The Mission of The Environmental
Education Center at YMCA Camp Thunderbird is to foster a respect
for and a relationship with the physical and social environment,
to develop life skills, responsibility and confidence in an environment
that is fun positive and experiential.
For more information click on the links below:
• Curriculum
• Facilities
• Staff
• Downloads
• Links
• Email Maura Baker, Director
• Email Janna Thompson, Program Coordinator
• Email Annie Gresko, Program Coordinator
For more information click on the links below:
• Curriculum
• Facilities
• Staff
• Downloads
• Links
• Email Maura Baker, Director
• Email Janna Thompson, Program Coordinator
• Email Annie Gresko, Program Coordinator
For more information click on the links below:
• Curriculum
• Facilities
• Staff
• Downloads
• Links
• Email John Gordon, Director
• Email Maura Baker, Assistant Director
• Email Pepe Chavez, Program Coordinator
• Curriculum
• Facilities
• Staff
• Downloads
• Links
• Email John Gordon, Director
• Email Maura Baker, Assistant Director
• Email Pepe Chavez, Program Coordinator
THE CURRICULUM
Camp Thunderbird offers you and your students many unique opportunities that can’t be done in the classroom. Choose from the existing list of curriculum or give us a call for any special curriculum needs that you may have and we’ll do our best to meet those needs. Here are charts of correlation between activites offer at Camp Thunderbird:
- North Carolina 4th grade Correlation
- North Carolina 5th grade Correlation
- North Carolina 6th grade Correlation
Choose from:
| • Advanced Aquatic Ecology |
Grades 5 and up -All Year |
| • Astronomy | All Year |
| • Aquatic Ecology | All Year |
| • Bird Study | All Year |
| • Canoeing | Grades 4 and up -All Year |
| • Challenge Course - Low Elements | All Year |
| • Compass | All Year |
| • Environmental Debate | Grades 5 and up -All Year |
| • Fish Seining & Dissection | All Year |
| • Fishing & Fish ID | All Year |
| • Forest Ecology | All Year |
| • Garden Study | Sept, Oct, April, May |
| • Group Dynamics | All Year |
| • High Ropes Challenge | ($7/student) Grades 3 and up-All Year |
| • Living History | All year |
| • Meelewing – Character Development | Grades 5 and up - All Year |
| • Native American Study | All Year |
| • Nature Art | All Year |
| • Pioneer Study | All Year |
| • Soil Study | All Year |
| • Wilderness Survival | Grades 5 and up- All Year |
| • Wildlife Ecology | All Year |
Is there something we can help you with??
Often schools will be focusing on a particular curriculum objective or subject area. We can help you tailor your trip to best fit your needs. Just give us a call and we’d be glad to help you build or create curriculum that we may not offer in one of our classes!!!
YMCA Camp Thunderbird Staff can lead the following activities for you from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Each activity lasts 45 minutes long. Your school, if it wishes, may bring a snack to drink and eat, in between the two evening programs. Your entire school will be together during this time period.
It is also your option to bring in any guest speakers, DJs, or run your very own evening programs. Just let us know.
Choose from:
• Campfire and Skits
• Night Hike ( Only offered to schools with under 100 students)
• Wacky Olympics
• Liars Club
• Action Auction
• Nature Movie
• Dance
• Science Fair
• Predator Prey
• The Lorax
• Snakes Alive
2008 Spring EEC Staff
Having a great site and great resources are one thing, but here at the Environmental Education Center we pride ourselves on our professional staff that will work with your students. Our staff is made up of adults that have received college degrees in areas such as: biology, conservation, forestry, education, and recreation to name a few. We also get a great opportunity each year to sponsor a few young adults from Europe and the United States that participate in an internship where they gain skills to take back to their countries or education. All in all, our staff is a very diverse group of instructors that enjoy working outside with children in a highly energetic and active environment. We promote respect, responsibility, caring, honesty and faith for everybody and the environment.
Maura BakerDirector
Once named Best Northern Transplant¡¨ by a jury of her peers, Maura hails from Royal Oak, MI. She earned her BS in Biology from Alma College. This is Maura¡¦s sixth season here at Thunderbird, but before this she has previously worked at Latta Plantation as a naturalist and as a TA for her biology department. On her downtime, Maura likes to identify spiders, go biking and hiking or relax on a camping trip.
Janna ThompsonProgram Coordinator
Janna originally comes to us from Canton, OH, which is also incidentally the home of the Football Hall of Fame. Coincidence? I think not. She attained her BS degree in Recreation Management from East Carolina University. Janna¡¦s got a lot of experience in outdoor education in NC, including the At Risk Youth Program and Advanced Outdoor Living Skills Camps in Greenville, as well as Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters in Andrews. When Janna¡¦s got a little free time you can find her hiking, climbing, fishing, drawing or dancing!
Annie GreskoProgram Coordinator
Annie was born and raised in Carrolltown, PA and she earned her degree in Psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. This is Annie¡¦s sixth season at T-Bird. She¡¦s also worked at Pelham¡¦s Summer Treatment Program for at risk youth, the New Canaan Nature Center, YMCA Tockwogh Camp & Conference Center and the United States National Whitewater Center. If Annie¡¦s not teaching, you can probably find her reading, hiking, at a concert or attempting to climb high things!
Joy HardwickScheduling Coordinator
Joy hails from Fisher, IL. She earned her Recreation, Park & Tourism Administration degree from Western Illinois University. She has plenty of experience in the camping industry, at such centers as Camp Grimes, Camp Bob Cooper, and Camp Horizons, as well as serving at Thunderbird since 2004. In her limited spare time, Joy likes to paint, garden, read and just explore the outdoors.
Michelle GrimEvening Programs Coordinator
Michelle comes to us all the way from Findlay, OH, where she received her degree in Biology from the University of Findlay. This is Michelle¡¦s fourth season at T-Bird, and before this she has worked as a mentor at the Green River Preserve and also as an animal handler at Lake Geneva Animal Gardens. As we can all attest, Michelle likes to narrate her daily life. To take a break from that hobby she may spend some time in the NC mountains, or do some bird watching.
Robby MclaughlinEvening Programs Coordinator
Robby was, appropriately so, born in Hollywood. Hollywood, FL, that is. Robby earned a degree in Marketing in Charlotte, NC. He started his T-Bird career in 2003, and has also worked at 5 other YMCA branches, and also as a summer camp counselor and assistant golf pro. When Robby¡¦s not telling crazy stories about his life, you can find him watching movies, traveling, playing golf, or, to the delight of all, performing his own brand of stand-up comedy.
Bryan EnglandCurriculum Specialist
Bryan was born in Myrtle Beach, SC, and he earned his BS in Biology from the College of Charleston. Bryan has been with Thunderbird for three years and he has also taught seventh grade science. Bryan, who is by far our resident brainiac, has a passion for astronomy, and loves sharing his knowledge with peers and children alike.
Jill Raabe comes to us from Skokie, IL. She received her B.A in Biology and Secondary Education from Illinois Wesleyan University. This is Jill¡¦s second season at Thunderbird, but she previously worked at Emily Oaks Nature Center and Walcamp Outdoor Ministries, both in Illinois. When Jill¡¦s not teaching, you can find her hiking, watching House¡¨ or eating ice cream.
Kyle Rauch trekked to Thunderbird from Williamsport, PA, where he earned his Geography degree at Bloomsburg University. Aside from working at Thunderbird for his second season, he completed an internship at the Pocono Environmental Education Center. Kyle loves playing the guitar in his band and also just being outside, especially if it involves backpacking, camping, rock climbing or field taxonomy.
John Patton is one of our few instructors who traveled north to work at Thunderbird. He received his BS in Psychology from the University of Georgia. We are very happy to have JP here with us for a second season at T-Bird. When John¡¦s not out performing and also looking for the best live music around, he can be found backpacking and camping, or just exploring the outdoors and honing his famous field taxonomy skills.
Nevin McCoy (AKA: strongest man alive) is originally from Fort Mill, SC. He traveled to Ohio to earn his degree in Ecotourism from Hocking College. This is Nevin¡¦s second season of EE at Thunderbird, and he has also worked as a camp counselor here for two summers. If you can¡¦t find Nevin giving out his famous bear hugs, he¡¦s probably dozens of feet below sea level, since he loves to go scuba diving.
Lindsay Menard hails from Dayton, OH. She received her degree in Ecotourism and Adventure Travel from Hocking College. We¡¦re super excited to have Lindsay join us for a second season here at T-Bird. As Lindsay was finding her true calling in Environmental Education, she worked in retirement communities and nursing homes, as a server, and, of course, as a construction-worker wanna-be. Lindsay is a truly creative individual who enjoys sewing, watching live music, hiking, backpacking and playing outside.
Lyndsay Ashcraft is another northern transplant, born in Goshen, OH. She went to Hocking College, where she earned her degree in Ecotourism and Adventure Travel. Before coming to T-Bird this season, Lyndsay worked at North Central 4-H Camp in Kentucky. When she¡¦s not teaching at Thunderbird, Lyndsay loves to go kayaking, backpacking, hiking and scuba diving, or just settling down with a good book.
Laurina Sigmon was born in Garner, NC, and she received her BS in Biology and her MS in Zoology from North Carolina State University. Laurina has previously worked at Cool Springs Environmental Education Center doing programs and surveying herp populations and also as a High school science teacher. When Laurina¡¦s not teaching or chasing her son, she likes to hang out with her family, practice martial arts and kayak.
Abi England comes to us from Charlotte, NC. She attended the College of Charleston, where she received a degree in Elementary Education. This is Abi¡¦s fourth season at Thunderbird. Abi is a jill-of-all-trades¡¨, with such jobs under her belt as: stocker/cashier, babysitter, after-school teacher, camp counselor, preschool teacher, carriage driver, public school teacher and bus driver. In her small amount of free time Abi enjoys reading, swimming, writing and long walks with her husband, Brian.
Cynthia Spratley was born in Cottonwood, ID, but considers York, SC her home. She earned her BS in Environmental Education from The Ohio State University. Before coming to share her knowledge at Camp Thunderbird, Cynthia has worked at Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks, in Ohio, Project Wild, Indiana Children's Museum Project on Recycling and she is also a Homeschool Teacher. Cynthia loves sewing, baking, scrapbooking, information hoarding and hiking.
Tiran Thomas is from Clover, SC. He earned his Juris Doctor from UNC and his undergraduate degree in Political Science from USC. Tiran has worked tirelessly at Camp Thunderbird for 10 years in various capacities. Some of Tiran¡¦s hobbies include bowling, singing and drawing.
Annie Fiske hails from Seattle, WA. She attended Sheldon Jackson College, where she earned her degree in Environmental Science and Marine Biology. Before coming to Thunderbird, Annie taught environmental education for two seasons in California. She has also done whale research, salmon hatchery and fisheries research. Annie likes to exercise, cook and travel.
Stacey Titus comes to us from Wheaton, IL. She received her degree in Physical Education from Bethel College. Stacey has previously taught environmental education at the Pali Institute in San Bernadino, CA, and also has experience as a trail leader with student conservation in Denali, AK. In her spare time Stacey enjoys puppies, games, camping, sports and biking.
THE FACILITIES
Located in the heart of the Carolinas, our site is nestled on 106 acres along the banks of Lake Wylie. On the border of North and South Carolina just 17 miles from Charlotte, NC our site is very accessible from Interstates 77 and 85.
 Canoeing / Seining cove |
 Canoe site 1 |
 Aquatic Ecology site |
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The Lake
The 12,455 acres of Lake Wylie is one of our greatest classrooms as your students may find themselves determining the pH of the lake, digging in the bottom of the lake for aquatic insects, or sharpening their skills in a canoe in one of our protected coves. Lake Wylie also offers a great backdrop to your evening campfire, dining experience, and walks around the site.
 Enjoy the garden |
 Welcome @ the Ampitheater |
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 The Garden |
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 Our own Pioneer cabin |
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The Land
Our forest trails provide a path for discovery around each bend with many living and non-living components of the forest. Recreation fields provide ample space for group activities, as well as a place to recreate with your students.
Enjoy the garden |
Welcome @ the Ampitheater |
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The Garden |
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Our own Pioneer cabin |
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Indoor Program Areas ( J- Hall, Wildlife room, Seining room)
Although most of our programming occurs outdoors, our center is equipped with heated indoor classrooms, cabins, recreational halls, and dining facility. Our center also has an outdoor amphitheater, two outdoor pavilions, challenge course, climbing tower and high ropes elements, wildlife room, pioneer cabin, Native American site, fish lab, and "Star Lab" planetarium.
 Rec Hall |
 Aquatic ecology room |
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Cabins
Should your group choose to spend the night, you will enjoy the accommodations of your cabins and your cabin mates. Cabins have bunk-style beds, and are equipped with heat, restrooms, and showers.
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Dining Hall
Overnight groups will also enjoy a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals in our spacious dining hall overlooking Lake Wylie
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