Camp Lutherwood Oregon

What Camp Lutherwood Oregon does

Camp Lutherwood Oregon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit camp and outdoor education organization founded in 1959, headquartered on a single 22960 Highway 36 site in Cheshire, Oregon, situated between the Coast Range and Willamette Valley ecoregions. It delivers year-round programming for youth, families, school groups, church congregations, and trauma-affected youth, including traditional summer overnight and day camps (swimming, archery, climbing wall, hiking, crafts), the Branches Outdoor School (a designated Oregon Outdoor School provider serving 650+ students in its inaugural 2025 season), facility rentals (retreats, gatherings, challenge course), and specialty programs such as the trauma-informed COMPASS Program (sliding scale, no camper pays more than $25), Spring Break Makers Camp, Family Camp, Women's Weekend, and Alumni Retreats.

The organization operates with a small year-round team (Executive Director, Director of Programs, Outdoor School Director, Food Services Director, Site & Facilities Manager, Office Manager, Guest Services Manager, plus a Pastor/Engagement Coordinator) supplemented by seasonal summer staff and international counselors via the ELCA International Camp Counselor Program (Czech Republic, Poland). Its technology footprint is intentionally light: a WordPress/Elementor website, third-party Ultracamp for registration, and Give Lively for donations, with no proprietary systems, AI/ML, or APIs disclosed. Revenue is generated through tiered camp program fees (with camperships/scholarships), facility rentals, donations and fundraising events (Harvest Fest, 65th Anniversary), foundation grants (M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust $300,000; Gray Family Foundation; DLX Family Foundation; OSU Outdoor School for All), congregational campaigns through Central Lutheran Church and the Central Lutheran Foundation, and a planned giving program (bequests, charitable trusts). GTM is community-led (church networks, alumni, camper families) and event-driven (Harvest Fest, Annual Meeting, Alumni Retreat, Spring Work Days, Family Camp), anchored by American Camp Association accreditation and the Oregon Outdoor School designation.

Name

Camp Lutherwood Oregon

Legal name

Camp Lutherwood Oregon

Website

https://lutherwoodoregon.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Camp Lutherwood Oregon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit camp and outdoor education center in Cheshire, Oregon, founded in 1959, serving youth, families, school districts, church groups, and trauma-affected youth through summer camp, year-round outdoor school, facility rentals, and specialized programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Education and 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

Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO), STEM & Science Camps (Biology, Chemistry, Space, Lab Science) (EDAMALAC)

Keywords

• Youth summer camps
• Outdoor education programs
• Outdoor school services
• Retreat facility rentals
• Nonprofit camp ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Cheshire

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Camp Program Fees: Registration fees for summer camp sessions, family camps, spring break programs, and specialized programs like Makers Camp and Compass Camp. Tiered pricing with campership scholarships available.
2. Facility Rentals: Overnight and day rental income from groups using camp facilities for retreats, gatherings, and events. Includes gathering spaces, overnight lodging, recreational spaces, and challenge course.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Annual fund appeals, major donor cultivation, congregational campaigns, and event-based fundraising (Harvest Fest, 65th Anniversary Fundraiser). Bridge to the Future capital campaign for facility construction.
4. Grants: Foundation grants for specific projects including M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust ($300,000 for Retreat Lodge), Gray Family Foundation (staff housing), DLX Family Foundation (kitchen equipment), Oregon State University Outdoor School for All (accessibility improvements).
5. Planned Giving: Legacy gift program offering bequests, retirement plan designations, life insurance designations, charitable remainder trusts, and charitable lead trusts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Camp Lutherwood Oregon is a nonprofit summer camp and outdoor education center that operates overnight and day camp programs for youth from kindergarten through 12th grade, runs Branches Outdoor School for visiting school districts, and rents its 172-acre wooded site in Cheshire, Oregon for retreats and group events. It also delivers specialty programs such as COMPASS for youth affected by trauma, family camps, women's weekends, alumni retreats, and spring break makers camps.

Product overview

Camp Lutherwood Oregon is a nonprofit summer camp and outdoor education center in Cheshire, Oregon, offering a portfolio of programs including Summer Camp for youth of all ages with activities like swimming, archery, climbing wall, and hiking; Branches Outdoor School for year-round school group programming as an Oregon state designated provider; overnight and day venue rentals with gathering spaces and a challenge course; specialty programs such as the COMPASS Program for trauma-affected youth, Spring Break Makers Camp (Culinary Arts, Woodworking, Podcast Production), Family Camp, Women's Weekend retreats, and Alumni Retreats; and special events including Harvest Fest and the 65th Anniversary celebration. The organization is undergoing the Bridge to the Future building campaign to construct the Tanager Creek Retreat Lodge, with completed facilities including a new dining hall and upper cabin restrooms. Recent infrastructure improvements include ADA-accessible pathways and a greenhouse project for outdoor education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Branches Outdoor School: A designated Outdoor School provider for the state of Oregon, offering ecological science education, climbing tower, archery range, and outdoor activities for school groups year-round.
• Compass Program

Products and services

• Summer Camp Programs
• Branches Outdoor School
• COMPASS Program
• Overnight and Day Rentals
• Memorial Day Weekend Family Camp
• Spring Break Makers Camp
• Women's Weekend
• Alumni Retreat
• 65th Anniversary Celebration

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 650 students served in inaugural Branches Outdoor School season
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GSB FundraisingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNational consulting organization with 47+ years of experience leading executive searches for nonprofits. Engaged by Board of Directors to lead national search for new Executive Director following Andrea Scofield's retirement announcement. Conducting sourcing interviews with leaders and candidates throughout the US.
• Holt InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization hosting adoptee camp programs at Camp Lutherwood facilities during summer. Partnership enriches camp programming and strengthens community bonds.
• CampFire WilaniminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization hosting family camp weekend and summer camp week programming at Lutherwood. Collaboration provides diverse programming options and community connections.
• ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational church body through which Lutherwood participates in International Camp Counselor Program hosting international staff. Hosted counselors from Czech Republic (Markéta, 2023) and Poland (Suzy, 2024). Program brings cultural exchange and diverse perspectives to camp staff.
• Central Lutheran Church, EugeneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeld first congregational campaign in fall as part of Bridge to the Future campaign outreach to ELCA churches. Example of church partnership model for engaging congregations in capital fundraising.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Camp Fire (national organization): National nonprofit youth-development organization and parent of Camp Fire Wilani; comparable mission (outdoor education, belonging, equity) at much larger scale and as an established national brand.

Direct peers

• Trackers Earth: Portland-based outdoor education organization running year-round outdoor and environmental programs for youth and school groups, directly comparable to Branches Outdoor School's ecological science and outdoor learning offering.
• Lutherhaven Ministries: Faith-based Lutheran camp and retreat ministry in northern Idaho with a comparable residential summer camp model, retreat facilities, and ELCA-affiliated programming targeting youth, families, and congregations.
• Aldersgate Retreat Center: United Methodist camp and retreat center near Salem, Oregon - directly comparable as a Pacific NW faith-affiliated camp offering summer youth programs, adult retreats, and facility rentals in similar outdoor settings.
• Camp Fire Wilani: Nonprofit youth and family camp operating in the same Oregon region, already partnered with Camp Lutherwood as a host sub-brand for summer programs. Comparable in mission, scale, and seasonal residential programming.
• YMCA Camp Collins: Long-running residential YMCA summer camp in the Portland/Gresham, Oregon area; closest direct nonprofit overnight-camp peer in terms of activities (archery, climbing, swimming) and youth overnight program format.

Regional players

• Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp: ELCA-affiliated Lutheran camp in Colorado operating summer youth camps and adult retreats with a comparable faith-based, residential outdoor ministry model, but serving a different geography.

Others

• Friends of Oregon Outdoor School: Statewide advocacy and funding coalition supporting Oregon's Outdoor School program, of which Branches Outdoor School is a designated provider. Comparable as an ecosystem participant shaping the same funding and policy environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCF5r2VfFn2qHNkNx6sXeLlQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/CampLutherwoodOregon
• Instagraminstagram.com/lutherwoodor
• Xx.com/lutherwoodor
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-lutherwood-oregon

Compliance1 record

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 Camp Lutherwood Oregon