T-Bird Expeditions

Our adventure programming is truly unique. Only Thunderbird offers campers the opportunity to transition into a Teen Adventure Program experience so they never leave their camp friends or community. Campers completing 8th-10th grade opt into these trips and travel on multi-week adventures that start and finish at Thunderbird. You can’t beat the excitement of experiencing new challenges in some of the United States and Canada’s most renowned places with their friends and counselors from T-bird! And, the best part is we offer Worry Free Parenting! You will never need to research or think about how entertain your teen in the summer because the leadership at Thunderbird does the staff vetting, trip planning and supervision of the trips in the summer. All campers must qualify for these adventures during the summer after completing 7th grade.

Trip Programs Include:

Pacific Northwest (PNW) Trip

A full-season program that includes a five-week backpacking and touring trip in Washington State and Oregon, designed for campers who have completed 8th grade.

Olympic National Park: Backpack for 3-days along the Pacific Ocean coast, camp on the beach, play in the tide pools and ocean and epic sunsets. Then move to the inland of the park for a 5-day hike through the old growth forests, snow capped peaks and waterfalls.
North Cascade National Park: Backpack for seven days where hikers spot elk, mountain goats, eagles and more while traveling through endless wildflower fields and jagged mountain peaks.

Day hikes to Mount Rainier Base Camp, Mount Elinor, Mount Storm King, Silver Lake, Anderson Moraine, Blue Glacier, and more!
Whitewater raft with guides on the Clackamas and Deschutes rivers in northern Oregon. Gently rolling currents plus energizing rapids combine to create the perfect two-day river adventure.
Sightsee in Seattle, Port Townsend, Portland and other unique Pacific Northwest towns.
Travel by ferry to the San Juan Islands where you’ll visit Mt. Constitution whale watch in Friday Harbor, and sea kayak with mountainous peaks in the background.

Canadian Canoe Adventure

A full season program that culminates in a 14-21 day canoe trip in Canadian waters or on the Bloodvein River for campers who’ve completed 8th grade. Significant training is required to qualify for this trip and is only offered on a request basis.

Enjoy the pristine and rugged Boundary Waters on a prep trip.
Learn how to paddle in white water and rapids during a three skills course with professionals near Duluth, Minnesota
Venture into the Canadian wilderness of Ontario and Manitoba for an extended canoe trip. Lake hop on the first half of the trip then shoot the rapids of the Bloodvein River until you reach Lake Winnipeg at the trip’s end.

Junior Leader (JL) Trip

A full-season program that includes a five-week trip in the Western United States and Canada, designed for campers who have completed 9th grade.

Travel to famous western sites like the Badlands, Crazy Horse, Mt. Rushmore and Wall Drug.
Backpack for four days in the stunning Wind River Range, Wyoming.
Embark on day trip of rafting on the Yellowstone River with guides, and next visit Yellowstone National Park.
Explore the town of Jackson Hole one day and day hike in Grand Teton National Park the next. Life out west is the best!

Gain Forty hours of community service cutting trails, restoring campsites or building bridges during a five-day service project with the US Forest Service in Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho.
View breathtaking waterfalls and snow-covered peaks on a six-day backpacking trip in the Saw Tooth Mountain Range in central Idaho.
Experience Kananaskis Country in western Alberta on a four-day backpacking trip through alpine meadows, jaw-dropping peaks, and glacier covered mountains.

Camp Thunderbird is an authorized permittee of Grand Teton National Park

Counselor-In-Training (CIT) Trip

A full-season program including a 3-week trip in the Northeastern United States. For campers who’ve completed 11th grade. While on a trip, campers receive instruction about what it takes to be an effective camp counselor. Once back at camp, the CIT’s who choose to stay all summer begin the transition to staff members, living in camper cabins alongside experienced camp staff.

Sea-Kayak with a guide company for 2-days through the rocky islands of coastal Maine off the coast of Bar Harbor.
Visit Acadia National Park and hike the Atlantic coast’s highest point, Cadillac Mountain.
Backpack for 4-days in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and climb to the top of a few Presidential Peaks.
Visit the trails and waterways of the Adirondack Mountains of New York while canoeing or backpacking.
Sightsee and college tour in Burlington, Vermont, and visit the nearby Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream factory or climb Camel’s Hump, Vermont’s highest undeveloped peak.
Visit Niagara Falls and take the “Maiden of the Mist” boat tour.

Adventure Quest (AQ)

Two distinct half season, with an option to attend full season including biking, sea-kayaking, canoeing or rock climbing in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. For campers who’ve completed 8th grade. Pre-season, these campers customize their adventure.

Here are some options:

Bike along picturesque Lake Superior
Sea-Kayak in the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior, paddling through caves and swimming in crystal clear water amid rock formations.
Canoe through the interconnected waterways and pristine wilderness of the Boundary Waters or Voyageurs National Park.
Rock climb on the picturesque and challenging bluffs along the North Shore of Lake Superior.
Sightsee, hike to waterfalls and lighthouses along Lake Superior.