Camp Stevens

What Camp Stevens does

Camp Stevens is a nonprofit Episcopal camp and retreat center that operates on a 256-acre mountain property in Julian, California, approximately 60 miles northeast of San Diego. Founded in its current form in 1952 and owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles (with parallel service to the Diocese of San Diego), the organization delivers four primary program streams: (i) overnight summer camp for youth ages 8-17 held in four June-August sessions with tiered, ability-based pricing ($845-$1,365 per camper); (ii) weekend family camps including a dedicated Black Family Camp weekend; (iii) outdoor education retreats and field trips for school groups in grades 4-12; and (iv) year-round facility rentals for nonprofit, church, and corporate retreat groups using a lodging portfolio of five lodges/cabin properties capable of housing 120+ guests.

The underlying product is a real, place-based outdoor and spiritual experience rather than a software platform. Core infrastructure includes a 30-45 foot high ropes course, a 40-foot rock climbing wall, low ropes elements, a 150-seat dining hall, the James Hubbell-designed outdoor Chapel of the Transfiguration, and a 3-acre working organic farm and garden. The proprietary "Adventure Group Model" caps group size at 20 participants to deliver personalized outcomes.

Revenue is generated through a direct-to-consumer model — registrations via the CampBrain web platform and phone/email booking handled by in-house staff (Hospitality Director Sam Robinsted leads retreat bookings) — supplemented by donations through a Campership Fund that subsidizes tier-priced participants. The organization has no shareholders, no venture funding, and is governed by an Advisory Board whose bylaws reserve seats for clergy and laity of both sponsoring dioceses. Marketing runs primarily through the campstevens.org website, Facebook, Instagram, and word-of-mouth within the Episcopal Church network. The 70+ year operating history, ACA accreditation, and a 40+ year continuous international exchange with Rikkyo School in Japan constitute the principal durable advantages.

Name

Camp Stevens

Legal name

Camp Stevens

Website

https://campstevens.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Camp Stevens is a nonprofit Episcopal outdoor retreat and education center in Julian, California, offering summer youth camps, family weekends, school outdoor education, ropes course programs, and year-round group retreat rentals across its 256-acre mountain property to families, schools, and non-profit groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Summer Camps and Retreat Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (72121)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Summer camp programs
• Outdoor education retreats
• Group retreat facilities
• Ropes course teambuilding
• Episcopal camp and conference

Headquarters

HQ city

Julian

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Registration: Revenue from week-long summer camp sessions for youth ages 8-17, with tiered pricing based on family ability to pay. Sessions range from $845-$1,365 per camper.
2. Family Camp Packages: Revenue from weekend family camp programs including lodging, meals, and activities. Pricing ranges from $570-$1,350 per room/cabin depending on camp and season.
3. Retreat Facility Rentals: Revenue from hosting non-profit group retreats at camp facilities including lodges, meeting spaces, and dining hall. Groups book directly and pay for lodging and meal services.
4. Outdoor Education Programs: Revenue from school groups (grades 4-12) for day and multi-day outdoor education retreats with activities including environmental science, teambuilding, climbing, archery, and farm/garden workshops. Pricing varies by student count, days, and meals.
5. Ropes Course and Teambuilding Programs: Revenue from challenge course experiences, rock climbing wall, and teambuilding programs for groups. Rock Climbing Wall is $150 for first 1.5 hours and $50 per half hour additional.
6. Camp Store Merchandise: Revenue from sale of Camp Stevens branded merchandise including apparel and accessories through online store.
7. Campership Fund Donations: Donations from individuals, organizations, and grants to support financial assistance for families needing subsidies beyond tiered pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Camp Stevens is a nonprofit Episcopal-affiliated outdoor recreation and retreat center that operates overnight summer camps for youth ages 8-17, weekend family camp programs, school-based outdoor education retreats, ropes course and teambuilding experiences, and group retreat facility rentals. All programs are delivered on-site at a 256-acre mountain property in Julian, California, supported by multiple lodges, a dining hall, a 3-acre working farm, and outdoor recreation facilities.

Product overview

Camp Stevens is a traditional Episcopal camp and retreat center offering a portfolio of programs and facilities for individuals, families, schools, and groups. The core offerings include Summer Camp (with four sessions and a Counselor Training Program for teens), Family Camps (Memorial Day, Harvest Weekend, Gratitude, and Black Family Camp), Outdoor Education for school groups, Ropes Course and teambuilding programs, and Group Retreats with multiple lodging facilities (Wolterstorff Lodge, Lax-Sadler Lodge, Bergstrom Lodge, Blum Lodge, and Phoenix Hill cabins). Supporting amenities include a three-acre Farm & Gardens, an on-site Dining Hall, outdoor Chapel of the Transfiguration, and a Camp Store selling branded merchandise. All programs are delivered at Camp Stevens' 256-acre mountain property in Julian, California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Camp Overnight summer camp sessions for youth ages 8-17 featuring Adventure Groups (groups capped at 20 participants), swimming, archery, climbing wall, high ropes course, outdoor overnight camping, arts and crafts, and Episcopal spirituality programming. Includes a specialized International Odyssey session (Session 4) for Japanese students from Rikkyo School (cultural exchange and English-language practice) running continuously for 40+ years. Counselor Training Program available for ages 16+ as a two-component leadership track.
• Family Camps Weekend family retreat programs held at the camp property, including Memorial Day Family Camp (May 23-25, 2026), Harvest Weekend Family Camp (October 16-18, 2026), Gratitude Family Camp (November 27-29, 2026), and Black Family Camp (January 1-3, 2027). Programs include lodging, meals, archery, climbing wall, garden tours, staff-led hikes, swimming, campfire, farm animal visits, and culinary projects. Pricing ranges from $570 to $1,350 per room or cabin.
• Camp Store Online merchandise store selling Camp Stevens branded apparel and goods through the third-party Printify print-on-demand platform, featuring t-shirts and other gear for supporters and campers.
• Outdoor Education Outdoor education retreats and field trips for grades 4-12 students during the August-May school-year window, featuring hands-on environmental science, teambuilding, archery, climbing wall, hiking, farm and garden workshops, astronomy, and campfire programming. Schools may add a High Ropes Course for grades 8+. Pricing varies by student count, days, and meals; one free teacher/chaperone per 10 students.
• Ropes Course Programs Challenge course experiences including low ropes elements, a Lower Meadow Dynamic Course with two-person elements, a 40-foot Rock Climbing Wall, and high ropes courses 30-45 feet in elevation. Facilitated according to ACCT and ACA standards. Rock Climbing Wall priced at $150 for the first 1.5 hours and $50 per additional half hour; groups of 10 or more.
• Group Retreats Retreat facility rentals for non-profit groups on a year-round basis, with multiple lodging options including Wolterstorff Lodge (24 beds), Lax-Sadler Lodge (28 beds), Bergstrom Lodge (20-28 beds), Blum Lodge (48 beds), and Phoenix Hill cabin rentals (May-October). Meals are served family-style in the dining hall for up to 150 guests; meeting spaces and the outdoor Chapel of the Transfiguration are available.

Quantifiable outcome

• Adventure Groups limited to 20 persons ensure personalized attention and deeper transformation outcomes
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Episcopal Diocese of San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1974The Diocese of San Diego was created separately from Los Angeles in 1974. Camp Stevens is geographically within the Diocese of San Diego (which extends to Yuma, Arizona) and serves both dioceses and the entire region of Southern California and beyond.
• Episcopal Diocese of Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1953Founding diocese that established Camp Stevens at its current Julian location. The Diocese of Los Angeles remains the owner of Camp Stevens property. The Bishop Diocesan of Los Angeles is directly responsible for the camp and Advisory Board bylaws require seats for clergy and laity of both Dioceses.
• Episcopal Camps and Conference CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp Stevens is a member of the nationwide network of 100+ summer camps, retreat centers, and conference centers affiliated with the Episcopal Church.
• American Camp AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp Stevens is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), which assures programs, facilities, and policies meet a national standard for quality, health, and safety.
• Volcan Mountain FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrom many spots at Camp Stevens, campers and guests can see Volcan Mountain, a 5,000 foot mountain that offers views extending over the Anza-Borrego Desert and out to the Pacific Ocean sixty miles away. Campers have the chance to hike this beautiful piece of land.
• Rikkyo School (Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Odyssey program welcoming Japanese students from Rikkyo School for over 40 years (continuous except 2020-2022 due to pandemic-related travel restrictions). Session 4 features cultural exchange, Japan Day activities, and English language practice.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Esalen Institute: Long-established California retreat and educational center in Big Sur offering workshops, lodging, and group programming. Overlaps with Camp Stevens on retreat-rental and adult experiential-programming dimensions, but Esalen is a much larger and broader workshop/adult-learning destination.
• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): National nonprofit outdoor education provider offering wilderness-based instruction across multiple U.S. locations and internationally. Comparable to Camp Stevens' outdoor-education programming for schools and groups, but operates at much larger scale and breadth across geographies.
• YMCA of San Diego County: Regional YMCA operating Camp Marston and broader youth, family, and outdoor programs across San Diego County. Directly competes with Camp Stevens in the local market through Camp Marston and offers overlapping summer camp, family, and retreat-type programming at the parent-organization scale.

Direct peers

• 1440 Multiversity: California-based retreat and learning center in Scotts Valley offering lodge accommodations, meeting space, dining, and workshops for groups. Comparable to Camp Stevens on the retreat-rental, group-booking, and multi-day adult programming dimensions of the business.
• Camp Whispering Winds: Episcopal summer camp for youth in Northern California offering multi-activity outdoor programming including swimming, archery, and challenge courses. Matches Camp Stevens on Episcopal affiliation, multi-activity youth programming, and California-based summer-camp identity.
• Shrine Mont: Episcopal conference and retreat center in Orkney Springs, Virginia offering youth camps, family programs, and group retreat lodging. Comparable on Episcopal affiliation, family/youth camp, retreat rentals, and mission-driven multi-program model; regional/geographic differentiation.
• Camp Allen: Episcopal camp and conference center in Navasota, Texas providing summer youth camps, retreats, and conference facilities. Directly comparable on Episcopal organizational structure, summer camp programming, retreat rentals, and multi-program operating model in a different region.
• Kanuga: Episcopal camp, conference, and retreat center in Hendersonville, North Carolina operating summer youth camps, family programs, and year-round retreat facilities. Closely matches Camp Stevens' combination of summer youth camp, family camps, retreats, and Episcopal affiliation; outside California geography.
• Camp Cedar Glen: Episcopal summer camp and retreat center in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California offering youth camps, family programs, and group retreats. Directly comparable to Camp Stevens' Episcopal affiliation, regional Southern California base, and multi-program youth/retreat model (Camp Stevens' own staff include a former head cook from Camp Cedar Glen).
• YMCA Camp Marston: Day and overnight camp operated by the YMCA of San Diego County in nearby Julian, California. Comparable as a competing youth/family camp operator in the exact same market and geography as Camp Stevens, with overlapping summer camp and retreat offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/campstevensjulian
• Instagraminstagram.com/campstevens
• Xx.com/campstevens
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-stevens

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Camp Stevens