Au Sable Institute
Au Sable Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing faith-integrated, field-based environmental science education to undergraduate and graduate students from 50+ partner Christian colleges across North America, through 22 summer courses at three campuses (Michigan, Washington, Costa Rica) and online programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1960
- HeadquartersMancelona, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Au Sable Institute does
Au Sable Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental education organization founded in 1960 by Dr. Harold Snyder and headquartered in Mancelona, Michigan. It offers expert-led, field-based environmental science instruction rooted in Christian faith, serving primarily undergraduate and graduate students from a network of more than 50 partner Christian colleges and universities across the United States and Canada. Its core product is a summer College Program comprising 22 field courses (3-5 weeks each) delivered across three physical campuses — Great Lakes (Northern Michigan, owned), Pacific Rim (Whidbey Island, WA, hosted at YMCA Camp Casey), and Costa Rica (Vara Blanca, hosted with ADE) — plus three online courses (GIS, Environmental Law & Policy, Ecological Analysis in R). Supporting programs include the SUPER undergraduate research preparation program, an annual Graduate Fellows winter retreat, the REYS K-12 outreach program, professional short courses, an Artist in Residence program, and a Church and Community Conservation internship jointly run with A Rocha USA. Professional certificates are available across Ecological Restoration, Forest & Land Management, Wildlife Monitoring, Freshwater Fisheries, Wetland Assessment, Field Naturalist, and Environmental Policy & GIS.
The institute generates revenue from three primary streams: (1) summer college tuition from students attending field courses for credit through partner colleges, managed via the PopuliWeb admissions platform (pricing not publicly disclosed); (2) charitable donations from individuals, alumni, and foundations, including the active Strong Roots, New Growth capital campaign targeting $770,000 for Great Lakes campus improvements (which had raised $732,720 from 202 donors as of May 5, 2026); and (3) program grants supporting internships (Murdock Charitable Trust), K-12 outreach (Worthington Family Foundation, Greenwood Foundation, Charlevoix County Community Foundation), and applied research (Michigan EGLE). The organization has produced over 4,000 alumni across 60+ years and is governed by a board of directors under Executive Director Jon Terry, with Dr. Heath Garris serving as Director of College Programs.
Au Sable Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Au Sable Institute
- Legal name
- Au Sable Institute
- Website
- https://ausable.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1960
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Au Sable Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing faith-integrated, field-based environmental science education to undergraduate and graduate students from 50+ partner Christian colleges across North America, through 22 summer courses at three campuses (Michigan, Washington, Costa Rica) and online programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Au Sable Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Education (Higher Education)
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)
Keywords
Where Au Sable Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mancelona
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Au Sable Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Summer College Program Tuition: Students from partner colleges pay tuition to attend Au Sable's field-based summer courses at the Great Lakes, Pacific Rim, or Costa Rica campuses, or online.
- Donations and Capital Campaign: Au Sable relies on charitable donations from individuals and foundations to fund campus improvements and operations. The StrongRoots capital campaign aims to raise $770,000 for campus infrastructure upgrades. As of May 5, 2026, $732,720 had been raised from 202 donors.
- Internship Program Grants: The Church and Community Conservation internship is funded with support from the Murdock Charitable Trust, providing a nine-month paid internship with Au Sable and A Rocha USA.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | College credit-bearing field courses (3-5 weeks, in-person at three campuses or online) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
Au Sable Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Au Sable Institute delivers field-based environmental science education integrating Christian faith and environmental stewardship through 22 in-person summer courses at three campuses (Great Lakes in Northern Michigan, Pacific Rim on Whidbey Island WA, and Costa Rica) plus 3 online courses, awarding college credit through its network of 50+ partner Christian colleges and universities. Supplemental programs include the SUPER undergraduate research preparation track, Graduate Fellows winter retreat, REYS K-12 outreach, Church and Community Conservation internship with A Rocha USA, professional short courses, and seven professional certificates (Field Naturalist, Ecological Restoration, Freshwater Fisheries, Wildlife Monitoring, Forest & Land Management, Environmental Policy & GIS, Wetland Assessment).
Product overview
Au Sable Institute is an educational institution offering a portfolio of environmental field education programs centered on Christian environmental stewardship. The core offering is the College Program with 22 field-based summer courses across three physical campuses (Great Lakes in Michigan, Pacific Rim in Washington, and Costa Rica) plus online courses. Supporting programs include the SUPER research preparation program, Graduate Fellows winter retreat, REYS K-12 outreach, Church and Community Conservation internship, and Professional Short Courses. Field courses cover disciplines including marine biology, wildlife ecology, forest management, aquatic biology, restoration ecology, and environmental chemistry, with certifications available in Ecological Restoration, Forest & Land Management, Wildlife Monitoring, Freshwater Fisheries, Wetland Assessment, Field Naturalist, and Environmental Policy & GIS.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Au Sable College Program
- SUPER Program (Summer Undergraduate Preparation in Environmental Research)
- Graduate Fellows Program
- REYS (Restoration Ecology for Young Students)
- Church and Community Conservation Internship
- Professional Short Courses
- Online Courses (GIS, Environmental Law & Policy, Ecological Analysis in R)
- Au Sable Undergraduate Research Program
- Au Sable - Great Lakes Campus
- Au Sable - Pacific Rim Campus
- Au Sable - Costa Rica Campus
- Artist in Residence Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 119 students from 39 schools served in Summer 2025 alone
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Au Sable Institute
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Au Sable Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Au Sable Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- A Rocha USAcoreAu Sable and A Rocha USA jointly offer the Church and Community Conservation Internship, a nine-month paid program (September 2026 – May 2027) with the first 2.5 months at Au Sable's Michigan campus and the remaining 6.5 months at A Rocha USA field sites in Orlando FL, Austin TX, Grand Rapids MI, or Nashville TN. Funded by the Murdock Charitable Trust.
- Association for Development through Education (ADE)coreADE (Glocal ADE) partners with Au Sable to host the Costa Rica campus in Vara Blanca, providing logistics, local coordination, and programming support. ADE staff member Tomás Dozier serves as Costa Rica Program Coordinator.
- YMCA Camp CaseycoreAu Sable's Pacific Rim campus is hosted at YMCA Camp Casey on Whidbey Island, WA. Students stay in the Bachelor Officers Quarters (BOQ), dine at the YMCA Mess Hall, and have access to Camp Casey's beach, trails, and facilities. An overnight camping trip is included for all Pacific Rim students.
- Bethel UniversitycoreBethel University (Indiana) is a partner college sending students to Au Sable for summer field courses. Dr. Katie Weakland serves as Au Sable's faculty representative at Bethel and teaches ecology courses there.
- Calvin UniversitycoreCalvin University (Michigan) is a partner college. Dr. Dave Warners teaches at Calvin and at Au Sable. Calvin hosted its Life in Winter course at Au Sable's Great Lakes campus in January 2026. Calvin also has student sustainability club Earthkeepers.
- Cedarville UniversitycoreCedarville University (Ohio) is a partner college. Dr. Mark Gathany teaches at Cedarville and serves as the Cedarville faculty representative to Au Sable Institute.
- The King's University (Edmonton, Alberta)coreThe King's University (Canada) is a partner college. Dr. Michael Ferber directs the Environmental Studies Program at King's and teaches Au Sable's International Development course. Alumni include Jon Van Arragon and Isabelle Prins.
- Dordt UniversitycoreDordt University (Iowa) is a partner college. Distinguished Alumni Award recipients Chris and Wendy Evans met at Au Sable; Wendy graduated from Dordt.
- Michigan Department of Natural ResourcesminorAu Sable's research program has partnered with Michigan DNR on applied ecological projects including Kirtland's warbler nesting studies, Boardman River restoration, and grayling reintroduction research.
- Little River Band of Ottawa IndiansminorLocal tribal partner collaborating with Au Sable on environmental research and restoration projects in northwest lower Michigan.
- Trout UnlimitedminorConservation organization partnered with Au Sable on Boardman River restoration research and related aquatic ecosystem studies.
- Michigan Technical UniversityminorAcademic research partner collaborating with Au Sable on studies including oil pad reforestation, Kirtland's warbler habitat, and grayling reintroduction in northern Michigan rivers.
- Ferris State UniversityminorCollaborated with Au Sable in summer 2025 on E. coli water quality testing at six area lakes (Log Lake, Manistee Lake, Pickerel Lake, Big Twin Lake, Starvation Lake, Blue Lake). FSU received grant funding from Michigan EGLE for this work.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Au Sable Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- A Rocha USA: A Rocha USA is a Christian conservation organization that partners with Au Sable on the Church and Community Conservation internship. It runs field sites focused on community-based conservation, sharing the faith-environmental stewardship model.
- Creation Care Studies Program: Creation Care Studies Program is a small Christian environmental field study program that operates in Belize and other locations, very similar to Au Sable's model of field-based creation care education for Christian college students.
Emerging players
- Calvin University (Environmental Studies): Calvin University is a partner Christian college with a strong Environmental Studies program led by Dr. Dave Warners. It hosts the Life in Winter course at Au Sable and represents a potential competitor/incumbent in Christian environmental education.
- Sterling College (Vermont): Sterling College is a Christian-affiliated environmental school in Vermont focused on ecological stewardship and field-based undergraduate education. Competes for the same faith-and-environment student segment.
- Taylor University (Environmental Science): Taylor University is a partner Christian college with environmental science programs. Has historically sent students to Au Sable, including alumni Rebekah Novak (Class of 2025) who now works there.
- Gordon College (Environmental Studies): Gordon College is a Christian liberal arts institution with an active Environmental Studies program offering field-based learning. Similar faith-based orientation to Au Sable but operates as a full degree-granting college.
- Houghton University (Environmental Science): Houghton University is a Christian college with an integrated Environmental Science program that combines faith and field research. A potential partner or competitor in the Christian environmental education space.
Broad incumbents
- Wheaton College (Environmental Science): Wheaton College is a major evangelical Christian university with an established Environmental Science program and the Human Needs and Global Resources (HNGR) program. A larger-scale competitor in faith-based environmental education.
Others
- Au Sable - Great Lakes (in-house reference): Reference to anchor company for peer comparison context.
Regional players
- InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (ESF): InterVarsity's Environmental Stewardship Fellow program operates on Christian college campuses with similar faith-and-creation-care mission. Adjacent model of mobilizing students in Christian environmental vocation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Au Sable Institute social profiles
Digital presenceAu Sable Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Au Sable Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Au Sable Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Au Sable Institute 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 Au Sable Institute
What does Au Sable Institute do?
Au Sable Institute delivers field-based environmental science education integrating Christian faith and environmental stewardship through 22 in-person summer courses at three campuses (Great Lakes in Northern Michigan, Pacific Rim on Whidbey Island WA, and Costa Rica) plus 3 online courses, awarding college credit through its network of 50+ partner Christian colleges and universities. Supplemental programs include the SUPER undergraduate research preparation track, Graduate Fellows winter retreat, REYS K-12 outreach, Church and Community Conservation internship with A Rocha USA, professional short courses, and seven professional certificates (Field Naturalist, Ecological Restoration, Freshwater Fisheries, Wildlife Monitoring, Forest & Land Management, Environmental Policy & GIS, Wetland Assessment).
Is Au Sable Institute a public or private company?
Au Sable Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Au Sable Institute founded?
Au Sable Institute was founded in 1960. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Au Sable Institute based?
Au Sable Institute is headquartered in Mancelona, United States, in the North America region.
How does Au Sable Institute make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Summer College Program Tuition is the primary driver. The others are donations and Capital Campaign and internship Program Grants.
Who are Au Sable Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are A Rocha USA and Creation Care Studies Program. Emerging players are Calvin University (Environmental Studies), Sterling College (Vermont), Taylor University (Environmental Science), Gordon College (Environmental Studies) and Houghton University (Environmental Science). Wheaton College (Environmental Science) is listed as a broad incumbent. Au Sable - Great Lakes (in-house reference) is listed as an others. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (ESF) is listed as a regional player.
Does Au Sable Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Au Sable Institute.
What industry is Au Sable Institute in?
Au Sable Institute's product category is Environmental Education (Higher Education). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMABAD, Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation), with a secondary code of EDAHAKAG, Christian Colleges with Theological Programs. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.