Camp Pillsbury

★★★★★Greta Zolezzi

Camp Pillsbury was so welcoming to me. I was nervous of not making any friends but everyone there is so nice. The campers are kind, and always included everyone in every activity. I loved that we could try any activity at camp with such an amazing staff, my favorite were dance, trapeze, arts and crafts, and theater. Trying trapeze was so scary but once you do it, it is like the most amazing thing there is + the counselors that helped me at the trapeze were so trained so nothing happened to me. There was also multiple opportunities to go out to Valley Fair and Mall of America, which I had so much fun at. I miss it so much and i hope that in the future I can go back.

★★★★★Krista Chavis

Our family cannot say enough wonderful things about Camp Pillsbury. This performing arts summer camp in Owatonna, Minnesota has truly become one of the highlights of our children’s lives. Every summer, they count down the days until camp begins, and every year it somehow exceeds our expectations all over again. Camp Pillsbury offers such an incredible variety of experiences — from circus performances, musicals, and plays to culinary arts, boating, and go-karting. There is something for every interest, and the kids are encouraged to explore, create, and grow in a supportive and joyful environment. Watching their confidence soar through performances and hands-on activities has been amazing. What truly sets Camp Pillsbury apart, though, is the sense of community. My children have formed deep, meaningful friendships there — the kind that will last a lifetime. The counselors and staff are caring, enthusiastic, and genuinely invested in helping each camper feel seen and celebrated. We are beyond grateful that we found Camp Pillsbury. It has given our kids unforgettable memories, priceless skills, and friendships they will treasure forever. We feel so lucky to have this camp as part of our summers, and we recommend it wholeheartedly to any family looking for a truly magical and enriching summer experience.

★★★★★Joseph S. Miller

My daughter is 13 and just experienced her 1st session at Camp Pillsbury. She is Autistic and has an anxiety disorder and was apprehensive about the camp. In spite of this being her first experience of being away from home, the owner, Vonda, and the staff were so welcoming and accommodating that she soon felt accepted and comfortable at camp. Her fellow campers and staff were so accepting and supportive, Alicia returned home with a lot of confidence. She had a wonderfully diverse set of experiences and came home with a new set of acrobatic skills, of which she is very proud! She is anxious to return to camp another year and we look forward to it! As a side note, I witnessed some of the unhappy mother who posted negative comments earlier. I’m not sure what kind of “camp” she expected. The buildings are older, but served the purposes well. The staff were young and somewhat informal, but well versed, worked together well and were skilled at interacting positively with each of the campers. Vonda personally oversaw the medications. She was going over my child’s medications with me when the other mother interrupted and said she needed her daughter’s medications because she was leaving with her daughter. Vonda attempted to talk with the mother, but the woman left.

★★★★★tamara stoffel

This camp is a gem. My daughter was able to do so many experiences, in a wonderful environment. The staff were enthusiastic and artists themselves, talented and passionate. An aerialist for 5 years, my student was challenged on her level- she also was a beginner to all sorts of new adventures like trapeze, fashion design, theatre. Franklin cook’s wonderful food and the kindness and care is palpable from the staff. Having such world class staff and facilities in Minnesota allowed me as a single Mom to afford the camp. I wholeheartedly embrace this venture to provide challenging and creative experiences for our kids. Thank you Vonda and all of the teachers -many from other countries -for providing and sharing your talents. My daughter will definitely return next year.

★★★★★Jessica S

Camp Pillsbury has been like a summer home for the kids for a few years now and they still want to return. Gentle, fun spirits care for the kids and help them to form healthy relationships and self-care. Thanks for all that you do in helping us to raise healthy adults, Jody and the other camp counselors!