Fort Wilderness

Name

Fort Wilderness

Legal name

Fort Wilderness Ministries

Website

https://fortwilderness.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Camp and Retreat Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAGAOAI

Group Camping & Scout Camps

Travel & Hospitality/Lodging & Accommodation/Camping & Glamping Facilities

SECONDARYTHAGAOAG

Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps)

Travel & Hospitality/Lodging & Accommodation/Camping & Glamping Facilities

SECONDARYEDAMALAN

College & Career Exploration Camps (Pre-College Samplers, Pathways)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Summer & Holiday Enrichment Camps (Multi-Activity, Academic)

Keywords

• Christian summer camps
• Youth retreat programs
• Family camp experiences
• Gap year discipleship
• Outdoor adventure ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Rhinelander

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Camp and Retreat Program Fees: Revenue from summer family camps, youth camps (Kids, Boys, Girls, Junior High, Leadership Lab, In Depth), fall/winter retreats (Men's, Women's, Marriage, Dads Weekend, Winter Family Getaway), specialty events (Golf Classic, Disc Wild, Broomball Boot Camp), and the TruNorth gap year program.
2. Donations and Charitable Gifts: The Fort Future capital campaign raises funds for major infrastructure projects (Stables, Operations Annex, Amphitheater, Cabin Renovations). Accepts one-time and recurring donations, Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs for donors 70.5+, and gifts of appreciated stock through RW Baird.
3. Paver Project (Ebenezer Patio): Engraved stone pavers sold at four donor levels: Bronze ($300), Silver ($600), Gold ($1,000), Platinum ($1,000 for four stones). Proceeds fund ministry and honor past faithfulness.
4. Missionary Staff Support Raising: Missionary staff raise financial support from donors who contribute to their ministry positions. Donors can support individual missionaries through the GiveVirtuous portal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fort Wilderness is a Christian camp ministry that operates summer family camps, age-specific youth camps (grades 3-12), fall and winter retreats, specialty events, and a nine-month TruNorth gap year discipleship program across three sites on Spider Lake in Wisconsin's Northwoods. Activities include horsemanship, waterfront recreation, nature education, archery, hiking, broomball, disc golf, and high adventure courses. The organization runs on camper fees, donations, charitable gifts, and a Fort Future capital campaign supporting infrastructure.

Product overview

Fort Wilderness is a Christian camp ministry offering a diverse portfolio of programs centered around spiritual development and outdoor adventure. The core offerings include Family Camps (summer and winter), Youth Camps differentiated by age and gender (Kids Camp, Boys Camp, Girls Camp, Junior High, Step Up, Leadership Lab), and the TruNorth Gap Year Program for emerging adults. The camp operates multiple activity venues including a waterfront on Spider Lake, horsemanship facilities, and a Nature Center. Additional programs include men's and women's retreats, church partnership retreats, and specialty events. The organization also provides financial assistance programs to ensure accessibility. The portfolio operates as separate programs sharing common facilities and Christian mission rather than a unified software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family Camp Multi-day summer camp experiences for families with children of all ages, featuring shared activities, worship, and Christian fellowship in a Northwoods Wisconsin setting.
• Youth Camps Age-differentiated overnight Christian camps for children and teens from grades 3 through 9, including Kids Camp, Boys Camp, Girls Camp, Junior High Camp, and Step Up, with spiritual formation and adventure activities.
• Leadership Lab Three-week intensive leadership development camp for high school students in grades 10-12, focused on deepening faith and friendship through biblical teaching, mentorship, and adventure activities.
• TruNorth Gap Year Program Nine-month Christian discipleship and leadership development program for emerging adults ages 18-22, running Labor Day to May, featuring coursework, community living, work service, and faith formation at $7,000 for the 2026-2027 school year.
• Winter Family Getaway Winter retreat experience for families featuring tubing, broomball, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding activities in Wisconsin's Northwoods.
• Men's and Women's Retreats Adult retreat programs including separate men's and women's retreats designed for spiritual growth, fellowship, worship sessions, and Scripture-based teaching.
• Relate Well Marriage Conference Marriage conference retreat held at Fort Wilderness for couples, typically featuring guest speakers and relationship-focused teaching, starting around $290 per person.
• Church Partnerships Customized programs allowing churches to host youth groups, family retreats, and full-congregation retreats at Fort Wilderness, with the All-In program enabling churches to share camper costs (1/3 each from camper, church, and Fort).
• Broomball Boot Camp Specialty youth broomball tournament and training event for ages 7-13 at $25 per participant, including equipment, helmet, and tournament play.
• Financial Assistance Program Needs-based financial aid, All-In church cost-sharing program, and camper nomination pathway that makes camp accessible to families regardless of financial circumstances.
• Ebenezer Patio Paver Project Engraved stone paver donation product offered at four donor tiers — Bronze ($300), Silver ($600), Gold ($1,000), and Platinum ($1,000 for four stones) — with proceeds funding Fort Wilderness ministry.
• Fort Future Capital Campaign $9.6 million capital fundraising campaign supporting infrastructure projects including Stables, Operations Annex, Amphitheater, and Cabin Renovations, accepting one-time, monthly, and multi-year pledge gifts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Spiritual life transformation documented through camper testimonials, baptism decisions, and youth commitment decisions at camp
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Margo Fieseler MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMargo Fieseler Ministries hosts an annual Women's Fall Retreat at Fort Wilderness. The partnership brings Margo's teaching on knowing Jesus personally to Fort's Northwoods setting. Registration for the retreat is handled through Margo Fieseler Ministries' website. Fort provides the venue, activities, and hospitality while mfm provides the speaker and program content.
• Moody Bible InstituteminorOthersIn lieu of flowers for Seth Meeks' memorial, donations were suggested to Moody Bible Institute and Open Door Bible Church. Fort staff have backgrounds from Moody Bible Institute, including Josh Tuckness who graduated from Moody.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Timber-lea Lodge and Retreat Center: Wisconsin-based Christian camp and retreat center offering summer youth camps, family camps, and adult retreats. Most direct regional peer to Fort Wilderness given shared Wisconsin location, faith-based mission, and similar youth/family camp portfolio.
• Kanakuk Kamps: Well-known Christian summer youth camp brand in Missouri with multiple sites and family camp offerings. Comparable in faith-based camp mission, age-tiered youth programming, and branded camp experience.
• Covenant Harbor Bible Camp: Wisconsin-based Christian camp and retreat center with summer youth, family, and adult programming on Lake Geneva. Strong overlap in faith-based family and youth camp offerings.
• Pine Cove Camps: Multi-site Christian camp operator in Texas and beyond running summer youth camps, family camps, and year-round retreats at scale. Comparable in mission and product line; larger and more geographically diversified than Fort Wilderness.
• Lake Lundgren Bible Camp: Wisconsin-based Christian camp with summer youth and family camps on a lake. Closely matches Fort Wilderness on geography, faith-based programming, and waterfront-anchored summer operations.
• Camp Luther: Christian camp in Three Lakes, Wisconsin operating summer youth and family camps plus year-round retreats. Same Northwoods Wisconsin geography and Lutheran-based camp programming as Fort Wilderness's offerings.
• Camp Forest Springs: Christian camp and retreat center in northwest Wisconsin offering summer youth, family, and adult retreats. Comparable faith-based programming and Northwoods setting.

Broad incumbents

• WinShape Foundation: Faith-based camp and retreat organization affiliated with Chick-fil-A, operating multiple summer camp properties. Comparable in faith-based mission and youth/family camp programming, but operates at much greater scale.
• YMCA Camp St. Croix: Large regional YMCA camp in Hudson, Wisconsin offering summer youth, family, and group retreats. Comparable overnight camp and retreat business, though secular and part of a broader YMCA network.

Regional players

• Camp Y-Koda: Wisconsin outdoor adventure camp and retreat center in Sheboygan Falls. Comparable in outdoor activities and retreat hosting, though not explicitly faith-based like Fort Wilderness.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/fortwildernessmin
• Facebookfacebook.com/thefortfamily
• Xx.com/search

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 Fort Wilderness