Black Lake Bible Camp

What Black Lake Bible Camp does

Black Lake Bible Camp is a non-profit Christian camp and retreat center founded in 1946 in Olympia, Washington, operating on an 80+ acre property on Black Lake. The organization serves three primary customer segments: youth and families seeking Christ-centered summer camp experiences, adults seeking spiritual retreat programming, and institutional clients (churches, schools, non-profits) seeking facility rentals. Its programming portfolio spans day camps (grades 1-9), overnight camps for junior, middle school, and high school grades, family camp, men's/women's/marriage retreats, winter camps (All Star Camp and WinterPalooza), and Outdoor Education curricula in botany, ecology, geology, sustainability, and survival for K-12 schools.

The underlying technology stack is minimal and entirely composed of standard commercial SaaS platforms: Square powers eGift card processing and the camp store, while Venue360 handles event registration, balance management, and camper form workflows. The physical infrastructure is the more meaningful asset base, with seven lodging categories (The Pines, Lakeside Lodge, Harmony Springs, Olympic Inn, Private Cabins, Cedar Village, Shunem House), seven meeting venues including a 324-seat Tabernacle, and a kitchen capable of serving up to 600 guests. Project Nehemiah, a multi-phase capital campaign, completed four new accessible cabins in summer 2025 with Phase 2 launching in April 2026.

Black Lake Bible Camp's revenue mechanics are diversified across five streams: camp registration fees (tiered $310-$580 with choose-what-you-pay pricing and deposit-based registration), retreat fees ($150-$250 per guest with lodging-based tiers), facility rentals to non-profit organizations, camp store and eGift card sales, and a donations and legacy giving program (General Fund, Barnabas Club monthly giving, Project Nehemiah capital campaign, Scholarship Fund, and stock transfers via National Christian Foundation). Its go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer registration through the website, community-led church youth group partnerships offering a $40 per-camper discount and free youth leader spots, and event-driven seasonal registration windows. Scholarships of up to 50% of camp costs supported over $15,000 in attendance in 2025.

Name

Black Lake Bible Camp

Legal name

Black Lake Bible Camp

Website

https://blbcolympia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Black Lake Bible Camp is a non-profit Christian camp and retreat center founded in 1946 in Olympia, Washington, offering youth camps, family programs, adult retreats, winter camps, and facility rentals to individual families, church youth groups, and schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Camp & Retreat Center

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus) (THAMAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cabin & Cottage Campgrounds (THAGAOAD), STEM & Science Camps (Biology, Chemistry, Space, Lab Science) (EDAMALAC)

Keywords

• Christian summer camps
• Retreat center operations
• Outdoor education programs
• Youth camping ministry
• Conference lodging facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Olympia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Camp Registration Fees: Tiered pricing structure for summer camps (day camp, junior, middle school, high school) with deposit-based registration and remaining balance due at arrival.
2. Retreat Fees: Weekend retreat programs including Women's Retreat, Marriage Retreat, and Men's Retreat with tiered lodging-based pricing.
3. Facility Rentals: Retreat and conference center rentals for non-profit organizations (churches, schools). Includes lodging, meeting rooms, and meal services.
4. Camp Store/eGift Cards: Camp merchandise, apparel, snacks, drinks, and souvenirs sold through camp store. eGift cards for campers to use at store.
5. Donations and Legacy Gifts: Tax-deductible donations through General Fund, Barnabas Club recurring giving, Project Nehemiah rebuilding fund, Scholarship Fund, and memorial gifts. Stock transfers via National Christian Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Black Lake Bible Camp is a non-profit Christian camp and retreat center offering summer day and overnight camps for youth (grades 1-12), men's/women's/marriage retreats, family camps, winter camps, outdoor education programs for schools, and facility lodging and meeting room rentals for churches and non-profit organizations. The organization generates revenue through tiered camp registration fees, retreat fees, facility rentals, camp store merchandise sales, and donor contributions supporting the ministry.

Product overview

Black Lake Bible Camp is a Christian Camp and Retreat Center offering a comprehensive portfolio of faith-based programs. The core offerings include youth camps (Day Camp for grades 1-9, Junior Camp for grades 4-6, Middle School Camp for grades 6-8, High School Camp for grades 9-12), family camps, and adult retreats (Men's, Women's, Marriage). Seasonal programs include WinterPalooza (winter camp for grades 3-5) and All Star Camp (middle school winter camp). The camp also offers Outdoor Education programs for schools. Facilities include diverse lodging options (The Pines, Lakeside Lodge, Harmony Springs, Olympic Inn, Private Cabins, Cedar Village, Shunem House) and meeting spaces (The Tabernacle, Harmony Chapel, Black Hills Center, Gym Meeting Rooms, Conference Center, Mt. Olympus, Mt. Adams). Additional services include a Camp Store with eGift Cards, Scholarships (up to 50%), Adopt a Summer Staffer program, Legacy Planning, and Volunteer opportunities. The camp operates a multi-phase rebuilding project called Project Nehemiah and maintains a monthly donor program called The Barnabas Club.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Day Camp Day camp program for grades 1-9 offering ten weeks beginning June 22 with hours 8:30-5:00 (extended hours 7:30-6:00). Includes Pathfinders program for grades 1-6 and Explorers program for grades 7-9. Priced at $310-$400 with extended hours available for $40 extra.
• Junior Camp Overnight Bible camp for grades 4-6 with three session options (June 21-26, July 26-31, August 2-7) featuring covered wagons for boys and teepees for girls at Harmony Springs. Priced at $470-$565 with $75 deposit required.
• Middle School Camp Overnight Bible camp for grades 6-8 running July 5-10, 2026. Focuses on helping middle schoolers discover that a relationship with God is not boring. Priced at $520-$565 with tiered structure and currently has a waitlist.
• High School Camp Overnight Bible camp for grades 9-12 running July 19-24, 2026. Features worship, great food, community, and fun activities. Priced at $500-$580 (Tier 1 actual cost $580, Tier 2 operational $545, Tier 3 donor subsidized $500) with $75 deposit. Currently has a waitlist.
• Family Camp Bible camp experience for the whole family scheduled for July 4-9, 2027, featuring activities and Christ-centered sessions for all ages. Registration opens January 2027.
• Men's Retreat Men's retreat scheduled for May 1-3, 2026, focused on being challenged, encouraged, and equipped in the faith journey.
• Women's Retreat Women's retreat offered over two weekends: October 2-4 and October 9-11, 2026. Features worship, speakers, workshops, and camp activities. Pricing ranges $150-$250 with early bird rates in May and tiered lodging options.
• Marriage Retreat Marriage retreat November 13-15, 2026, designed for husbands and wives to unplug from life's responsibilities and reconnect with God and each other. Features speaker Brett Hollis and worship leader Travis Sinks.
• WinterPalooza Winter Bible camp for grades 3-5 scheduled for February 2027 with registration opening in July.
• All Star Camp Winter Bible camp for middle schoolers scheduled for January 2027 with registration opening in July.
• Outdoor Education Educational program partnering with schools offering classes in Botany, Ecology, Geology, Sustainability, and Survival. Available for day visits or overnight stays with 2-4 day itineraries.
• Lodging Accommodations Diverse lodging options including The Pines (new cabin facility with four accessible cabins, 18 beds each), Lakeside Lodge (24 motel-style rooms on Black Lake, accommodates 5 per room), Harmony Springs (western-themed facility with 9 dorm-style cabins and chapel), Olympic Inn (centrally located with 8 rooms, wheelchair accessible), Private Cabins (8 unique options, studio to three-bedroom), Cedar Village (original camp cabins for youth retreats), and Shunem House (5-bedroom retreat house with 25-person Mt. Adams meeting room).
• Meeting Room Rentals Meeting room facilities including The Tabernacle (324 seats with full A/V), Harmony Chapel (100 seats for Harmony Springs/Pines guests), Black Hills Center (140 seats with adjacent amphitheater), Gym Meeting Rooms (three double-insulated rooms seating 60-100), Conference Center (two adjoining rooms seating 100), Mt. Olympus (40 seats in Olympic Inn), and Mt. Adams (25 seats in Shunem House).
• Camp Store and eGift Cards On-site camp store offering camp apparel, merchandise, souvenirs, candy, snacks, and drinks including espresso. Digital eGift cards available through Square for use at the store, reloadable and refundable in variable amounts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80 years of continuous ministry since 1946
• +2 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

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves19 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Kanuga Conferences and Retreats: Long-established Episcopal conference, retreat, and summer camp center in Hendersonville, NC offering youth camps, family programs, and conference hosting — comparable mission-driven camp/retreat model though larger scale and outside the Pacific Northwest.
• Forest Home Christian Camps and Conference Centers: Multi-site Christian camp and conference center operator in California offering summer youth camps, family camps, and group retreats — comparable faith-based camp and retreat portfolio with broader geographic reach than BLBC.

Direct peers

• Camp Koinonia: Christian retreat and conference center serving the Pacific Northwest faith community with summer camps, adult retreats, and group rentals — overlapping service mix and target customers with BLBC.
• Camp Gilead: Christian summer camp and retreat center in Carnation, WA serving Pacific Northwest churches and families with residential youth camps and group retreats — comparable faith-based mission, regional geography, and program mix.
• Tall Timber Ranch: Christian camp and conference center in the Pacific Northwest (Skykomish, WA) offering summer youth camps, family camps, and year-round retreat rentals — directly comparable faith-based offerings and Pacific Northwest regional footprint.
• Lake Retreat Camp and Conference Center: Non-denominational Christian camp, retreat, and conference center with summer camps, family camps, and facility rentals — comparable lodging, programming, and church/school group customer base.
• Miracle Ranch: Faith-based camp and retreat center in the Pacific Northwest offering youth camps, family programming, and facility rentals with comparable church partnership model to BLBC.
• Warm Beach Christian Camps and Conference Center: Long-established Pacific Northwest Christian camp and conference center in Stanwood, WA offering summer youth camps, family camps, retreats, and facility rentals — directly comparable mission, customer base, and operating model to BLBC.

Regional players

• Suncadia Resort: Large Pacific Northwest resort in Cle Elum, WA offering lodging, meeting space, retreats, and family programming — overlaps BLBC's retreat, lodging, and meeting-room rental channels but serves a broader leisure rather than faith-based market.
• YMCA Camp Orkila: Established Pacific Northwest family and youth camp on Orcas Island, WA operating residential summer camps and outdoor education programs — comparable family-camp and school group offerings but with a broader secular/YMCA mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/blbcolympia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/black-lake-bible-camp-olympia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Black Lake Bible Camp