Camp Thunderbird is located 16 miles west of Olympia on Summit Lake and has been in continuous operation since 1945.
Originally part of land granted by Congress to the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1894, the property is remembered for its part in the old stagecoach road before becoming a popular summer camp.
Although the camp has experienced periodic updates to specific buildings, no major renovations have been made since 1980.
Our Scouts go on to be responsible and productive adults as better spouses, parents, siblings, employees, and community members. These upgrades will transition our 1970’s era facilities, which were built for a single gender program, into modern amenities more in keeping with the needs of current Scouts and families as well as meeting standards to allow for partnerships with local school districts and modern youth safety/privacy standards.
Specifically, investments are needed to create new infrastructure:
Support Camp Thunderbird
to ensure that young people have a place to disconnect from screens, challenge themselves, and grow through experiences that encourage
teamwork, leadership, and resilience.
Ready to take the next step.
Improvements to bunkhouses, showers, restrooms, and other facilities will dramatically increase the number of youth Camp Thunderbird
positively impacts on an annual basis.
Remodel the 5 larger bunkhouses
(01), as well
as the main shower house, to upgrade the
deteriorating facilities including new restrooms
and main shower house
(01A). Remodeling is the only option due to their location in a wetland buffer zone.
Build a play structure to include a low ropes and confidence course. Creating new nature trails with interpretative signs to further connect youth to nature.
Build a total of 25 mini Adirondack cabins
(03) to provide new overnight rustic sleeping facilities and 2 new shower / toilet facilities
(03A & B) to accommodate larger number of mixed gender
campers.
Create a new modern waterfront recreation area that switches all of our water activity onto Summit Lake and honors the land.
Secure Capital funding for the purchase an acquisition of the 40-acre Green Diamond property adjacent to Camp that has been used by Scouts for over 70 years.
New larger docks (5 -feet & 20 feet) will allow
for increased access to water recreation and
confidence building.
The new 120 foot wide swim area will be also
increase safe access to the lake and was necessary
to install the docks.
The new 200 foot no wake zone creates safety while
learning and recreating with a buoy rope line. There
will also be a bouyed swim area between the two
docks (100 feet x 150 feet).
The wetlands restoration of the original swim
pond (created by 1945 dam) now complies with
requirements per Dept of Ecology. It will now be a
learning opportunity with interpretive signage about
the natural setting.
The removal of the three existing docks took place in
September of 2023.
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