271328630 · AZ ↑ parent cluster ·
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Tonto Creek Camp

AZ · EIN 271328630 · $181K rev · operational · tontocreekcamp.com
profile

Outdoor education nonprofit providing STEM-centered experiential learning programs for youth, primarily in Arizona. Operates Camp Tontozona in Payson and offers mobile STEM labs and backpack kits to schools and families. Serves students through hands-on outdoor activities focused on science, technology, engineering, art, and math, with an emphasis on engaging underserved populations and reconnecting youth with nature.

activities · 23

what they do

direct service · 23
  • Adventure and Engineering Challenges Outdoor STEM Experiential Learning
    Conducts an Amazing Race Adventure where student teams complete clues and challenges, and offers a STEAM Machine program where students work in teams to test their engineering skills across Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.
  • Provides archery activities, including STEM Archery programming where students learn archery fundamentals, physics, and the design of bows and arrows.
  • Archery and STEM Archery Programming Outdoor STEM Experiential Learning
    Provides archery activities and STEM Archery programs where students learn archery fundamentals alongside the physics and engineering principles behind bow and arrow design.
  • Offers an Astronomy with Telescopes module that includes an introductory presentation and the use of high-powered reflecting telescopes for educational purposes.
  • Manages Camp Tontozona, having served over 65,000 campers since 2011.
  • Leads Ecology Hikes where participants observe organisms in the forest ecosystem and learn about their behaviors and structures.
  • Educational Kit Distribution STEM/STEAM Kit Distribution
    Ships outdoor STEAM-Centered Education in a Backpack kits to homes or schools for youth ages 6 and up, and provides Ag-In-A-Bag kits containing STEM lessons, instructions, activity packets, and supplies for classroom or homeschooling use.
  • Mobile STEM Discovery Lab (MDL) STEM-Focused Educational Field Trips
    Operates a Mobile STEM Discovery Lab that travels to schools to deliver interactive STEM education, expanding access to science learning beyond the camp’s physical location.
  • Mobile STEM Discovery Lab (MDL) STEM-Focused Educational Field Trips
    Operates a Mobile STEM Discovery Lab that travels to schools, delivering STEM-focused educational experiences directly to students.
  • Outdoor Recreation and Education Facilities Outdoor Recreation Access & Activities
    Maintains over 2 miles of hiking trails with direct access to Tonto National Forest, and provides multiple firepits and outdoor classrooms for educational and recreational use.
  • Outdoor STEAM-Centered Education Programs Outdoor STEM Experiential Learning
    Delivers hands-on outdoor education programs integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) to over 80,000 students, including more than 25,000 through the Outdoor STEM Centered Education (OSCE) initiative since 2013. Programs include Ecology Hikes, Astronomy with Telescopes, and the STEAM Machine team engineering challenges.
  • Outdoor STEM-Centered Education (OSCE) Programs Outdoor STEM Experiential Learning
    Delivers outdoor learning programs focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to K-12 students, having served over 80,000 students through various outdoor learning environments and over 385 schools and 25,000 students since 2013.
  • Outdoor STEM-Centered Education (OSCE) Programs Outdoor STEM Experiential Learning
    Delivers outdoor learning environments and STEM-focused programs, including the Mobile STEM Discovery Lab (MDL), to schools and students. Since 2013, these programs have served over 385 schools and 25,000 students, with a total of over 80,000 students served through outdoor learning environments.
  • Recreational Facilities and Activities
    Operates a state-of-the-art turf field and a grass field for sports and field games, maintains over 2 miles of hiking trails with direct access to Tonto National Forest, and provides facilities such as an amphitheater, multiple firepits, and outdoor classrooms. Offers activities including archery, a low ropes course, and an Amazing Race Adventure.
  • Hosts church groups and other guest groups for weekend getaways or week-long retreats at two properties in Arizona, providing multiple housing options, a dining hall, and facilities like a turf field, grass field, and amphitheater for various activities and meetings.
  • Hosts church groups and other guest groups for weekend getaways or week-long retreats at two properties in Arizona, providing multiple housing options, a dining hall, and meeting spaces. The organization has managed Camp Tontozona since 2011, serving over 65,000 campers.
  • Retreat and Group Hosting Services Camp Facility Rental & Retreat Hosting
    Hosts church groups and other guest groups for weekend or week-long retreats at two Arizona properties, offering multiple housing options including the Hilltop Dormitory (84-person capacity), dining hall (170-person seating), amphitheater, firepits, and outdoor classrooms.
  • STEAM and STEM Education Kits STEM/STEAM Kit Distribution
    Ships STEAM-Centered Education in a Backpack and Ag-In-A-Bag kits to homes and schools, providing youth ages 6 and up with STEM lessons, activity supplies, and instructional materials for classroom or homeschool use.
  • Specialized Educational Programs Outdoor STEM Experiential Learning
    Offers specialized educational programs including STEM Archery, where students learn archery fundamentals and the physics of bows and arrows; an Astronomy with Telescopes module; a STEAM Machine program for engineering skills; an Ecology Hike to observe forest ecosystems; and a Team Building Leadership program using games and challenges.
  • Sports and Recreational Facilities
    Operates sports facilities including a state-of-the-art turf field (a $2 million investment), a grass field, and 2.5 miles of hiking trails with access to Tonto National Forest, supporting athletic practice, outdoor recreation, and environmental education.
  • Team Building and Leadership Programs
    Offers a Low Ropes Challenge Course and a Team Building Leadership program using games and challenges to develop teamwork, critical thinking, and leadership skills in students.
  • Team Building and Leadership Programs
    Offers structured team building and leadership development activities including a Low Ropes Challenge Course, Team Building Leadership games, and the Amazing Race Adventure, designed to foster teamwork, critical thinking, and leadership skills among student groups.
  • Website Accessibility Initiatives Website Accessibility Compliance
    Maintains digital accessibility through a Web Accessibility Widget and regular scanning with an Accessibility Scanner to identify and fix barriers, improving compliance with WCAG 2.1 guidelines.
strategies · 14

how they think

Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.

named programs · 10

what they call their work

Ag-In-A-Bag
STEAM-focused activity backpacks shipped to homes or schools, containing lesson materials and supplies for youth ages 6+.
Amazing Race Adventure
Team-based challenge activity where student groups complete tasks and solve clues to win a race.
Astronomy with Telescopes
Nighttime module featuring an introductory astronomy presentation and hands-on exploration of the solar system using high-powered reflecting telescopes.
Ecology Hike
Nature walk focused on observing forest ecosystems, organism behaviors, and survival adaptations using sensory exploration.
Low Ropes Challenge Course
Team-building course designed to develop leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills through physical challenges.
Mobile STEM Discovery Lab (MDL)
Mobile unit that brings STEM camp experiences directly to schools across Arizona for half or full-day visits.
Outdoor STEM Centered Education (OSCE)
Hands-on outdoor STEM curriculum for schools, combining experiential learning with science, technology, engineering, and math in natural settings.
STEAM Machine
Collaborative engineering challenge where small groups apply science, technology, engineering, art, and math skills to solve problems.
STEM Archery
Archery program integrating physics and engineering concepts to teach the science behind bow and arrow design and function.
Team Building Leadership
Series of games and challenges emphasizing communication, critical thinking, and teamwork to build leadership skills.
relationships · 7

who they work with

  • ASU Partner — ASU football and soccer teams have used the turf field for practice.
  • American Camp Association Partner — Recognized by the American Camp Association as a leader in innovative camp programs.
  • Arizona Christian University Partner — Arizona Christian University football and soccer teams have used the turf field for practice.
  • Arizona State University Partner — Camp Tontozona was historically a training site for the ASU football team and a learning platform for ASU students.
  • Arizona State University Partner — Operates Camp Tontozona in partnership with Pathways to Learning.
  • Fiesta Bowl Charities Funder — Title sponsor for the Mobile STEM Discovery Lab (MDL).
  • Pathways to Learning Partner — Offers outdoor camps and programs through Pathways to Learning.