Au Sable Institute

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.

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

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

• Environmental field education
• Christian stewardship programs
• College credit courses
• Ecological research training
• Conservation professional certificates

Headquarters

HQ city

Mancelona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core 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

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• A Rocha USAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2026Au 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADE (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 CaseycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAu 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 UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBethel 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 UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalvin 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 UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCedarville 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 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 UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDordt 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 ResourcesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAu 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 IndiansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal tribal partner collaborating with Au Sable on environmental research and restoration projects in northwest lower Michigan.
• Trout UnlimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization partnered with Au Sable on Boardman River restoration research and related aquatic ecosystem studies.
• Michigan Technical UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic 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 UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/ausableinst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Au Sable Institute