to 18
High school students dig at real dinosaur sites—excavating fossils, collecting amber, and preparing discoveries with experts in Montana’s Hell Creek Formation! ⛏️