Minnesota ACE Camp
Our camp application is open annually from February 1 - April 1
You must have a Google Account to apply.
Explore Aviation Careers at Minnesota ACE Camp
Minnesota ACE Camp is an overnight summer camp offered to high school students and recent high school graduates. Students entering 9th grade are welcome to apply but may not be selected due to limited capacity.
Our merit-based application will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
You will be asked to upload one essay telling us why you want to attend camp, one letter of recommendation from a non-relative adult who can speak to your character, and your health insurance information.
Please read the application carefully before submitting it.
Please see our FAQs for questions and read through our Tips for Success for helpful notes before applying.
Camp Dates
Dates are announced by September 30 each year for the following summer
Minnesota ACE Camp is hosting two camps in 2026
June A
June 14 - 19, 2026
June B
June 21 - 26, 2026
Each camp is limited to 30 students
In your application, you will be asked about your camp date preference.
If you have a friend or family member you would like to attend camp with, please let us know in your application.
We try to honor preferences and requests, but do not guarantee placement.
Camp Tuition
Tuition is announced by January 31 for the upcoming summer
2025 Camp Tuition is $1,650
A student’s total tuition includes a single-occupancy lodging quarter, a shared ensuite bathroom, transportation, individual flights, food, and tour admissions.
Tuition is due May 1, upon acceptance
Airfare and transportation costs to/from camp and souvenirs are the student’s responsibility.
Please note, if a student is under 18 years old, they will need an adult to accompany them to camp check-in and check-out.
Flying Standby? See our Standby Policy.
Financial Aid is available
Cancelation Policy
Our cancelation policy is strict due to security clearance and pre-paid expenses with our vendors. Once tuition is paid, no refunds will be issued. There are no refunds for participants who arrive late or depart early. If unforeseen circumstances occur and we are forced to cancel camp, participants will receive a full refund minus a small service fee.
Financial Aid
Financial Aid is distributed in April after applications close and grading is complete
Minnesota ACE Camp has allocated $21,120 for Financial Aid in 2025
To apply for Financial Aid, select YES in your application
Students seeking Financial Aid will select their desired percentage of aid in their camp application. A student’s request for Financial Aid holds no weight in their application. Students are accepted into camp based on merit. Students accepted into camp will be awarded a Financial Aid amount based on their request in their acceptance letter. The awarded amount may be less than what the student requested. Students cannot request more Financial Aid once their application has been submitted.
Looking for advice on how to be successful?
We already like you.
Application
Tips for Success
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Students who apply early often demonstrate greater attention to detail in their spelling and storytelling compared to students who submit their applications closer to the deadline.
While early submission does not affect the grading process directly, it does allow both the evaluators and students ample time for thoughtful review and preparation.
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It takes only a few minutes, and it makes it clear to us that you took the extra time to read it through at least once.
Add a heading with your name and the date, please.
Brownie points if you make us laugh with a creative essay title!
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While we love to hear stories about the first time you flew on an airplane… we would rather read more about YOU!
What do you like and dislike? Where do you see yourself in aviation? What do you enjoy about aviation? Were you inspired by anyone to pursue aviation?
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Submit a letter of recommendation from a non-relative adult who knows you best.
We know this is tedious, but it won’t be the last time you’ll need one, so it’s good practice.
You can get a letter from a neighbor, family friend, school counselor, or teacher. You can get one from a pilot or flight instructor to show your connection to aviation, but a letter of recommendation should come from someone who can speak to your character and knows you well.
This is the same advice for getting hired at an airline!
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We have other interests than aviation. Hard to believe I know…
We want to hear about your Video Game Championships, Robotics Awards, Water Skiing Competitions, etc.
We also know that not everyone has the opportunity to play sports or musical instruments.
If you have a part-time job, take care of your grandma after school, pick up your sibling, etc.
Share with us how you spend your time when you’re not in a classroom.
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We understand students applying to camp will come from various economic backgrounds.
Before applying for financial-aid, we want to encourage students to have hard and honest conversations with their guardians to better understand how much aid to request.
We do not want the cost of camp to deter any student from applying. We want you to try your best on your application, be honest with us and those supporting you, and have a goal in mind. We believe in you and are always available should you have more questions.
Remember that students are accepted based on merit. A student’s request for Financial Aid holds no weight in their application.
Program & Activities
Students will receive an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into dozens of aviation careers within the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan area. Program activities include tours of commercial airline operations, shadowing employees during a working flight, an MSP Tower tour, an Enroute Center tour, applied lessons in physics while indoor skydiving, flight attendant training with emergency procedures, and the opportunity to pilot multiple aircraft with FAA-Certified Flight Instructors, including drones, gliders, helicopters, general aviation aircraft, and a full-motion airline simulator!
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Ground School
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Flights
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Tours
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Hands-On Activities
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Demonstrations
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Guest Speakers
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Static Displays
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Team Building
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Mentorship
Camp Application Requirements
All students must be able to meet the following eligibility requirements in order to apply to camp.
Grade Level Camp Applicants must be High School Students or entering their first year of college.
Age Requirements Students must be between the ages of 14 and 18 years old.
Citizenship Applicants must be citizens of the United States. Proof of citizenship may be required during the application process.
Camper Essential Functions
All students must be able to perform the following to participate fully and successfully in camp activities.
Read, write, and speak fluent English
Care for themselves overnight, including unassisted dressing, toileting, and sleeping
Climb and descend stairs and ladders, without assistance
Enter and exit using stairs, and ride in a coach or school bus, unassisted
Participate and engage in group activities
Interpret, understand, and comply with verbal instructions
Follow emergency exit path lighting without assistance in the event of an emergency
Exit a small aircraft in the event of an emergency, unassisted
Exit a building in the event of a fire alarm, unassisted
Maneuver on uneven surfaces (traverse and move around on uneven or broken surfaces including, carpet, sidewalks, asphalt, gravel, and grass)
Be aware of their surroundings at all times without prompting from others
Note: Typical activities at camp may pose risks to those with prior head, neck, back, or shoulder injury, heart condition, or any other condition that may impede their ability to take part in physical activity
For students who are unable to accomplish any of the above, we will require you to complete the following form with your Primary Care Physician. We will review and respond to all requests based on disability before making any camp admissions decisions. Please email the completed form to our Board of Directors Chair at chair@mnacecamp.org.