Frequently
Asked
Questions
Camp Eligibility
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Camp applicants must be in high school or recent high school graduates (entering their first year of college).
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Students must be between the ages of 14 and 18 years old during camp.
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Camp attendees must be citizens of the United States.
Due to the nature of our program, which may include access to a military base and a C-130 ride with the military, only U.S. Citizens are eligible. Unfortunately, students on visas (including student visas) or Green Card holders cannot apply.
Proof of citizenship may be required during the application process to ensure eligibility.
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Read, write, and speak fluent English
Understand and comply with safety instructions provided verbally, visually, or in writing.
Respond appropriately to staff directions during routine activities and emergency situations, including evacuation or aircraft-related safety procedures
Egress independently a small aircraft in the event of an emergency
Maneuver on uneven surfaces (traverse and move around on uneven or broken surfaces, including carpet, sidewalks, asphalt, gravel, and grass)
Refrain from behavior that poses a significant risk of harm to self or others, or that interferes with camp activities or curriculum.
Engage and participate in a fast-paced daily schedule lasting up to 14 hours that encompasses indoor and outdoor settings and contain a range of auditory and visual stimuli.
Participate safely and independently in a supervised overnight camp environment with a fast-paced, highly structured curriculum
Follow core health and safety rules applicable to shared lodging, dining, and common areas.
Manage personal care needs independently without requiring one-to-one personal care by camp staff.
Maintain awareness of 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
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Minnesota ACE Camp strives to create an inclusive environment for all students and volunteers.
Details and the request form can be found on our ADA Reasonable Accommodations page.
Camp Application
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We grade each student's application based on merit.
When we say merit, we mean graders approach each student's application holistically, considering factors such as the quality of their personal essay, the depth of their extracurricular involvement, and the strength of their recommendation letter, without regard to demographic or socioeconomic factors.
This approach ensures that students are selected based on their individual accomplishments, enthusiasm, and potential to excel in the aviation camp, fostering a fair and inclusive evaluation process.
Check out our Tips for Success to help guide students and increase their chances of getting into camp.
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Absolutely not! Whether you come from a legacy of aviators or you are a first-generation high school graduate, we welcome you!
Our mission at Minnesota ACE Camp is to educate, mentor, and explore career opportunities with you. Come learn about the best careers in our industry and see if this is the step you want to take.
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A student’s total tuition includes a single-occupancy lodging quarter, a shared ensuite bathroom, transportation, individual flights, food, and tour admissions while the student is attending camp.
Airfare and transportation costs to/from camp and souvenirs are not included in tuition and are the student’s responsibility.
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Camp Tuition is due May 1st only due upon acceptance into camp.
You will receive an acceptance email with a link to pay tuition.
If you do not pay tuition on time, your camp slot will be forfeited and will be given to a student on standby.
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You must be a U.S. citizen with a Social Security Number in order to apply to camp.
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We love our out-of-state students, and they are always welcome to attend camp!
Please note that our tuition does not include airfare or transportation costs to and from Minneapolis.
For students under 18 years old, you will need an adult to drop you off on the first day of camp and pick you up on the last day of camp.
Should you have any questions feel free to reach out to our staff at supportstaff@mnacecamp.org.
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Yes! View our Tips for Success on our website!
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Yes, we will do everything we can to make sure you and your friend get to experience camp together.
In your application, you will be asked what your friend’s name is who you wish to attend camp with. Please write their name in your application and confirm with your friend you listed the same camp dates.
Please remember, grading is based on merit, so we recommend you look over each other’s applications and read our Tips for Success so you both have the best chance of getting into camp.
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Some of our camp program activities have weight restrictions that may prevent some students from participating.
These weight restrictions are in place by our vendors for the safety and well-being of all participants.
iFly Indoor Skydiving: 260-300 lbs
(additional evaluation by an iFly staff member is required to determine whether the student can be accommodated)Piper Warrior flight: 250 lbs
Glider flight: 242 lbs
Helicopter: 300 lbs
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This camp fills up quickly! We like to give priority to our first-time students. If you have attended camp before and would like to attend again, contact the admissions team at admissions@mnacecamp.org.
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Students will be able to upload their Letter of Recommendation in their online application (this is preferred).
If the recommending adult wishes to send the letter directly to us, they can do so by emailing admissions@mnacecamp.org.
Students can replace the Letter of Recommendation in their application with a Word Doc or PDF indicating who will be writing their Letter of Recommendation, the recommending adult’s email address, and when we can expect to receive it.
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Address all Letters of Recommendation to “Admissions”
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Sign up for our newsletter to get reminders of important dates for next year’s camp!
Our camp is competitive, and each year we offer a Standby List to students who applied within the application window but were not accepted to camp. These students will be contacted should a student forfeit their camp slot.
As you’ll learn from the airlines, a Standby List is not a guarantee. Please do not email us and ask if you can still apply or attend camp. Once the plane pushes back, no more passengers can board.
We are a group of volunteers, and once the application window is closed, we dedicate much of our time over the next few weeks to preparing for camp. It may be several days before we get back to you.
We encourage you to apply next year!
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Yes, there is a Standby List.
You are automatically added to the Standby List if you apply during the application window.
If a student is accepted into camp and forfeits their slot for any reason, we will email the first student on our Standby List to inform them a slot has opened up and ask if they would be interested in attending camp. They can choose to accept or turn down the available slot.
For various reasons, there may be some years when we leave the application window open passed the initial application window time period to fill the Standby List. Take advantage of this, and be sure to sign up for our newsletters to get notified if this happens.
Every year a few students from the Standby List make it to camp for various reasons. Don’t be deterred; it’s always worth a shot! But as you’ll learn from the airlines, a Standby List is not a guarantee.
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Our cancellation 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, all participants will receive a full refund minus a small service fee.
Financial Aid
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No!
You will only be graded on the following items in your camp application.
Personal Essay
Letter of Reccomendation
Extra Curricular Activities: Your Life Outside the Classroom
We grade each student's application based on merit.
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You can request Financial Aid to help subsidize the cost of attending camp in the percentages of 25%, 50%, 75%, or the Maximum Awarded Financial Aid, which requires the student to pay $130.
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We ask you two questions in your application.
If you are accepted to camp, but we are unable to award you any Financial Aid, will you pay the full tuition and attend camp?
What is the minimum amount of Financial Aid that would still allow you to attend camp?
Your answer to these questions and the overall rank of your application will determine the amount of Financial Aid you receive.
You will never receive less than the minimum amount you would be willing to pay to attend camp; however, if your overall application score is low and you require the full amount of Financial Aid to attend camp, you may receive a rejection letter.
We encourage you to be honest in your application and do not reach out later asking for more Financial Aid.
If your circumstances drastically change after you apply and need to make an adjustment to your application, please contact our staff with your request at admissions@mnacecamp.org
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Demographic information like this question has allowed our organization to seek grants and receive large donations that help increase the amount of financial aid we can award students each year. By sharing this information with us, you can help us ensure next year’s student’s have the same opportunity as you to receive a financial aid award.
You WILL NOT be graded on these types of questions in your application.
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On Friday, March 17, 2023, Governor Walz signed the Free School Meals bill into law.
How do you qualify for free or reduced lunch in Minnesota?
Students become eligible for free or reduced-price school meals by household completion of an Application for Educational Benefits and/or meeting specific eligibility criteria that allows students to be listed on a direct certification report.
The Application for Educational Benefits and Alternative Application for Educational Benefits are now the Minnesota applications for Student Meals.
Here is a document from the Minnesota Department of Education explaining the requirements.
Camp Check-In
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All accepted students and their parent/guardian will receive an email containing essential details.
This email will include a finalized schedule, accommodation locations, check-in location, graduation venue, and parking instructions.
If you require this information before the email is sent, please don't hesitate to contact your Camp Director directly.
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Students under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult during both check-in and check-out.
There are no exceptions.
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To ensure the privacy and security of all participants, these details are shared exclusively with the accepted students and their parents/guardians. We appreciate your understanding in helping us maintain a safe environment for our campers.
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We understand the urgency of booking your tickets; however, please ensure that you have received a acceptance letter and paid your tuition fees before making flight arrangements.
Students under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult during both check-in and check-out.
For Check-In, we recommend flights scheduled before 9:00 A.M.
Please aim to arrive for check-in no later than 10:15 A.M.
For Graduation, we recommend flights scheduled after after 9:00 P.M.
Graduation will end around 6:00 P.M.
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Minnesota ACE Camp does not provide transportation to/from the airport.
An adult must be present during the initial check-in if the student is under 18 years old.
If you are running late, we recommend coordinating with your Camp Director prior to Camp Check-In with your arrival time.
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We request that each student arrive and leave camp on a paid ticket.
Should you have any questions regarding this policy, don't hesitate to get in touch with your Camp Director.
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Check-in time is extremely busy and very important. Every effort should be made to make it to the scheduled check-in time. We do understand that sometimes there are extenuating circumstances.
If such an occasion arises, please get in touch with your Camp Director as soon as possible to make arrangements in advance.
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Please note any and all concerns on your application.
During check-in, we will re-verify this information with each parent/guardian and request more specific information if necessary. Your Camp Counselor and Camp Director will be advised of the information and any applicable medications brought to camp.Unless it is deemed safe for the student to self-administer their medication, all medications will be entrusted to the Camp Staff.
Graduation
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Accepted students and their parent/guardian will receive an email containing essential details such as the finalized schedule, accommodation locations, check-in location, graduation venue, and parking instructions.
If you require this information before the email is sent, please don't hesitate to contact your Camp Director directly.
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Minnesota ACE Camp does not offer transportation to and from the airport.
For students under 18 years old, it is required that an adult accompanies them upon graduation departure.
Graduation always concludes around 6:00 P.M. on Friday evening.
The MSP Airport is approximately a 20-minute drive from the graduation venue.
To accommodate for potential traffic and other unforeseen circumstances, we recommend scheduling departing flights after 9:00 P.M.
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We request that each student arrive and leave camp on a paid ticket.
Should you have any questions regarding this policy, don't hesitate to get in touch with your Camp Director.
Scholarship Application
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You can apply The Elevate Award to any aviation professional development opportunity or necessary item. Anything you believe that will help you further your career make a case for it in your essay, show us that you are an impressive applicant, and we will fund it.
Here are some suggested items:
Women in Aviation (WAI) Conference
Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) Conference
National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA) Conference
Other Industry Networking Events
Consulting Services
Professional Resume Review
Interview Preparation
Training / Courses (Full or Partial)
Flight Training Courses (including ground school courses)
College Tuition
General Professional Development Courses (Office Skills Development, Leadership Courses, Specialized Training)
Books / Supplies / Gear
Course Books
Required Supplies for training | Study Guides
Headset, Flight Bags, etc.
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Unlike MN ACE Camp, there is no age limit for The Elevate Award. All are welcome to apply!
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Absolutely not! Alumni, student, retiree. All are welcome to apply!
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YES! This scholarship is not just for Minnesota residents. All US residents are welcome to apply!
Should you have any questions feel free to reach out to our staff at supportstaff@mnacecamp.org.
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The Elevate Award is only applicable to US residents.
Should you have any questions feel free to reach out to our staff at supportstaff@mnacecamp.org.
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Address all letters of recommendations to “Scholarship Committee”
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Please upload your letter of recommendation to your online application (this is preferable).
Should the recommending adult wish to send their letter of rec directly to MN ACE Camp, they can do so by emailing scholarship@mnacecamp.org.
If this is the case, the applicant can replace the letter of rec in their application with a word doc or PDF indicating who will be writing your letter of rec, the recommending adult’s email address, and when we can expect to receive it.
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You may apply and be considered for The Elevate Award for three (3) consecutive application windows.
You may be awarded a maximum of two (2) scholarships total.
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We encourage you to apply next year!