Camp Thunderbird: Worth the Hype?
Thousands of campers have called Thunderbird their summer home—here's what keeps them coming back. 👀🌲👧👦
Events in Your Area 💙🎶🛼
Boston
Summer Friday Nights FREE (Acton Discovery Museum)
Waterfest (FREE! Metropolitan Waterworks Museum)
Celebrate Father’s Day (FREE! New England Zoos) 💙
Celebrate Father’s Day (FREE! Staten Island Children’s Museum) 💙
Father’s Day Skate (FREE! Carousel Family Fun Center) 💙
Sensory-Friendly Open Barnyard (Weir River Farm)
Schools Out for K-Pop! (Sugar Plum Parties)
Juneteenth (FREE! Old Sturbridge Village)
StoryWalk® “Juneteenth for Mazie” (Acton Discovery Museum)
Craft & Play Pizza Party for Father’s Day! (Little Hands Crafts) 💙
NYC
Juneteenth Celebrations (Children’s Museum of Manhattan)
Lavender Blues: REMIXES, a Family Hip-Hop Concert (FREE! Brooklyn Children’s Museum)
World Cup Watch Parties (FREE! Pier 86)
Celebrate Juneteenth (FREE! Brooklyn Children’s Museum)
Amazon Juneteenth FREE Day (Staten Island Children’s Museum)
San Francisco
Juneteenth and Father’s Day Concert (FREE! Spreckels Temple of Music) 💙
Through the Garden Gate Storytime (San Francisco Botanical Gardens)
Twin Cities
Juneteenth Celebration (FREE! Maple Grove Town Green)
2026 Special Olympics USA (Various venues throughout St. Paul/Minneapolis)
Groovin’ In The Garden Summer Music Series (FREE! Como Zoo & Conservatory)
Activity Spotlight: Camp Thunderbird 🦅🏕️🌅
Camp Thunderbird for Boys and Camp Thunderbird for Girls are sibling sleepaway camps located on separate campuses in Bemidji, Minnesota, offering a traditional overnight camp experience for children and teens. Established in 1946, the camps sit on more than 600 acres with three miles of shoreline and maintain a strong focus on character development, independence, leadership, and friendship-building. While the boys' and girls' camps operate independently, they share the same philosophy, traditions, and commitment to helping campers grow through adventure, community, and age-appropriate challenges.
One of Thunderbird's standout features is its choice-based program, which allows campers to customize much of their daily schedule. With more than 30 activities available (including athletics, watersports, creative arts, outdoor adventure, fishing, wilderness skills, and specialty programs), campers can explore new interests while continuing to develop existing passions. The camp also incorporates unique traditions such as Adventure Day excursions throughout Minnesota, village-wide Specialty Days, guided wilderness trips, and leadership opportunities that evolve as campers get older.
Life at Thunderbird is intentionally designed to foster close friendships and a strong sense of belonging. Campers live in small cabin groups organized by age, with experienced counselors and village leaders providing mentorship and support throughout the summer.
Area: Twin Cities
Price: Camp Thunderbird (2nd-9th Grade) is $8,375 for 1 session (1 month), or $14,975 for the full season (2 months). Teen Adventure Tours (9th-11th Grade) is $8,725 for 1 session, or $15,500 for the full season. Camp tuition includes room, board, in-camp activities (excluding horseback), and laundry. Sibling discounts apply!
Dates: June 14 - August 6, 2026
Registration: Find your program and register here!
Note: Round-trip bus transportation from Minneapolis is provided for a fee of $150.
What’s New This Week 📰
Packing for Camp: With temps in the 90’s, it is literally impossible not to think about summer. Kids and teachers alike are pushing through the remaining days of the school year to get to camp. While you wait on pins & needles, here’s what to pack so you’re ready to go.
Why the Best Art & Craft Summer Camp is Actually a Traditional One: Picture a 13-year-old camper standing at the edge of a granite ledge in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, looking down at a 45-foot descent. Or picture that same camper in a raft, paddle poised, plunging into a churning stretch of Class III whitewater. At Camp Walt Whitman, these aren’t rare, once-in-a-summer moments. They are part of a normal July afternoon.
Best NYC Summer Camps Accessible by Public Transit (2026 Guide for Parents): Explore the best NYC summer camps accessible by subway, bus, and commuter rail, including STEM, arts, sports, and nature programs for kids.
What We’re Working On ✊👨🍼👨👩👧👦
As we head into a special weekend marked by both Juneteenth and Father’s Day, we’re taking a moment to celebrate family, community, and the traditions that bring us together. With many kids off from school and summer just getting underway, it’s the perfect time to get outside, explore something new, and make a few memories along the way. We’ll be sharing plenty of ideas on our site and IG, from free to reasonably priced! Wherever the weekend takes you, we hope you find time to unplug, connect, and enjoy it with the people who matter most.
Talk soon,
Your Team at MomBrains