Minnesota ACE Camp

Minnesota ACE Camp is an overnight summer camp for high school students providing an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look into dozens of aviation careers within the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan area.

The application window is open annually from February 1 - April 1

Closed

You must have a Google Account to apply.

Eligibility & Timeline

All students must be able to meet the following eligibility requirements in order to apply to camp

Eligibility

Grade Level Applicants must be high school students or recent high school graduates
Age Requirements Applicants must be between the ages of 14 and 18 years old
Citizenship Applicants must be citizens of the United States

Timeline

Application Window Camp applications are open annually from February 1 - April 1
Camp Dates are announced by September each year for the following summer
Tuition is announced by January for the upcoming summer
Financial Aid is distributed in April after applications close and grading is complete

Application Details

Please see our FAQs for questions and read through our Tips for Success for helpful notes before applying.

Camp Capacity Each camp is limited to 30 students.
Student Selection This is a merit-based application. Please see our FAQs for more details.
Time to Complete Once your essay and documents are ready, the form takes 45 to 90 minutes to complete.

The following items must be submitted with your application.
- Personal Essay Write a short essay explaining why you should be selected for the camp. (200 words minimum)
- Letter of Recommendation Submit one letter from a non-relative adult.
- Extracurricular Activities List (bullet-point format)
- Immunization Record from your medical provider
- Health Insurance Card Scans (Front and Back)
- Photo (Plain, neutral background; no filters, hats, or sunglasses)

Camp Dates

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

2026 Camp Tuition is $1,750

A student’s total tuition includes a single-occupancy lodging quarter, a shared ensuite bathroom, transportation, individual flights, food, and tour admissions.

Lodging

Meals & Nutrition

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.

Financial Aid is available

Cancellation Policy

Our cancellation policy is strict due to security clearance and prepaid 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

Minnesota ACE Camp has allocated $25,000 for Financial Aid in 2026

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

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.
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!
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?
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!
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.
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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