Thorne Nature Experience

Thorne Nature Experience Kids grow better in nature! Connecting youth to nature through nature preschool, camp, and more.

Thorne endeavors to teach students how to think, not what to think about nature and the environment. Thorne provides joyful education experiences, because we believe that all students learn best while having fun. Thorne teaches in nature or uses nature artifacts to teach in the classroom, because we believe nature provides an engaging, enjoyable venue for discovery. Thorne believes that inspiring

an excitement and passion for education in our students helps support their growth as life-long learners. Thorne’s programs encourage hands-on learning, because we believe that meaningful education grows out of experience – when students use their senses to touch, hear, see, or smell something in nature, they can more deeply understand it. Finally, Thorne teaches place-based education, because we believe that direct association with the local environment is not only the best way to build a lasting connection to the natural world but is also fundamental to understanding and relating to global environmental issues.

Nature Together starts soon, and there’s still time to join us! 🌿Designed for young children and their caregivers, Natur...
09/03/2026

Nature Together starts soon, and there’s still time to join us! 🌿

Designed for young children and their caregivers, Nature Together is a chance to slow down, spend meaningful time outside, and connect with other families along the way.

Come explore, play, and experience a little more nature in your week. 💛

There are still spots available for our fall sessions. We’d love to have you with us!
Register here: https://www.thornenature.org/nature-together

ONE MONTH until Natural Night Out! 🌙🌿And for our 20th year, we’re bringing it home.For the first time ever, Natural Nigh...
09/02/2026

ONE MONTH until Natural Night Out! 🌙🌿

And for our 20th year, we’re bringing it home.

For the first time ever, Natural Night Out will take place at the Lafayette Nature Center, giving you the chance to experience the place your support helps make possible in a whole new way.

We’re planning immersive experiences throughout the Nature Center, an epic live auction (seriously, you’re going to want to see these items 👀), great food and drinks, and a night celebrating 20 years of this very special Thorne tradition.

And we couldn’t make any of it happen without our incredible sponsors. 💛 Thank you to the businesses, organizations, and community members who are helping us bring this night to life and get more kids outside.

The countdown is officially ON. See you October 2!
Register here: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/FDCApu35_dt0o3dRaqn5NQ?t=1786568649

Happy September! 🍂Things are picking up at Thorne! Preschool is in full swing, Nature Together and our afterschool Natur...
09/01/2026

Happy September! 🍂

Things are picking up at Thorne! Preschool is in full swing, Nature Together and our afterschool Nature Clubs start soon, and somehow we’re already just ONE MONTH away from Natural Night Out! 💛

There’s a lot happening at Thorne this September, and we’re so happy to have our community along for all of it.

Here’s to a really good month ahead! 🌿

Maybe you want ideas for nature play. Maybe you’re tired of feeling like you have to entertain your toddler all day. May...
08/30/2026

Maybe you want ideas for nature play.

Maybe you’re tired of feeling like you have to entertain your toddler all day.

Maybe you’re craving adult conversation.

Maybe you want your child to meet other young children.

Maybe you simply want to spend a little more time outside.

Nature Together can be all of those things.

Join a community of families who believe that childhood is meant to include mud, wonder, friendship, fresh air, and lots of time outside.

Come explore with us! https://www.thornenature.org/nature-together

Curious about nature preschool, but not quite sure what it actually looks like? 🌿Nature Together is a chance to experien...
08/29/2026

Curious about nature preschool, but not quite sure what it actually looks like? 🌿

Nature Together is a chance to experience Thorne’s approach firsthand. You and your little one can explore the space, meet our educators, and get a feel for what learning outdoors can look like before preschool begins.

And for many families, it becomes a natural next step. This year, 25% of new students entering Thorne Nature Preschool came from Nature Together!

Nature Together families also receive priority access to Nature Preschool enrollment. ☺

Register here to begin your family's journey with us! 💚
https://www.thornenature.org/nature-together

Looking for something different after school?Our new afterschool programs allow 1st through 3rd graders to get to know t...
08/28/2026

Looking for something different after school?

Our new afterschool programs allow 1st through 3rd graders to get to know the animals around us, and 3rd through 5th graders to learn hands-on wildlife skills.

We’ll start with the basics, provide the tools, and build from there.

Registration is open now! We're so excited to see you there! 🐦
https://www.thornenature.org/nature-club

Calling all nature lovers! 🐦🔎At Thorne’s NEW after-school Critter Club (1st - 3rd grade), and Outdoor Skills Club (3rd -...
08/26/2026

Calling all nature lovers! 🐦🔎

At Thorne’s NEW after-school Critter Club (1st - 3rd grade), and Outdoor Skills Club (3rd - 5th), your child can learn about the amazing creatures of the outdoors or hands-on wild skills, depending on their grade level.

Basically, after school just got a LOT more interesting.

Come join us! 🪶
Register here: https://www.thornenature.org/nature-club

If you’ve been part of a summer at Thorne, there’s a good chance Molly had a hand in making it special. 💚As our Camp Pro...
08/25/2026

If you’ve been part of a summer at Thorne, there’s a good chance Molly had a hand in making it special. 💚

As our Camp Program Director, Molly puts so much care into our camps, our educators, and, most importantly, the kids who spend their summers with us.

And when she’s not making camp magic happen, Molly is happiest outside herself. Backpacking, hiking, swimming, or noticing the wildflowers changing with the seasons are some of the places she finds the most peace.

Molly, thank you for the care, energy, and heart you bring to Thorne. Our summers simply wouldn’t be the same without you. 🌼

Parenting young children can be full of really wonderful moments, but it can also feel isolating. Sometimes, simply bein...
08/24/2026

Parenting young children can be full of really wonderful moments, but it can also feel isolating. Sometimes, simply being around other caregivers who are in a similar season of life can make a difference.

One caregiver described it as “really calming to be at the creek” while connecting with other parents. Another shared, “I loved being able to feel safe and vulnerable when sharing with the group. Everyone really held each other where they were at.”

Nature Together is a place for your child to explore, but it’s also a place for you to connect, exhale, and find community.

Come for your child. You might find something for yourself, too. 🌿

Spots are still available. https://www.thornenature.org/nature-together

For little ones, friendship often starts with something as simple as watching another child splash in a creek and joinin...
08/24/2026

For little ones, friendship often starts with something as simple as watching another child splash in a creek and joining in. Building a fairy house together. Following each other down a trail. Learning a new way to play. 💚

Nature Together gives children the time and space to see the same faces, play alongside one another, and let friendships form naturally.

As one caregiver shared, a favorite part was “watching the kids learn from each other, whether it be a new way to play or truly learning a new skill.”

Because sometimes friendship doesn’t need an introduction. It just needs time, a place to play, and someone to explore alongside. 🌿

You can register here: https://www.thornenature.org/nature-together

Address

300 Old Laramie Trail E
Lafayette, CO
80026

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13034993647

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Thorne Nature Experience posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category