Activities & Signup
Archery
Arts & Crafts
Baseball
Basketball
Blacksmithing
Canoeing
Climbing
Fishing
Fitness
Flag Football
Floor Hockey
Golf
Horseback
Kayaking
Kneeboarding
Lacrosse
Mountain Biking
Music
Nature/Ecology
Newspaper
Outdoor Living Skills
Photo
Pickleball
Pottery
Riflery
Sailing
Soccer
Stand Up Paddleboard
Swimming
Tennis
Trampball
Tubing
Ultimate Frisbee
Wakeboarding
Wakesurfing
Waterskiing
What Sets Us Apart From the Rest
Every day after lunch, campers sit down with their cabin and two things are placed in front of them. A sheet of paper with a breakdown of all activities offered that day, and another sheet, where campers tell their counselor which activity they want to sign up for. To paint the scene, you’ll usually see campers running all around the lodge asking their friends, brother, cousin, etc. what activity they’re signing up for so they can join in. What you’ll also see is campers stepping outside of their comfort zone, trying new activities, and signing up with new friends.
It’s entirely possible that your child will come into camp and think that all they want to do is play sports all day. What we know is that during the first few days they’ll probably sign up for the activities that they feel comfortable doing. But, what we see just a short few days after is a shift. They begin signing up for activities outside of their comfort zone. When kids are in an environment where they feel safe and surrounded by people who support them, they choose to venture outside of their comfort zone.
FAQ
What type of camp are you? Sports, outdoorsy, adventure, water based?
The answer is we are a little bit of everything, which is one of the many things that makes us so incredible. With one of the best properties in the entire Midwest we have been blessed with the gift of being able to provide kids everything they could want and more. We have athletics for our more sports focused kids. A world-class arts program for our kids with a knack for creativity, a nature and outdoor focused program, and a one of a kind waterfront.
Do you compete against other camps?
Yes, twice per session we compete against other camps. The first competition of the session is against Camp Thunderbird for Girls. The second is against either one or more camps in the area. Once a summer, we host a larger tournament featuring three other boys camps in the area.
Do you break down sports activities by age and skill level?
Campers sign up for athletics based on age restrictions specified during activity sign up. This ensures that campers are engaging in skill and age appropriate drills.
How are activities supervised?
Every activity has at least one staff member responsible for instruction. We ensure that groups sizes are practical for the number of campers signed up for each activity.
What if my child only wants to do one activity?
Campers can only sign up for an activity once per day. Therefore, campers must do at least four unique activities every single day.
some activities are double period
Does my child need to know how to swim?
No, your child does not need to know how to swim. However, to participate in any activity on our waterfront they must pass a basic swim test.
How does Thunderbird approach skill progression and competition among campers?
The reality is that too often, boys feel a sense of pressure to progress in activities. They feel this from pressure placed upon them by their parents, by their friends, or by their coaches. We know that those who feel pressured to succeed, succeed less than those who simply want to succeed. At Thunderbird, we create a space where progression lies in your son’s hands. Where he chooses how and when he progresses and how he challenges himself. Our hope is that this environment will teach him that success and happiness are correlated. That those who are happy, succeed the most in whatever they’re doing. That when he finds something he loves, nothing can stop him from achieving his goals. We believe that this lesson translates into adult life, where their actions are based on the belief that success follows happiness. Time and time again we’ve seen this philosophy come to fruition.
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Cabin & Village Life
Learn about your child's living accommodations.