Connecting Kids to Nature
For more than 70 years, Thorne has helped children fall in love with the outdoors through joyful, hands-on learning and exploration.
Thorne Nature Experience is a nonprofit based in Lafayette, CO, and serving the Front Range. We believe every child deserves the chance to immerse themselves in the wonder and awe of the natural world. Our programs inspire curiosity, build confidence, and help kids develop a lifelong connection to the environment.
Where every child can explore, connect, and belong.
New Community Program— Nature Center Saturdays!
Take an active role in ecological restoration and conservation with your family and other community members, right here in Lafayette!
Through seasonal storytelling and hands-on workshops, participants build practical skills and deepen their understanding of how to care for the plants and animals that share our world. Each season brings a new theme and fresh opportunities to explore, discover, and grow together in nature. Come curious—leave connected.
Our Programs are built to Provide…
Outdoor adventures. Lifelong connections.
Camp Programs
A trusted choice (with 70 years of experience) for outdoor summer camps. Every summer we see firsthand that KIDS GROW BETTER IN NATURE. Our Boulder, Lafayette, and Longmont day camps for kids ages 5-14 offer outdoor exploration, wilderness skills, and endless fun.
Community Programs
Thorne creates opportunities for all to connect with nature—through Nature Kids/Jóvenes de la Naturaleza programs, scholarships for nature-based programs, and the Lafayette Nature Center, a welcoming space for community gatherings, events, and exploration.
Nature Center Programs
A hands-on extension of classroom-based learning. Thorne’s Nature Center Programs bring science to life with field trips, after school programs, workshops and outdoor exploration for the whole family—helping kids of all ages better understand and connect to themselves, one another and the natural world around them.
Nature Preschool Programs
A playful start to lifelong learning. Thorne’s Nature Preschool blends early childhood education with daily outdoor adventures—where children build confidence, resilience, creativity, and a deep love for nature.
