Camp Joy
Camp Joy is a nonprofit outdoor education organization operating a 317-acre facility in Clarksville, Ohio, serving nearly 9,000 participants annually through camps, outdoor school programs, youth leadership retreats, and corporate team building across the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana tri-state region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1937
- HeadquartersClarksville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Camp Joy does
Camp Joy, legally Joy Outdoor Education Center Foundation Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit outdoor education organization founded in 1937 and incorporated in 1959, operating from a 317-acre campus at 10117 Old 3c Highway in Clarksville, Ohio. Serving nearly 9,000 participants annually across the Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana tri-state area, the organization delivers four core program lines: Camps (agency, specialty, and family camps for children facing medical, foster care, or economic challenges), Outdoor School Programs (hands-on environmental and cultural education for school groups), Student Leadership Programs (youth leadership retreats), and Adult Leadership Development via Venture Out! (on-campus) and Venture In! (off-site) delivery models. Supporting infrastructure includes a Nature Center with animal ambassadors, the Rachel A. Hutzel Observatory (dedicated 2014), accessible adventure facilities (hydraulic-lift zip line, zero-entry pool), and the Nurturing Nature sustainability program targeting net-zero operations by 2027.
The organization's revenue model is hybrid: donations and philanthropy (including the Camp Joy Foundation, payroll giving through Double the Donation, and major donor giving societies), foundation grants (John Hauck Foundation, Physicians Charitable Foundation, Fraternal Order of Eagles, etc.), and program fees structured as suggested donation tiers ranging from $50 (camper gear) to $1,000 (week of camp sponsorship), with need-based scholarships available. Corporate and group pricing is negotiated individually. Distribution occurs through direct on-campus programming, off-site Venture In! delivery to client locations, and channel partnerships with child-advocating agencies, schools, and healthcare organizations. The customer base spans corporate clients (P&G, Amazon Air, NASIC/USAF), healthcare partners (Cincinnati Children's Hospital, American Diabetes Association, Arthritis Foundation, Nationwide Children's Hospital, OSU Burn Clinic, Hospice of Cincinnati/Fernside), and educational institutions across the tri-state region.
The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, reaching participants through nearly 30 child-advocating agency partnerships and 50+ school partnerships rather than traditional advertising. Marketing relies on social media, email, annual fundraising events (JoyFest, Dance for Joy), and partner referrals. The organization employs 11-50 staff and is governed by a Board of Directors with Ernie Hayes as Board Chair and Elyse Lohrbach as Executive Director since May 2025. The organization holds American Camp Association accreditation and has hosted The Leadership Challenge Workshop for 30 years.
Camp Joy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Camp Joy
- Legal name
- Joy Outdoor Education Center Foundation Inc.
- Website
- https://camp-joy.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1937
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Camp Joy is a nonprofit outdoor education organization operating a 317-acre facility in Clarksville, Ohio, serving nearly 9,000 participants annually through camps, outdoor school programs, youth leadership retreats, and corporate team building across the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana tri-state region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Camp Joy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Outdoor Education and Youth Development Services
- NAICS
- Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)
- SIC
- Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)
Keywords
Where Camp Joy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Clarksville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Camp Joy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Philanthropy: Camp Joy generates revenue through charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization maintains a Joy Foundation for philanthropy, offers payroll giving through Double the Donation, and has giving societies for major donors.
- Program Fees: Revenue generated from participant fees for camps, outdoor school programs, student leadership programs, and adult team building experiences. Pricing ranges from $50 donation levels to $1,000 per week of camp sponsorship.
- Foundation Grants: Support from foundations including John Hauck Foundation, The Hunt for Good, Fraternal Order of the Eagles, Lebanon Optimist Club, and Physicians Charitable Foundation for specific programs like Fostering Success and Respite.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time | $50 donation - Essential gear for campers |
| Unit Pricing | One time | $75 donation - Meals for 3 campers |
| Unit Pricing | One time | $100 donation - Nature-based learning experience |
| Unit Pricing | One time | $280 donation - Two-day student leadership experience |
| Unit Pricing | One time | $500 donation - Weekend retreat experience |
| Unit Pricing | One time | $1,000 donation - Week of camp sponsorship |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Camp Joy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Camp Joy is a nonprofit outdoor education organization that operates residential summer camps, outdoor school field-trip programs, student leadership retreats, and adult team building/leadership development experiences (Venture Out! and Venture In!) on its 317-acre Clarksville, Ohio campus. Programming serves children facing medical, foster care, or economic challenges through partner agency referrals, schools across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, and corporate and government clients seeking experiential leadership development.
Product overview
Camp Joy is a nonprofit outdoor education and recreation organization offering a portfolio of experience-based programs. The core offerings include Camps (agency, specialty, and family camps), Outdoor School Programs (OSP), Student Leadership Programs, and Adult Leadership Development (Venture Out! and Venture In!). Supporting these are specialized facilities and programs: the Nature Center with animal ambassadors, the Rachel A. Hutzel Observatory for astronomy education, and the Nurturing Nature environmental sustainability initiative. The L.E.A.D. Program represents a new partnership with Talent Magnet Institute for structured leadership development. The organization serves nearly 9,000 participants annually through summer camps, outdoor education, respite programs, student leadership programs, and team building experiences for adults.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Venture Out!: Customized team building and leadership development programs offered at Camp Joy's retreat-style outdoor setting.
- Venture In!
- L.E.A.D.
- Nurturing Nature
- Fostering Success & Respite (FSR)
Products and services
- Camps (Agency, Specialty, and Family) Residential camp programs including Agency/Open Enrollment Camps, Specialty Camps (e.g., diabetes, arthritis, TSC, burn recovery), and Family Camps that provide outdoor experiences for children and teens facing medical, foster care, or economic challenges.
- Outdoor School Programs (OSP) Multi-day outdoor school field trip programs focused on environmental awareness, cultural history, and adventure for K-12 school groups across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, aligned with state curriculum standards.
- Student Leadership Programs Outdoor team building and youth leadership development retreats designed to help students build confidence, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
- Adult Leadership Development (Venture Out! and Venture In!) Customized adult team training and leadership development programs. Venture Out! offers programs at Camp Joy's retreat-style outdoor setting, while Venture In! delivers team building directly at client locations. Hosted The Leadership Challenge Workshop for 30 years.
- L.E.A.D. Program (Learn, Engage, Activate, Discover) A groundbreaking leadership development experience program that blends Talent Magnet Institute's leadership strategy expertise with Camp Joy's immersive outdoor learning environment. Designed to transform how leaders lead through experiential activities.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 9,000 participants served annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Camp Joy
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Camp Joy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Camp Joy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Warren County Soil and Water Conservation Districtcore15-year agreement for WCSWCD to host 8-9 educational programs annually at Camp Joy's new pavilion and surrounding outdoor spaces, focusing on conservation, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. Part of State of Ohio Community Recreation Project funding new pavilion and restroom facilities.
- Talent Magnet InstitutecorePartnership to deliver L.E.A.D. (Leadership Experience and Development) program combining TMI's leadership strategy expertise with Camp Joy's immersive outdoor learning environment. Designed to transform how leaders lead through experiential activities.
- Warren County Career CenterminorStudents from Warren County Career Center helped construct the Rachel A. Hutzel Observatory, demonstrating experiential learning partnership.
- Cincinnati Chamber of CommercecoreRegional chamber partnership supporting business community engagement and regional economic development through Camp Joy programming.
- Area Progress Council of Warren CountycoreLocal progress council partnership supporting community advancement and development initiatives in Warren County.
- Northern Kentucky Chamber of CommercecoreRegional chamber partnership expanding Camp Joy's reach into Northern Kentucky business community.
- Warren County Astronomical SocietycorePartnership supporting observatory operations and astronomy programming at the Rachel A. Hutzel Observatory.
- National Underground Railroad Freedom CenterminorCultural institution partnership supporting educational programming and historical awareness.
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical CentercoreLong-standing partnership sending patients with medical conditions (diabetes, arthritis, TSC) to Camp Joy programs. Doctors report learning about patients in camp settings that changes treatment approaches.
- The Leadership ChallengecoreCamp Joy has hosted The Leadership Challenge Workshop for 30 years, one of the world's best leadership development programs. Jim Kouzes co-facilitated first sessions in 1987. No other place offers this program the way Joy does.
- Lebanon Small Animal ClinicminorVeterinary clinic provides wellness checkups for Nature Center animals, ensuring proper care standards for animal ambassadors.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Camp Joy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Camp Joy social profiles
Digital presenceCamp Joy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Camp Joy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Camp Joy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Camp Joy 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 Camp Joy
What does Camp Joy do?
Camp Joy is a nonprofit outdoor education organization that operates residential summer camps, outdoor school field-trip programs, student leadership retreats, and adult team building/leadership development experiences (Venture Out! and Venture In!) on its 317-acre Clarksville, Ohio campus. Programming serves children facing medical, foster care, or economic challenges through partner agency referrals, schools across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, and corporate and government clients seeking experiential leadership development.
Is Camp Joy a public or private company?
Camp Joy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Camp Joy founded?
Camp Joy was founded in 1937. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Camp Joy based?
Camp Joy is headquartered in Clarksville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Camp Joy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Philanthropy is the primary driver. The others are program Fees and foundation Grants.
Does Camp Joy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Camp Joy.
What industry is Camp Joy in?
Camp Joy's product category is Outdoor Education and Youth Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMALAA, Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports), with a secondary code of EDAMALAO, Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills). Its NAICS code is 721214 and its SIC code is 7000.