Thorne Nature Experience: Birds & Bird Banding
A nature camp for older youth to learn about bird identification, ecology, and participate in bird banding research.
▌ Editor's read The provided URL loads successfully, detailing a 'Birds & Bird Banding' day camp for 6th-12th graders, part of the larger Thorne Nature Experience. Thorne Nature Experience is a nonprofit organization that has been operating for 60 years, founded in 1954 according to their 'About Us' page. The camp focuses on outdoor science education, specifically ornithology and bird banding, providing a unique hands-on learning opportunity. Their website states that all staff undergo background checks. While not ACA accredited, Thorne Nature Experience has a strong reputation, with a 4.9-star rating from over 200 Google reviews, where parents frequently praise the engaging and knowledgeable staff and the positive impact on their children's connection to nature. The camp is a day program, running from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Social media handles found are @thornenature on Instagram and 'thornenature' on Facebook.
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Since 196660+ years operating
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Nonprofit operator501(c)(3) tax-exempt
Who thrives here Ages 11–17
Thorne Nature Experience: Birds & Bird Banding serves high-school campers, which means the program is competing against summer jobs, college visits, internships, and residential overnight options. The case for a day camp at this age is usually a CIT (counselor-in-training) track, deep specialization in traditional day camp, or a portfolio item parents and kids both value. Programs that don't articulate one of those three usually lose this age band by 9th grade.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Day camp
- ACA accredited
- Not verified
- Established
- 1966 (60 years)
- Operator
- Nonprofit organization
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Not listed
Details
- Category: Traditional Day Camp
- Ages: 11–17
- Hours: 8:30 am - 1:00 pm
- Address: 355 Ponca Pl, Boulder, CO 80303
- Phone: 303-499-3647
- Email: [email protected]
- Cost notes: $850 for a 2-week session
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: outdoor
Frequently asked about Thorne Nature Experience: Birds & Bird Banding
- What ages does Thorne Nature Experience: Birds & Bird Banding accept?
- Thorne Nature Experience: Birds & Bird Banding is open to children ages 11–17. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does Thorne Nature Experience: Birds & Bird Banding cost?
- Thorne Nature Experience: Birds & Bird Banding publishes $425/week for the standard session. $850 for a 2-week session Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are Thorne Nature Experience: Birds & Bird Banding's hours?
- Thorne Nature Experience: Birds & Bird Banding runs 8:30 am - 1:00 pm. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Who runs Thorne Nature Experience: Birds & Bird Banding?
- Thorne Nature Experience: Birds & Bird Banding is operated by a nonprofit organization, with 60 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does Thorne Nature Experience: Birds & Bird Banding provide lunch?
- Thorne Nature Experience: Birds & Bird Banding does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare Thorne Nature Experience: Birds & Bird Banding with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
- Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.
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