Our history begins more than a half century ago, when "Honey" and "Speedy" Altman decided to create a place where boys could bond together, learn about teamwork and challenge themselves. In 1946, they founded Camp Thunderbird for Boys on the shores of Lake Plantagenet, in the beautiful northwoods of Minnesota. Where kids get to be kids. In 1969 Honey and Speedy established Camp Thunderbird for Girls across the lake from the boys facility. Today, both camps are still family owned and operated by the Altman/Sigoloff family. At Thunderbird we focus on helping kids build skills in a non-competitive environment. Every child that comes to Thunderbird gets the attention and encouragement they need to set goals and reach them. They come to camp feeling excited and nervous. They leave camp feeling confident and more independent. Thunderbird is a place you can always call home. Our campers and staff come from all over the country and all over the world-and many of them come back year after year. They're people from different cultures, with different life experiences who come together each summer to form a family. And whether they're with us for one season or twenty, the friends they make at Thunderbird are friends for life. Thunderbird is a multi-specialty camp. Quality instruction is offered at all levels in a wide variety of activities. The only limit for our campers is their own desire and ability to learn. Wilderness tripping has also been an integral part of the Thunderbird program since our inception in 1946. We believe that the backcountry experience helps campers to build self-confidence while developing an appreciation for the wilderness and the necessity of ongoing preservation efforts. Our goal is to educate campers on the "Leave No Trace" (LNT) practices while we provide them with a safe environment to experience the adventure, thrill and challenge of self-sufficiency in the wilderness.
