Tucked away in the heart of the wine country, Thunderbird Ranch's Summer Day camp offers boys and girls ages 5 - 14 an unforgettable summer experience on a year round ranch located just one and a half hours north of San Francisco. Thunderbird Ranch offers the beautiful rolling hills of Sonoma County with access to over 600 acres of ranch land on the Russian River and a warm, Mediterranean climate. The architecture of the facilities and outbuildings on the ranch provide a Wild West setting and contain numerous artifacts that enrich our local history. We have a 1926 Northwestern Pacific Railroad Caboose, refurbished Conestoga wagons and a model Railroad Station House. A central bathhouse (the County Seat) offers private sanitary facilities and hot showers.

Thunderbird Ranch provides an unforgettable summer experience for children with an abundance of activities designed to mirror our philosophy and goals while at the same time foster self-esteem and confidence in a safe, warm and caring family environment that concerned parents have come to rely on for 2 generations. Thunderbird Ranch Summer Camp was founded in 1962 by Arline Johnson, having evolved out of the Johnson's family's wish to combine their extensive horseback riding careers with their goal of providing a unique and positive recreational experience for children. The ownership and direction of the camp was assumed by Arline's son, Bruce Johnson in 1975. Bruce and his wife Elizabeth, have developed the curriculum of Thunderbird over the years to reflect current sporting trends, while still maintaining the basic activities that have helped Thunderbird remain one of the outstanding summer day camps in Northern California. The forthcoming summer of 2010 marks our 49th season.