Cheakamus centre

What Cheakamus centre does

Cheakamus Centre is a nonprofit outdoor environmental education facility established in 1969, situated on a 165-hectare ecological reserve near Squamish, British Columbia, within the newly designated Átl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region on the traditional territories of the Skwxwú7mesh Nation. The centre is owned and primarily operated by the North Vancouver School District (SD44) and serves school groups from the Sea to Sky corridor and Metro Vancouver, families, educators, and event guests.

The centre operates two principal business lines. The educational line delivers overnight field school programs tied to the BC curriculum, Indigenous cultural programs held in a purpose-built teaching Coast Salish Longhouse, educator and adult learning workshops, teacher resources, and a Family Camp offering, with pricing of approximately $250 per adult and $200 per child/youth for all-inclusive stays. The facility-rental line monetizes the same 165-hectare asset base for weddings, retreats, conferences, filming, accommodation (including a premium Cabin 10 at $800 per night), and on-site food and beverage through a Triple Seat booking platform. Supporting infrastructure includes the LEED Platinum BlueShore Financial Environmental Learning Centre (completed 2012) and a multi-year Passive House cabin retrofit initiative now active across multiple cabins.

Revenue is generated through four streams: educational program fees, facility rentals, donations and memberships (Friends of Cheakamus at $25/$75/$500+ tiers), and sponsorships and naming opportunities for cabin renovations. Distribution relies on direct relationship with SD44 for school-group bookings, direct website inquiry for events and families, and partnerships with BCIT, Passive House Canada, and ANCA (a reciprocal network of 140+ North American nature centres). The operating model is a publicly-owned, mission-driven nonprofit rather than a venture-backed enterprise.

Name

Cheakamus centre

Legal name

Cheakamus Centre

Website

https://cheakamuscentre.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cheakamus Centre is a nonprofit overnight environmental education facility on a 165-hectare ecological reserve near Squamish, BC, owned by the North Vancouver School District, serving K-12 students, families, and event guests through curriculum-aligned programs, Indigenous cultural programming, and venue rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Environmental Education and Event Venue Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Interpretation & Education Centers (Visitor Centers, Museums) (THAAAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG), Rainforest & Jungle Lodges (THAAAHAD), National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA)

Keywords

• Outdoor environmental education
• Overnight field school programs
• Indigenous cultural education
• Facility rentals and retreats
• Family camp experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Brackendale

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Educational Program Fees: Revenue from overnight field school programs, family camps, and educator workshops. Fees include accommodation, meals, and activities.
2. Facility Rentals: Revenue from hosting weddings, retreats, conferences, filming, and special events at the facility.
3. Donations and Memberships: Friends of Cheakamus membership program with donation levels ($25, $75, $500+) providing e-newsletter access and special event invitations.
4. Sponsorships and Naming Opportunities: Cabin renovation sponsorship and naming opportunities for donors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cheakamus Centre operates an overnight environmental education facility on a 165-hectare ecological reserve near Squamish, BC, delivering BC curriculum-aligned field school programs, family camps, Indigenous cultural programming, and educator workshops. It also offers facility rentals for weddings, retreats, conferences, filming, and special events, alongside accommodation, food and beverage, and volunteer services. The centre is owned by North Vancouver School District and situated in the Átl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region.

Product overview

Cheakamus Centre is an overnight environmental education facility offering a portfolio of experiential programs on a 165-hectare ecological reserve in Paradise Valley near Squamish, BC. The core offerings include educational programs (Family Camp, Field School Program, Indigenous Cultural Programs, Educator Workshops, and Teacher Resources) and facility rental services (meeting/retreat venues, weddings, filming locations, accommodations, and food & beverage). The centre is owned by the North Vancouver School District and hosts visitors from around the globe for special events, weddings, retreats, conferences, camps, and workshops. Campus development includes Passive House-certified cabin renovations and a LEED Platinum Environmental Learning Centre.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family Camp Overnight family camp experience offering outdoor activities, Indigenous cultural learning, and family bonding in cabin accommodations in Paradise Valley near Squamish, BC. Includes all meals, snacks, activities, and gear with pricing of $250 per adult and $200 per child/youth.
• Field School Program Overnight environmental education programs for school groups aligned with BC curriculum, featuring nature-based and outdoor activities tied to the new BC curriculum.
• Indigenous Cultural Programs Cultural educational programs conducted in the teaching Coast Salish Longhouse, offering hands-on Indigenous cultural learning experiences grounded in Skwxwú7mesh traditions.
• Educator and Adult Learning Workshops Professional development and adult learning workshops for educators and adults focused on outdoor and environmental education methodologies.
• Facility Rentals - Meeting, Retreat & Camp

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Passive House CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2019Passive House Canada conducted a Social tour event at Cheakamus Centre in October 2019, showcasing Passive House retrofitted and unfinished cabins.
• North Vancouver School District (SD44)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSD44 owns and operates Cheakamus Centre. The district provides administrative support through staff including Director of Educational Programs and Program Manager, and directs school children to programs.
• BCIT School of Construction and the EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver a pilot 'High Performance Tradesperson' course for Indigenous students from across BC. Students participated in energy-efficient retrofits to Cabin #1, gaining practical skills while learning about Skwxwú7mesh culture.
• 140+ Nature Centres (Reciprocal Program)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFriends of Cheakamus members receive access to reciprocal program with over 140 nature centres across North America through ANCA (American Nature Center Alliance).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Camp Chief Hector YMCA: YMCA-operated overnight outdoor and environmental education centre near Calgary. Directly comparable as a multi-program residential facility serving school groups and families on a large natural-land campus, similar to Cheakamus' SD44-aligned model.
• Camp Tamakwa: Long-established overnight wilderness camp in Algonquin Park, Ontario, offering multi-day outdoor and nature-based programming for school groups and families. Comparable core product (immersive overnight outdoor education) but operates in Ontario rather than BC.
• Canadian Ecology Centre: Nonprofit environmental education and conference centre in Mattawa, Ontario, delivering curriculum-linked outdoor programs on a protected natural property. Closest analog to Cheakamus' nature-reserve + education + overnight-stay hybrid model.
• Camp Kandalore: Overnight wilderness camp in Haliburton, Ontario, with strong environmental and wilderness tripping programs for school-age children. Comparable in overnight programming depth and outdoor education curriculum alignment.
• Outward Bound Canada: National nonprofit delivering multi-day outdoor experiential education programs for youth and schools across Canada. Comparable in mission and outdoor-education curriculum delivery, though without a fixed overnight facility base.
• YMCA Cedar Glen Outdoor Centre: Overnight outdoor education and conference centre in King Township, Ontario, operated by YMCA. Directly comparable multi-purpose residential centre serving school groups and event rentals on a nature property.

Broad incumbents

• Toronto Zoo: Major public-facing wildlife and conservation education institution in Ontario delivering curriculum-linked nature programming. Comparable in educational programming breadth and visitor-center operations, though not overnight residential.
• Royal Botanical Gardens: Large public garden and nature education complex in Burlington/Hamilton, Ontario, offering curriculum-aligned school programs and visitor experiences. Comparable in nature-based education programming and venue rental operations.

Regional players

• The Banff Centre: Mountain resort and arts/culture campus in Banff, Alberta, delivering adult learning programs plus weddings, conferences, and retreats on a large natural-land campus. Comparable in Western Canada geography and event/education dual-revenue model.

Emerging players

• Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre: Cultural centre in Whistler serving Indigenous cultural interpretation, programming, and curated visitor experiences. Comparable in Coast Salish Indigenous cultural learning vertical and BC tourism audience overlap, though facility-only rather than overnight.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cheakamuscentre

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cheakamus centre