Experience Camps
Experience Camps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides no-cost summer camps, family camps, and digital programs to U.S. children and teens grieving the death of a parent, sibling, or caregiver, operating across 8 states and funded through donations, grants, and corporate partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersWestport, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Experience Camps does
Experience Camps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID 26-2513136) headquartered in Westport, Massachusetts, that delivers no-cost summer camp programs and year-round support services to children and teens who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver. Founded in 2008, the organization operates one-week overnight summer camps for grades 4-12, weekend family camps, adult grief retreats, and in-person local meetups, delivered through partnerships with established third-party camp facilities across 8 U.S. states (Georgia, Texas, California, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Connecticut, and Maine). The organization complements its in-person programming with a digital engagement layer that includes GRIEF SUCKS (a teen-focused content platform), Grief Quest (a virtual scavenger-hunt game hosted on Roblox), and a now-closed Minecraft world (ExperienceCraft), reaching thousands of additional grieving youth online.
The underlying technology is content-and-community rather than model-driven: digital programs are built on third-party gaming platforms (Roblox, previously Minecraft) and a proprietary web content hub, with camper registration and volunteer management running on Camp InTouch and donation processing handled through GoFundMe Pro/Classy. Experience Camps claims the only national no-cost grief-camp program of its kind in the U.S., targeting a stated addressable population of approximately 6.3 million children who will experience parental, sibling, or caregiver loss by age 18.
The business model is donation-funded philanthropy rather than commercial revenue. All programs are provided free of charge to participants; funding comes from individual donations (including a Spark monthly giving program and legacy/planned gifts), corporate partnerships, foundation grants (notably The Parmenter Foundation, which has provided over $4 million since 2015 to a broader grief-services network that includes Experience Camps), event-based fundraising (runDisney, galas, community runs), and merchandise sales via Bonfire. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on caregiver and camper testimonials, peer referrals within grieving-family networks, organic social media, and a documentary ('Unpacking Grief Camp') for awareness, with no paid acquisition channels disclosed.
Experience Camps firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Experience Camps
- Legal name
- Experience Camps
- Website
- https://experiencecamps.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Experience Camps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides no-cost summer camps, family camps, and digital programs to U.S. children and teens grieving the death of a parent, sibling, or caregiver, operating across 8 states and funded through donations, grants, and corporate partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Experience Camps industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Children's Bereavement Camp Services
- NAICS
- Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)
- SIC
- Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA), Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA)
Keywords
Where Experience Camps is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Westport
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices9 records
Markets served
Experience Camps business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the mission of providing no-cost grief camp programs to children. Donations can be made one-time or recurring (monthly giving program called 'Spark').
- Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsorships and partnerships supporting camp programs and operations. Listed in Annual Report and event programs.
- Foundation Grants: Grant funding from foundations supporting children's bereavement and grief services programs.
- Event Fundraising: Revenue from fundraising events including runs (runDisney), galas, and community fundraising activities.
- Legacy Funds: Planned giving and legacy fund donations allowing donors to honor memory of loved ones through endowed contributions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | No-cost programs for grieving children |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Experience Camps product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Experience Camps is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides no-cost, one-week summer camp programs for grieving children entering grades 4-12, along with weekend family camps, adult grief retreats, regional meetups, and year-round digital programs (GRIEF SUCKS, Grief Quest on Roblox, and the now-closed ExperienceCraft on Minecraft). All programs are free to participants and funded through donations, foundation grants, corporate partnerships, and event fundraising.
Product overview
Experience Camps is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of grief support programs for children, families, and adults. The core offering consists of in-person summer camp programs (Kids Camps, Family Camps, Adult Camps) and local meetups held at various locations across the United States. The organization complements these with digital programs including GRIEF SUCKS (a teen-focused digital platform), Grief Quest (a Roblox-based virtual scavenger hunt), and ExperienceCraft (a Minecraft virtual world - now closed). Additional engagement programs include a Youth Advisory Board, Campbassadors ambassador program, Spark monthly giving, Legacy Funds planned giving, and Light a Candle virtual memorial features. The programs are provided at no cost to participants, funded through donations processed via GoFundMe Pro/Classy platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Kids Camps
Quantifiable outcome
- 1 in 5 children in the U.S. will experience the death of someone close before turning 18
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Experience Camps
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Experience Camps technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature3 records
Experience Camps partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Good Shepherd Community CarecoreRecipient of 2026 grant from The Parmenter Foundation for end-of-life care and bereavement services. Part of the broader children's bereavement focus area network in MetroWest Massachusetts region.
- Boston Children's HospitalcoreRecipient of 2026 grant from The Parmenter Foundation for children's bereavement programming. Major healthcare institution partnership for grief services in MetroWest Massachusetts.
- Camp Twin LakescoreHost venue for Experience Camps' Georgia summer camp program. Located in Rutledge, GA at 1391 Keencheefoonee Road. Provides overnight camp facilities for grieving children entering grades 4-12.
- The Oaks / The Painted Turtle CampcoreHost venue for Experience Camps' California summer camp programs. Located in Lake Hughes, CA, approximately 1.5 hours from Los Angeles. Separate programs for boys and girls entering grades 4-12.
- Sandy Hill Camp & Retreat CentercoreHost venue for Experience Camps' Maryland summer camp program. Located in North East, MD at 3380 Turkey Point Road. Programs for kids entering grades 4-10.
- Camps Equinunk and Blue RidgecoreHost venue for Experience Camps' Pennsylvania summer camp program. Located in Equinunk, PA at 788 Legends Path. Programs for boys and girls entering grades 4-12.
- Camps Lake of the Woods and GreenwoodscoreHost venue for Experience Camps' Michigan summer camp program. Located in Decatur, MI at 84600 47 1/2 St. Programs for kids entering grades 4-12.
- Camp ManitoucoreHost venue for Experience Camps' Maine summer camp program for boys. Located in Oakland, ME at 47 Camp Manitou Cove. Programs for boys entering grades 4-12.
- Camp SomersetcoreHost venue for Experience Camps' Maine summer camp program for girls. Located in Smithfield, ME at 11 Somerset Lane. Programs for girls entering grades 4-12.
- RobloxcorePlatform hosting Grief Quest, Experience Camps' virtual scavenger hunt game that teaches children how to support grieving people through interactive gameplay.
- runDisneyminorPartnership allowing supporters to participate in Disney running events while fundraising for Experience Camps. Part of the organization's athletic fundraising events program.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Experience Camps competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Dougy Center: Pioneer in peer grief support for children and families, providing year-round support groups rather than camps. Comparable in grief-support mission and target age group, but operates a facility-based, locally-rooted model rather than a national camp network.
- Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS): Large national nonprofit providing comprehensive bereavement support to those grieving the death of a military loved one. Comparable in grief-support mission and donor-funded model, but broader in scope (all ages, military-focused) and more established with federal and corporate partnerships.
Direct peers
- Camp Erin: Largest national network of free bereavement camps for children and teens, operated by The Moyer Foundation. Directly comparable as a no-cost grief camp for youth with similar mission, multi-location footprint, and donor-funded model.
- Comfort Zone Camp: Nonprofit providing free bereavement camps and programs for children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or caregiver. Closely comparable in target population, free model, and camp-based delivery, with overlapping geographic coverage in the eastern U.S.
- Kids Konnected: Nonprofit providing peer support programs for children and teens who have experienced the death of a parent. Comparable in age group served, grief-support mission, and free programming model, with overlapping local-meetup format.
- Camp Kesem: National nonprofit supporting children affected by a parent's cancer, including through free summer camps operated by university student leaders. Comparable in mission (free summer camps for kids affected by family loss/illness) and donor-funded operating model, though narrower in trigger (cancer only).
Others
- Eluna (formerly The Moyer Foundation): Former parent of Camp Erin, now focused on resources for children and families impacted by grief and addiction. Relevant ecosystem player given Experience Camps' similar mission space and the prior Camp Erin overlap; serves as potential partner or competitor depending on strategic direction.
- National Alliance for Grieving Children: Umbrella/membership organization for children's bereavement programs across the U.S. Provides networking, training, and resources to member organizations including Experience Camps. Highly relevant ecosystem participant rather than a direct program competitor.
Regional players
- Winston's Wish: U.K.-based charity providing bereavement support for children and young people, with residential programs and digital resources. Comparable in grief-support mission for children and innovation around digital engagement, but operates in the UK rather than the U.S.
Emerging players
- Camp Sunshine: Retreats for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, including bereavement programming. Adjacent in camp-based model and free offerings for children facing serious family medical situations; overlaps only partially in bereavement focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Experience Camps social profiles
Digital presenceExperience Camps compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Experience Camps financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Experience Camps leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Experience Camps funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Experience Camps M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Experience Camps
What does Experience Camps do?
Experience Camps is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides no-cost, one-week summer camp programs for grieving children entering grades 4-12, along with weekend family camps, adult grief retreats, regional meetups, and year-round digital programs (GRIEF SUCKS, Grief Quest on Roblox, and the now-closed ExperienceCraft on Minecraft). All programs are free to participants and funded through donations, foundation grants, corporate partnerships, and event fundraising.
Is Experience Camps a public or private company?
Experience Camps is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Experience Camps founded?
Experience Camps was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Experience Camps based?
Experience Camps is headquartered in Westport, United States, in the North America region.
How does Experience Camps make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships, foundation Grants, event Fundraising and legacy Funds.
Who are Experience Camps's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Dougy Center and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). Direct peers are Camp Erin, Comfort Zone Camp, Kids Konnected and Camp Kesem. Others are Eluna (formerly The Moyer Foundation) and National Alliance for Grieving Children. Winston's Wish is listed as a regional player. Camp Sunshine is listed as an emerging player.
Does Experience Camps have an API?
No public API is recorded for Experience Camps.
What industry is Experience Camps in?
Experience Camps's product category is Children's Bereavement Camp Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMALAO, Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills), with a secondary code of EDAMALAA, Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports). Its NAICS code is 721214 and its SIC code is 7000.