Where is Camp Thunderbird for Girls and Camp Thunderbird for Boys?
Both camps are 4-1/2 hours Northwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota, not far from the Canadian border and 12 miles from a town called Bemidji. The girl’s camp and the boy’s camp are across the lake ( Lake Plantagenet) from one another. There is a link to MapQuest on the Home page of this site if you’d like to see where the town is and what the lake looks like. How would I get to camp?
You would fly Northwest Airlines from your home-town to Minneapolis, Minnesota with other kids that are coming to camp. Once you arrive in Minneapolis, a Thunderbird counselor would meet your plane and take you to a grey-hound type bus. From the airport you would travel to camp on this comfortable bus with boys and girls from several different cities as well as 2-3 Thunderbird staff members. The drive would take approximately 4 hours and would include a stop for some grub.
What is there to do every day at Camp Thunderbird?
We have more than 30 activities for you to choose from on a daily basis. Check them out! We also have one day a week called Adventure Day when you leave camp for the day and cook-out meals, swim and visit a cool park in the area. It’s kind of like an all-day field trip. Another day of each week is called Specialty Day, which is a theme day that you and other kids your age get to plan once during the summer. You get to decide what the rest of the camp will do, wear and eat for the entire day! Where do the other campers come from?
Other campers are coming from your home-town as well as about 60 other cities/towns across the United States. A few others come from other countries such as England, France, Mexico, South America, and Japan.
How long would I stay at Camp Thunderbird?
If you decide to come to Camp, you would stay for either four weeks or eight weeks. It’s up to you and your parents! If you come for four weeks, you would need to decide whether to come for the first part of the summer (June 20th - July 16th) or the second part of the summer (July 17th - August 12 th). If you decide to come for eight weeks then you’ll be there for the entire summer (June 20th - August 12th). Whichever you choose, chances are good that you’ll come back to camp summer after summer after summer!
Where would I live at camp?
You would live in a cabin with 8-10 other kids your age, and 3-4 counselors. You would have personal shelves (called cubbies) on which to place your belongings and hanging space if you need it.
What do the cabins look like? The cabins at camp are rectangular in shape. The counselors live in the front area of the cabin and the campers live in the rear area. All campers and staff sleep on bunk beds. Cabins at both camps have electricity and lighting. The girl’s camp cabins have plumbing--two sinks and two toilets in each cabin. Both camps have “shower houses” nearby for showering. What would my counselors be like?
Your counselors would be either from this country or from another country like England or Australia. They would most likely be attending college in the winter months or may have just graduated. They would be there for you whenever you need them and will see to it that you have the best summer possible. They would be kind, FUN, and caring, and…… possibly the best friend you’ll ever have.
What sort of food is served at camp?
We serve food that kids like. Some examples are pancakes, waffles, scrambles eggs, hot and cold cereal, bacon, sausage, cinnamon toast and French toast for breakfast. Homemade soups, grilled cheese, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, turkey and roast beef sandwiches, burritos, baked potato and salad bars, and chicken fingers for lunch. Hamburgers/fries, spaghetti/garlic bread, pizza, burritos, fish sticks, lasagna, fried and baked chicken, macaroni and cheese and other pastas for dinner. At lunch and dinner we serve yummy desserts such as homemade chocolate chip cookies, brownies, apple crisp, and ice cream cones, as well as fresh fruit such as plums, bananas, apples, grapes, oranges, and watermelon. For those of you who are vegetarian, have allergies or other special food requests, we have alternative foods prepared for you at each and every meal. Whatever we serve, we know you will like. All of our meals have been kid tested and approved!
In addition to the meals served at camp, there is an opportunity to have a snack or a juice/soda in the evening after dinner. We call it "going to store". No money is needed as your parents have set up an account for you. We also have S'mores at campfires, popcorn on movie night and other special snacks throughout any given week.
What is the weather like?
Although the weather can vary from day to day in Northern Minnesota, it's most often warm and sunny... a wonderful, comfortable 75-90 degrees during the day. In the evening it can be refreshingly cool which means great campfires. Some days are rainy and provide a chance to sleep in and do things like performing skits and have song-writing contests.
What kinds of wilderness camping trips can I take?
You can take any number of wilderness trips. There are no age restrictions. It’s up to you to learn the skills needed to go. Once you learn the skills, you can go on hiking, biking, sailing, canoeing, backpacking, fishing, and climbing trips with kids of all ages. You decide what you want to do and what you want to accomplish.
What if I don’t know anybody going to Camp Thunderbird? Not to worry! A lot of new girls and boys don't know anyone else when they come to Thunderbird for the first time. So we make sure every new camper has a big sister or big brother. Even before camp starts, he/she will e-mail you, snail-mail you, call you on the phone - even come to your home, if he/she lives nearby. Because your big sister or big brother remembers what it's like to go to a new place for the first time, he/she can tell you all about his/her experiences at Thunderbird... and answer your questions, too! We also have a few nights designated throughout the summer for camp big sisters/little sisters and big brothers/little brothers to eat dinner together. What do campers wear at camp? Both campers and counselors dress casually every day. At camp we prepare for all types of weather. We bring shorts and t-shirts for the warm sunny days of a Minnesota summer and we bring sweaters, sweatshirts, fleece jackets, long-sleeve shirts and jeans to keep us warm throughout the cooler days and nights. How often would I get to see my sibling if my sister or brother is at the Girl’s camp or Boy’s camp? If you are at Camp Thunderbird for Girls and you have a brother at Camp Thunderbird for Boys or vice versa, you would get to see one another a few times throughout the summer. We would arrange for the two of you to have dinner together a couple of times and you may even see one another at times when the two camps get together, provided that neither one of you is out of camp on a trip. You would also be able to write to one another through what is called “inter-camp” mail—a mailbox that is passed back and forth between the two camps on a daily basis.
What if I get sick at camp? Both camps have a Health Center where two nurses are available 24 hours a day. There is also a camp doctor that travels between the two camps on a daily basis. If you’re not feeling well at camp, you can let one of your counselors know and he/she will walk with you to the Health Center to see a nurse. If you have a fever and/or need a quiet place to rest until you’re feeling better, there is plenty of room to stay there for the day and/or overnight. The nurses will take care of you and they will bring meals to you if you are not feeling well enough to go to the meals served in the camp lodge. How would I keep in touch with my family and friends back home?
Mail is picked up and delivered to camp every day except Sunday. You may keep in touch with your family and friends via snail mail by writing to them as often as you would like. We ask that you write to a family member at least twice a week to let them know how you are and what exciting things you are doing at camp. If you decide to come to camp for eight weeks, you may have family members visit you at camp. |
