Frequently Asked Questions

Our goal is to set your child up for success. The majority of our campers try one session their first year of camp. From there, the director will have conversations with you and your family to determine if your child is ready for a full season.

Yes, we send out a request form to all campers prior to the start of the summer.

We meet with all families before their child arrives at camp. This ensures that they know a familiar face as soon as they step off the bus. We also set campers up with a big brother or sister, whom first year campers will connect with before camp starts. This helps provide one more familiar face, and also provides the opportunity for any last questions to be answered.

Once your child is enrolled, you will be given access to the CampMinder portal. All required forms are accessible within this portal.

Our motto is "seek to understand, then to be understood." At camp, we believe that behavioral issues are reflections of camper struggles. Once we have provided campers the space to express themselves we provide support, and help them understand why that behavior does not align with our overarching camp values and expectations for how campers need to hold themselves.

There will always be conflict. Our number one rule is that conflict may never be settled physically. Instead, we provide campers and staff a systematic approach to navigating conflict. When campers leave camp they will be able to hold space for conversations about things they are struggling with with their peers.

All campers will undergo hard moments during their time at camp. We have learned that the key to success is connection. Connection, acceptance, and belonging all coupled together create an environment where campers feel supported at all times. Staff and their fellow cabin-mates are always there when they need to be.

Only prescribed medications can be brought to camp. They must be cleared through and turned in to the nurses.

We offer vegetarian and gluten-free options. With advance warning, we can make accommodations for other allergies or intolerances.

All staff undergo several interviews, have three required reference checks, and undergo full background checks. We have no hesitations about relieving staff of their positions if required.

Additionally, all staff are part of a 10-day comprehensive leadership development training. We provide staff with ample tools to navigate the complexities of their job, and build a team that empowers one another to be successful.

Full season camp parents can visit during visiting weekend. Half season parents may visit during the last several days of camp. Please contact a director if you would like more information.

Campers are permitted to bring in devices to listen to music so long as they cannot access wifi. All other electronics are taken upon campers' arrival and stored in a safe.

There's nothing better than receiving a letter in the mail from your parents. Campers can pick up mail every day of the week from the office. We encourage parents to send letters at least a week in advance as it can take additional time to reach camp. If you are traveling and cannot send letters you can simply email our office manager your letter. They will print it, and have it ready for your child to pick up. More immediate communication will always go through one of our directors.

At Thunderbird we refer to homesickness as missing home. This slight change in verbiage helps campers view what they're experiencing as completely normal.

We provide parents with our own missing home pre-camp plan, so they can begin having these conversations with their kid. Additionally, we provide our staff with tools we have been tweaking for years that help campers during these hard times. At the end of the day the best way to help a kid who is missing home is to keep them busy.

Weekly, all parents receive a written report from their camper's staff team debriefing how their child did throughout the week. Included in this report are the activities their child attended, achievements, and other pertinent details they learn throughout the week.

Additionally, all parents receive a letter from their camper's head counselor describing fun things that happened in their village.

Horseback riding is the only in-camp activity that we charge extra for at Camp Thunderbird.

Both Camp Thunderbird for Boys and Girls are located 12 minutes outside of Bemidji, Minnesota. The majority of campers fly into Minneapolis and take a chartered bus up to camp from the airport.

Parents will book flights, designated by our travel agent, with other campers traveling from the same area to and from the Minneapolis airport. From there, we charter a bus to and from camp.

Yes, we offer financial aid and payment plans. Please reach out directly to a camp director for more information.