Blue Star Camps

What Blue Star Camps does

Blue Star Camps is a privately held, for-profit Jewish overnight summer camp operator headquartered in Hendersonville, North Carolina, on a 500-acre campus adjoining a 10,400-acre forest preserve in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Founded in 1948 by the Popkin family, the company is currently led by third-generation Owners/Directors Lauren Popkin Herschthal and Seth Herschthal. The core product consists of six developmentally segmented coed camp programs — Rookies & Juniors (rising 2nd-3rd grade), Pioneer Girls/Boys (rising 4th-6th grade), Senior Girls/Boys (rising 7th-9th grade), and Teen Village (rising 10th-11th grade) — serving campers ages 6-16 with over 30 activity options including equestrian, outdoor adventure, creative arts, land sports, tennis, and waterfront. Two pre-season specialty programs (Horseback Skills Camp at $2,500 and Outdoor Adventure Skills Camp) and a Staff Training Institute offering nationally accredited certifications extend the operating season.

The business operates on a multi-tier annual tuition model with Full Season at $11,650, First Session at $7,250, Second Session at $6,250, and introductory Rookie tiers from $1,950-$3,450, supported by interest-free monthly payment plans. Revenue is supplemented by a Group Rentals channel (150-700 person capacity during off-season), add-on fees for horseback riding and water skiing, Granny Sara's branded merchandise, and an Ambassador Program offering $350 referral credits. The GTM motion is direct-to-consumer via the CampInTouch enrollment portal, in-person tours, Open Houses, and regional Get-Togethers in six U.S. metro areas, with no proprietary technology — operations rely on CampInTouch, the Campanion mobile app, and Google Analytics.

The competitive positioning rests on family ownership legacy (75+ years), American Camp Association accreditation since 1950, a 24-hour staffed Wellness Center with 20-30 Wilderness First Responders, healthcare partnerships with the UNC Health Care Network, and integration within the Jewish camp community through the Living Judaism framework. Marketing spans blog content, organic social (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X), email newsletters, podcast/video content, events, and referrals.

Name

Blue Star Camps

Legal name

Blue Star Camps

Website

https://bluestarcamps.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Blue Star Camps is a private, family-owned Jewish overnight summer camp on a 500-acre Blue Ridge Mountains campus in North Carolina, serving children ages 6-16 across six developmental programs and supplementary specialty and group-rental offerings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Summer Camp Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)

Keywords

• Overnight summer camp
• Jewish residential camp
• Youth camp programs
• Equestrian summer camp
• Staff training certifications

Headquarters

HQ city

Hendersonville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Tuition: Blue Star generates revenue through seasonal tuition fees for campers attending overnight camp sessions. Tuition covers all camp activities, specialist-taught options, out-of-camp trips, weekly laundry service, and the use of camp linens, blankets, towels and pillow.
2. Additional Activity Fees: Additional revenue is generated from optional add-ons including horseback riding, water ski activities, and camp store purchases.
3. Specialty Camps: Horseback Skills Camp is offered as a pre-summer specialty program at $2,500 per session, providing additional revenue before the main camp season.
4. Group Rentals: Blue Star rents its facilities to other youth organizations and groups during off-season months (May, early June, August, and September), accommodating groups of 150-700 people with customizable services from basic rental to complete turnkey programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Blue Star Camps operates a traditional Jewish overnight summer camp on a 500-acre campus in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Hendersonville, North Carolina, serving campers ages 6-16. The core offering is residential camp programming delivered through six age- and gender-tailored divisions (Rookies & Juniors, Pioneer Girls, Pioneer Boys, Senior Girls, Senior Boys, and Teen Village), with over 20 daily activity options spanning equestrian, waterfront, outdoor adventure, creative arts, land sports, tennis, and nature. Supporting offerings include pre-season specialty camps (Horseback Skills Camp, Outdoor Adventure Skills Camp), a Staff Training Institute with nationally accredited certifications, off-season facility Group Rentals to youth organizations, and Granny Sara's branded merchandise store.

Product overview

Blue Star Camps operates a suite of coed Jewish overnight summer camp programs centered on its main 500-acre campus in Hendersonville, North Carolina. The core offering consists of six age and gender-differentiated camp programs (Rookies & Juniors for ages 6-8, Pioneer Girls/Boys for ages 9-11, Senior Girls/Boys for ages 12-14, and Teen Village for ages 15-16), each with tailored activities and staffing ratios. Specialty programs include pre-season Horseback Skills Camp and Outdoor Adventure Skills Camp. Supporting services include a Staff Training Institute offering nationally accredited certifications, Group Rental facilities for external organizations, and Granny Sara's Store for camp merchandise. The camp provides over 30 activity options including creative arts, equestrian, land sports, outdoor adventure, nature, tennis, and waterfront activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rookies & Juniors Entry-level overnight camp program for rising 2nd and 3rd grade girls and boys (ages 6-8) with up to 6 campers per 2 college-age counselors, offering one- or two-week introductory experiences with daily athletics, arts, and adventure electives.
• Pioneer Girls Camp program for rising 4th, 5th, and 6th grade girls (ages 9-11) with 8-12 campers per 2 college-age counselors, focused on friendship, community, and skill development through creative arts, sports, and outdoor adventure electives with daily instructional and free swim.
• Pioneer Boys Camp program for rising 4th, 5th, and 6th grade boys (ages 9-11) emphasizing team spirit, confidence, and independence through in-depth electives in outdoor adventure, creative arts, and athletics.
• Senior Girls Camp program for rising 7th, 8th, and 9th grade girls (ages 12-14) with 10-14 campers per 2 college-age counselors, emphasizing close-knit friendships, exploring new interests, and strengthening skills with co-ed activities and daily free swim.
• Senior Boys Camp program for rising 7th, 8th, and 9th grade boys (ages 12-14) focused on building friendships, healthy competition, and achievements through competitive sports, league play, tournaments, and inter-camp competitions.
• Teen Village Leadership-focused overnight camp program for rising 10th and 11th grade boys and girls (ages 15-16), with up to 7 campers per counselor over age 21, emphasizing leadership development, volunteer service, and off-site trips including Ocoee River rafting and 3-day trips to Charleston or Savannah.
• Horseback Skills Camp Week-long intensive equestrian program offered pre-season (May 31 – June 13, 2026) at $2,500 per session, featuring English riding lessons in six large riding rings, certified instructors, high-quality ponies, trail riding, horsemanship, and off-site trips.
• Outdoor Adventure Skills Camp Week-long pre-season adventure program at Blue Star Camps featuring outdoor adventure activities and skills development.
• Group Rentals Year-round facility rental for youth conferences and camps at the Blue Star campus, accommodating groups of 150-700 across over 100 cabins with athletic facilities, two lakes, heated pool, challenge course, rock climbing, target sports, arts, and kosher food service; available May, early June, August, and September.
• Staff Training Institute Pre-camp training program offering nationally accredited certifications including American Red Cross Lifeguard Training, First Aid and CPR, WMA Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness First Aid, Certified Horsemanship Association Certification Clinic, NC Epinephrine training, and NC Safety and Health Council Car and Van Driving Course.
• Granny Sara's Store Online camp store offering exclusive Blue Star branded sportswear and gear including t-shirts, laundry bags, and camp merchandise, with orders shipped directly to families prior to camp season.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75+ years of continuous operation serving generations of campers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Henderson County Sheriff's DepartmentcoreOthersDeepened relationship with Henderson County Sheriff's Department as part of foundational security approach. Meaningful partnerships yield positive outcomes for camp safety and emergency response capabilities.
• Local Police DepartmentcoreOthersEstablished partnership with local police department as part of comprehensive security practices and protocols. Collaboration supports camp safety initiatives.
• UNC Health Care Network (222 Bed Hospital)coreOthersPartnership with 222-bed hospital 10 minutes from camp that is part of UNC Health Care Network. Hospital is affiliated with UNC Medical School and has Life Flight capability. 800-bed teaching hospital also available in nearby Asheville.
• Local Hospitals, EMS and Fire DepartmentscoreOthersEstablished relationships with local hospitals, Emergency Medical Services, and Fire Departments with whom the camp works every summer for emergency response and medical care coordination.
• American Camp AssociationcoreOthersBlue Star has been accredited by the American Camp Association since 1950, demonstrating compliance with industry-wide best practices and standards.
• Green Camps InitiativeminorOthersMember of Green Camps Initiative demonstrating commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable operations.
• CampInTouchcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline enrollment and family communication platform used by families to establish accounts, complete camper applications, enroll campers, access camp forms and mailings, and send one-way emails to campers during the summer.
• Campanion AppcoreTechnology or IntegrationMobile application used by families to access daily photos and news from camp, receive push notifications, and stay updated on camp activities and camper experiences.
• Grove Park InnminorOthersLuxury hotel partner offering 15% discount to Blue Star families. Located in Asheville, NC.
• Hampton Inn and Suites and Homewood Suites by HiltonminorOthersPreferred hotel partner with discounted rates of 12% off best available rate for Blue Star families. Multiple locations available including Asheville Tunnel Road, Biltmore Square, Asheville Airport, and Hendersonville.
• Mountain Lodge and Mountain Inn and SuitesminorOthersPreferred hotel partner in Hendersonville/Flat Rock area with beautiful suite accommodations. Special rates arranged for Blue Star families.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Camp Ramah: The Ramah camping movement runs the largest network of Jewish overnight summer camps in North America (Ramah in the Berkshires, California, Wisconsin, New England, etc.). Direct competitor offering the same Jewish overnight, multi-session programming with similar age-segmented tracks and parallel tuition levels.
• Camp Harlam: Reform Jewish overnight camp in Pennsylvania operated by the Union for Reform Judaism. Matches Blue Star's age-segmented programming model, Jewish-values immersion, and similar premium pricing tier for a multi-week residential summer experience.
• Camp Alonim: Jewish overnight summer camp in Massachusetts affiliated with the Brandeis community. Operates multi-age coed programming with strong emphasis on Jewish culture, community service, and outdoor adventure - directly comparable to Blue Star's structural positioning.
• Camp Barney Medintz: Jewish overnight camp in Texas operated by the JCC Association. Comparable in scale, multi-activity programming, age segmentation, and family ownership ethos; competes for Jewish overnight campers from across the U.S., particularly in the South.
• Camp Coleman: Jewish overnight summer camp affiliated with the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. Operates multi-age programming, traditional camp activities, and Jewish cultural immersion similar to Blue Star's six-segment approach.
• Camp Tel Noar: Jewish overnight summer camp in New Hampshire serving age-segmented programming for Jewish youth. Direct parallel to Blue Star in mission, structure, and traditional camp offerings (waterfront, outdoor adventure, arts).
• Beber Camp: Jewish overnight summer camp in Wisconsin operated by the JCC of Milwaukee. Operates traditional multi-activity overnight camp programming with similar age/gender segmentation, comparable to Blue Star's six-camp model.
• Camp Stone: Orthodox Jewish overnight summer camp in Pennsylvania offering age-segmented coed programming and traditional summer activities. Comparable in scale and Jewish-identity anchoring to Blue Star's overnight camp model.
• Camp Young Judea: Jewish overnight summer camp program offering multi-week residential experiences with age-segmented programming, traditional camp activities, and Zionist-Jewish cultural education. Direct peer in overnight Jewish camp space.

Broad incumbents

• Camp Towanda: High-end secular coed overnight summer camp in Pennsylvania with premium tuition and multi-activity programming. Comparable premium-tier, family-owned overnight camp category competitor that competes for the same affluent Jewish (and non-Jewish) family market considering alternatives.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bluestarcamps
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCww0Sks0mjxe2rAlxRGpMkg
• Facebookfacebook.com/bluestarcamps
• Instagraminstagram.com/campbluestar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blue-star-camps

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Blue Star Camps