T.U.N.E. (The Ultimate Nature Experience) aims to encourage and support youth in their endeavor to participate in exciting outdoor activities; learn new outdoor skills; explore fascinating aspects of the natural world; begin to understand the relationships between humans, wildlife, land & water; and establish lifelong appreciation and stewardship of the world they inherit.

Where better to gather, explore and learn than with our host, Eagle Bluff ELC, in beautiful southeastern Minnesota.

T.U.N.E. Camp MN is for students ages 11 to 16 years of age. Since T.U.N.E. Camp MN offers the opportunity to experience shooting sports, we must operate under the restrictions and regulations that all students enrolling in camp must be age 11 by the first day of camp. There will be no exceptions.

A Program Developed by Pheasants Forever

  • Pheasants Forever, Inc (PF), “The Habitat Organization,” was established in 1982
  • The T.U.N.E. program was launched in 2008 as part of PF’s “No Child Left Indoors” youth outreach initiative
  • The T.U.N.E. program is modeled on the writing and teaching of Aldo Leopold (b.1887–d.1948), a pioneering American naturalist and father of modern environmental conservation philosophy
  • T.U.N.E. programs are operated independently by local or regional PF Chapters in the manner that suits their own youth outreach & educational endeavors
  • Without the grass-roots efforts of dedicated volunteers & the support of donors, T.U.N.E. Camps and T.U.N.E. program activities would be cease to be offered

T.U.N.E Camp in the Midwest

  • Minnesota’s  first T.U.N.E. Camp was conducted in 2009
  • Now called T.U.N.E. Camp MN, we’ve grown from a 2-day event for a handful of campers to a 5-day/4-night summer camp program for about 45 campers in 2017
  • Young campers come from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota to enjoy an exciting Camp experience while learning about the natural environment
  • Under the direction of a passionate volunteer, Bruce Gockowski, our Camp program has expanded rapidly since 2013
  • February 2020, Pheasants Forever recognized Bruce Gockowski’s accomplishments for T.U.N.E. Camp MN with the Bill Sandy Making A Difference Award, presented annually to a Pheasants Forever volunteer member in Minnesota who demonstrates uncommon achievements in the name of the organization’s mission
  • T.U.N.E. Camp MN does not receive direct funding from PF’s National Office
  • T.U.N.E. Camp MN relies solely on donor funding and registration & enrollment fees for operational expenses
  • The vast majority of our funding comes from our primary sponsors, individual PF Chapters all across Minnesota

Who Makes it All Happen?

  • T.U.N.E. Camp MN is administered by the Minnesota Lady Slippers, Pheasants Forever Chapter #0772
  • Adult Volunteers and guides organize, direct, and conduct all our Camp activities. They are dedicated outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen who want to share their love of the natural world with girls and boys
  • Partners help establish and support our program’s mission and provide an organizational framework within which we operate our Camp
  • Sponsors help reduce the cost of delivering this high-caliber Camp experience with donations of money, goods, or services
  • Contributors are experts or professionals that we engage to conduct special activities or present educational workshops for our campers. Some contributors volunteer their assistance, some are paid for their service
  • Our Host, Eagle Bluff ELC, provides an outstanding facility where we operate our Camp. They have an experienced staff to assist our campers & volunteers and enthusiastic naturalists to conduct challenging activities or present engaging learning experiences for our campers
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