Hopkins Community Education

This class is designed for ADVANCED students with lots of prior experience in the pottery studio. This is a structured open studio to create your own body of work on the wheel or handbuilding incorporating your own personal aesthetic and style. Feel free to bring in a journal for note taking and your own music with earbuds while you work. Dress for a mess.

Taught by the NASA Consortium with the University of Minnesota Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics department. Since 2007 the MN Space Grant Consortium at the U of MN – Twin Cities has engaged students in building “near-space-craft” (AKA “payloads”) and using weather balloons to loft them into the stratosphere where the conditions (and the view!) are much like outer space. Student-built payloads carry cameras, microcontroller-logged sensor suites, gps systems, tracking radios, and more. Participants hone valuable skills including designing and building payload structures from light-but-tough materials, microcontroller programming and more. This camp will explore space through other projects and activities.

At Hoop Heroes: Basketball Camp, young athletes will build their basketball skills while having tons of fun on the court. Campers will practice dribbling, passing, shooting, and teamwork through exciting games and drills. Whether you're just starting out or already love to play, this camp is all about building confidence, having fun, and playing like a team. So lace up those sneakers—it’s time to hit the court!

Get ready to snap, pass, and score in this action-packed Flag Football Camp! Campers will learn key skills like passing, receiving, kicking, and flag pulling—all while building confidence and teamwork. With a focus on fun, fair play, and sportsmanship, this camp is a great way for kids to stay active, make new friends, and grow both on and off the field. No tackling, just tons of fun!

Campers will enjoy swim and gym games during this week of Camp Royal! The perfect summer combo.

Dive into summer fun with our Camp Swim featuring exciting pool games! Children will enjoy a week of water-filled adventure, learning swimming skills and participating in a variety of engaging pool activities with learning games and sports competitions. Our certified instructors will guide campers through games that promote water safety, teamwork, and confidence in the pool, creating an unforgettable and enriching aquatic experience for kids of all skill levels.

In the Breakfast Club Cooking Camp, campers will learn how to make (and take!) breakfast favorites and quick bites. After all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day! All cooking supplies are provided.

Get your hands messy and your creativity flowing! At Hands in Clay, campers will explore the art of clay modeling—rolling, shaping, and sculpting their own unique creations. From tiny figurines to imaginative sculptures, each day will bring a new project and technique. Campers will paint and decorate their pieces, learning how to bring clay to life with texture, color, and detail. By the end of the week, they’ll have a collection of one-of-a-kind clay masterpieces to take home and treasure.

Get ready to touch, squish, splash, and explore! At Little Sensory Lab campers will engage their senses through fun, hands-on activities designed to stimulate creativity, encourage exploration, and support motor skills development. From playing with slime and sand to exploring sounds, scents, and textures, each day offers new and exciting sensory experiences in a safe, joyful environment. This camp is perfect for curious kids who love to learn through play and get a little messy along the way!

Calling all animal lovers! Campers will discover amazing animals and the environments they call home—from jungles and oceans to deserts and forests. Through art, science, games, and nature play, kids will learn how animals survive and thrive while creating animal-inspired crafts and eco-friendly projects.

Dive into the deep blue and let your creativity flow! At Ocean Wonders Art Camp, campers will explore the magical world beneath the waves through art, science, and movement. Each day focuses on a different ocean zone—from coral reefs to the darkest depths—while kids create underwater-inspired art, learn about fascinating sea creatures like lanternfish and bioluminescent species, and even stay active with fish-themed yoga and saltwater science experiments. It’s a colorful, hands-on journey into the mysteries of the sea!

Curious about how hackers think and love solving puzzles? In this hands-on camp, you will explore Python coding, ethical hacking, and cybersecurity through interactive games and code-cracking challenges. Build your coding skills by creating mini-projects and programming your own cyber defense game. Experiment with secret codes, test password strength, and train on specialty websites designed for safe practice. Compete in Capture-the-Flag contests that challenge your logic, teamwork, and creativity. Learn how hackers operate, and how to stop them, while developing real-world problem-solving skills and thinking like an ethical hacker who protects, not attacks.

Get ready for an exciting class filled with new builds and challenges! Students will take their engineering skills to the next level by constructing remote-controlled robots inspired by the popular Discovery Channel show BattleBots. Using LEGO® Robotics systems and specialized Technic™ engineering components, they’ll build extreme machines designed for competition. Working in small teams of two to three, students will test, re-engineer, and morph their robots to become better, stronger, and faster before entering them into a high-energy tournament on the final day.

This summer, Hopkins Community Theatre invites high school students to be part of an unforgettable Chorus Line - Teen Edition Hopkins Youth Community Theatre experience. Participants will work alongside experienced theatre professionals and educators in a fast-paced, supportive rehearsal process that emphasizes acting, singing, movement, and ensemble storytelling. Students will grow as performers while learning the discipline and collaboration required in a full-scale theatrical production. The program culminates in fully staged performances for the community. This experience is ideal for students who are passionate about theatre and ready to challenge themselves in a creative, professional-style environment. Led by Farrah Buffington, Hopkins High School Program Director and Hopkins Community Theater co-Artistic Director. AUDITIONS: Step into the spotlight this summer! The Hopkins High School Summer Musical is an exciting opportunity for high school students to sing, dance, act, and collaborate in a full-scale theatrical production. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or new to the stage, this program offers a supportive and high-energy environment where students build confidence, develop performance skills, and form lasting friendships. Auditions will take place at Hopkins High School on April 11th and 12th. All interested students are encouraged to audition and be part of this memorable summer experience. Following auditions participants will rehearse throughout the summer, working with experienced directors and choreographers to bring a dynamic musical production to life. Students will strengthen vocal technique, learn choreography, develop character, and gain hands-on experience in the rehearsal and production process. Join us for auditions to build a team for an unforgettable summer production! Important Dates: Auditions will be held April 11 & 12, 10am - 3pm at the Hopkins High School Auditorium Auditions will be held in person at Hopkins High School and will include vocal and acting components. Please register for the audition enrollment option to receive additional details and directions for auditions! After auditions, selected cast members will be invited to register for the the rehearsal and performance dates. Rehearsal Dates July 6 - July 30, 9am - 3pm Performance Dates July 31, August 1, 7 & 8 at 7:30pm August 2 at 3pm Tickets will go on sale July 15th The participation fee includes: All rehearsals and instruction Professional direction and coaching Production costs (sets, costumes, technical elements) Performance experience in a fully staged production *No student will be turned away due to financial need. Scholarship / Donation Information To ensure access for all students, a limited number of need-based scholarships are available. Families may also choose to make a tax-deductible scholarship donation, helping support students who would not otherwise be able to participate in the program. If you are interested in scholarship support or making a donation, please contact: community.education@hopkinsschools.org.

It’s not just about speed—it’s about strategy! Camp Survivor: The Ultimate Challenge pushes campers to work together to conquer obstacle courses, complex relay races, and tactical sport challenges. We’re looking for the most well-rounded athletes who can lead their team through "The Gauntlet" on Thursday. Expect high-energy music, face paint, and epic team huddles as we find out who has what it takes to be the Ultimate Survivor!

Join us where energy meets imagination, this outdoor-focused camp designed to keep kids moving, laughing, and building confidence through play! Campers will spend as much time outside as possible enjoying games, obstacle courses, team challenges, relay races, and creative movement activities that promote strength, coordination, and great experiences.

Dive into summer fun with our Camp Swim featuring exciting pool games! Children will enjoy a week of water-filled adventure, learning swimming skills and participating in a variety of engaging pool activities with learning games and sports competitions. Our certified instructors will guide campers through games that promote water safety, teamwork, and confidence in the pool, creating an unforgettable and enriching aquatic experience for kids of all skill levels.

Step into a world of magic and mystery! Campers will explore legendary creatures like dragons, unicorns, mermaids, and griffins through art, storytelling, games, and hands-on crafts. Each day unlocks a new mythological realm filled with imagination, creativity, and magical fun!