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

Thorne Nature Experience

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Lafayette, CO
Thorne Nature Experience

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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.

09/25/2026

ONE. MORE. WEEK. 🌲✨

We’re officially just one week away from our 20th Annual Natural Night Out!

Next Friday, we’ll gather under the stars at the Lafayette Nature Center to celebrate 20 years of NNO, 72 years of Thorne, Oak’s 98th birthday, and this incredible community that makes it all possible. 💚

We’ve got a pretty special night waiting for you, and we seriously cannot wait to welcome you here.

Haven’t grabbed your tickets yet? This is your sign. 👀
https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/FDCApu35_dt0o3dRaqn5NQ?t=1786568649

09/23/2026

Today we are feeling extra grateful for our Camp Director, Max 💚

Max loves helping kids find their own curiosity in nature and giving them the space to explore, learn, and build a connection with the outdoors that sticks with them long after camp ends.

We’re so grateful to have him leading our camp team. Thanks for all you do, Max!!

09/22/2026

Happy first day of fall! Get outside and enjoy it with us 🤎🍂

09/18/2026

We are officially TWO WEEKS away from Natural Night Out! 🌿

On October 2, we’ll gather at the Lafayette Nature Center for the 20th Annual Natural Night Out, and there is so much to celebrate this year.

We’ll be celebrating Oak’s 98th birthday, enjoying an evening under the stars, experiencing Thorne in a whole new way, bidding on some incredible live auction experiences, and raising funds to connect more kids with nature.

If you’ve been meaning to get your tickets, this is your reminder. We would love to celebrate with you! 💚

Get your tickets: https://www.thornenature.org/natural-night-out

09/17/2026

Just a little Thorne Nature Preschool appreciation post. 💚🌿

We’re a few weeks into the school year, and our days have been full of exploring, playing, creating, learning, and getting to know one another.

We’re so happy to have our preschoolers back at the Lafayette Nature Center. Here’s to a whole year of learning outside together. 🥹

09/16/2026

There’s someone very special we’ll be celebrating at Natural Night Out this year… 💚

Our founder, Dr. Oakleigh Thorne II, is turning 98!

Oak’s love of nature sparked what would eventually become Thorne Nature Experience more than 70 years ago. This October, we have the chance to bring our community together at the Lafayette Nature Center to celebrate him, the legacy he created, and all the children and families who have experienced the joy of nature because of it.

We would love to fill the evening with people who have been part of Oak and Thorne’s story over the years.

Come celebrate Oak’s 98th with us on October 2 at the 20th Annual Natural Night Out! 🎂🌿

Tickets are available here: https://www.thornenature.org/natural-night-out

09/15/2026

that’s it! that’s the post. go outside!

09/15/2026

Today is the first day of our Fall 2026 after-school programs! 🍂

We can’t wait to welcome our 1st–5th graders for an afternoon of exploring, creating, and spending time outside together. This fall, kids will learn about the animals that live around us, try hands-on projects and skills like cording and carving, and of course, make lots of new friends along the way.

There’s still time to join us! 💚
You can register here: https://www.thornenature.org/nature-club

09/12/2026

There’s a lot of afternoon left once the school bell rings. 🌿

For kids in Thorne’s after-school Nature Clubs, that time is spent outside exploring, making things, learning new skills, and getting completely distracted by something cool they spotted along the way.

🐞 Critter Club for 1st–3rd grade is for kids who want to search for bugs, birds, frogs, and other creatures living all around them.

🔥 Outdoor Skills Club for 3rd–5th grade is all about getting hands-on with skills like carving, fire building, knot tying, leather stitching, and shelter building.

It’s time to move, explore, make things, and follow whatever has them curious that day.

Basically, a pretty good way to spend an afternoon. 💚

There’s still time to join us for Nature Clubs at the Lafayette Nature Center!

Learn more: https://www.thornenature.org/nature-club

09/11/2026

Meet Teacher Chris! 💚🌿

If you’ve spent time around Thorne Nature Preschool, you may already know Chris and the warmth, curiosity, and care he brings to our preschool community every day.

Chris grew up in Texas catching h***y toads and snakes (and occasionally getting stung by a scorpion 😅), which sparked an early love for the natural world. After a 40-year career in commercial photography, that love eventually brought him to early childhood education and to Thorne.

Chris first joined us as an intern, then became a substitute and part-time assistant educator, and we’re so lucky to now have him as a full-time preschool teacher!

He loves watching children learn outdoors, where even the smallest discoveries can build a sense of wonder and accomplishment. And for Chris, Thorne has become a pretty special place, too.

“The Thorne community of teachers, kids, and parents is truly inspiring. I feel at home.”

We are so thankful for Chris and everything he brings to our preschoolers, families, and team. We’re very glad Thorne feels like home. 💚

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

http://www.thornenature.org/

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