Camp Chippewa Foundation
Camp Chippewa Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating Camp Chippewa for Boys, a traditional overnight wilderness summer camp founded in 1935 serving boys ages 8–17 at a single Minnesota site via tiered session programs and a progressive canoe-tripping curriculum, funded by tuition and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1935
- HeadquartersTulsa, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Camp Chippewa Foundation does
Camp Chippewa Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 39-1951458) established in 1999 to perpetuate the operation of Camp Chippewa for Boys, a traditional overnight wilderness summer camp located on the original Endres family property along Cass Lake and Buck Lake in Minnesota's Chippewa National Forest. The camp was founded in 1935 by Otto "Cap" Endres and Helen "Mom" Endres, who relocated from Oklahoma to northern Minnesota; the Endres family operated it for 64 years before donating the property and operations to the Foundation, which is now governed by an alumni-tied board of directors chaired by Charles Beeler. The Foundation runs tiered session programs — Badger Camp (2-week introductory, $4,890), Session I/II (4-week, $8,140 each), the 8-week Full Session ($14,150), and the invitation-only Chippewa Leadership Training (CLT) program for rising 12th graders ($13,025) — serving boys ages 8–17 with a diversified activity portfolio (sailing, archery, riflery, climbing, fencing, tennis, soccer) anchored by a progressive canoe-tripping program that culminates in 21-day Canadian wilderness expeditions.
The Foundation generates revenue through all-inclusive seasonal tuition (subscription-style multi-year enrollment via a $950 deposit plus $150 camp store deposit), camp store transaction revenue, and a structured three-pillar donation program (Sustain for operations, Innovate for capital projects, Outreach for scholarships). Pricing is highly inclusive — covering room, board, activities, tripping, laundry, and chartered bus transportation to/from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport — with Visa/MasterCard accepted at a 3% convenience fee and a $300 sibling discount. Operational technology is minimal and third-party: CampInTouch handles enrollment, forms, document management, and family communications, while PackMyRx manages camper prescription medications. There are no proprietary AI/ML systems, no published APIs, no native mobile app, and no third-party integrations referenced.
The Foundation primarily serves fee-paying U.S. families across 30+ states and 8 countries, with 10–15% of campers receiving financial support through a scholarship fund sourced via partnerships with select schools in Minneapolis and Milwaukee. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through a national open-house roadshow (Boulder, LA, Bay Area, Tulsa, Houston, Scottsdale, Twin Cities, Wellesley, DC), a 10% tuition referral program, a 12-page mailed Camp Chips newsletter, a blog covering youth-development topics, and a YouTube/Vimeo/SmugMug content presence. Current professional leadership comprises Executive Director Ryan Hove (joined from out-of-state camp directing experience) and Camp Director Sam Endres (founder's family line, NOLS instructor, EMT), with founder-lineage directors Mary, Mike, and JP Endres transitioning to Directors Emeriti/Emeritus status. Headcount is reported at 11–50, expanded seasonally by ~25 college-aged counselors, many drawn from former-camper alumni.
Camp Chippewa Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Camp Chippewa Foundation
- Legal name
- Camp Chippewa Foundation
- Website
- https://campchippewa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1935
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Camp Chippewa Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating Camp Chippewa for Boys, a traditional overnight wilderness summer camp founded in 1935 serving boys ages 8–17 at a single Minnesota site via tiered session programs and a progressive canoe-tripping curriculum, funded by tuition and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Camp Chippewa Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Summer Camp Services
- NAICS
- Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)
- SIC
- Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps) (THAGAOAG)
Keywords
Where Camp Chippewa Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tulsa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Camp Chippewa Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Summer Camp Tuition: All-inclusive seasonal tuition covering room, board, activities, canoe trips, laundry service, and transportation to/from camp on session start and end dates. Multiple session lengths and programs offered.
- Camp Store: $150 camp store deposit added to enrollment. Additional purchases available at camp store.
- Donations and Scholarships: Donations to Camp Chippewa Foundation support Sustain (general operations), Innovate (capital projects), and Outreach (scholarships for underserved communities). EIN 39-1951458.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Full Session - 8 weeks |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Session I or II - 4 weeks |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Badger Camp - 2 week intro session |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | CLT Session - Leadership Training |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Camp Chippewa Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Camp Chippewa Foundation operates a traditional overnight wilderness summer camp for boys ages 8-17, offering tiered session programs (Full Session 8 weeks, Session I/II 4 weeks, Badger Camp 2 weeks) anchored by a progressive canoe tripping curriculum and diversified activities. The foundation also accepts tax-deductible donations to support camp operations, capital projects, and scholarship outreach to underserved communities.
Product overview
Camp Chippewa Foundation operates a traditional overnight summer camp program for boys ages 8-17, offering tiered session options including Full Session (8 weeks), Session I and II (4 weeks each), Badger Camp (2 weeks for younger beginners), and the Chippewa Leadership Training Program for senior campers. The core program is built around diversified activities across waterfront, shooting sports, athletics, and wilderness skills, supported by a progressive canoe tripping program ranging from local overnight trips to extended Canadian expeditions. The camp utilizes CampInTouch as its operational platform for enrollment, payments, and family communications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Full Session Camp Program An 8-week overnight wilderness camp program for boys ages 8-17, providing comprehensive access to all camp activities, canoe tripping programs, and leadership development within the Minnesotan wilderness setting.
- Session I and Session II Camp Programs Two 4-week overnight camp sessions offered as alternatives to the full summer program, providing full access to camp activities and introductory tripping experiences.
- Badger Camp A 2-week introductory overnight session available for first-year campers entering 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade, designed as an entry point to the camp experience.
- Chippewa Leadership Training (CLT) Program A full-summer commitment for rising 12th graders who have completed multiple years at Chippewa, featuring a 21-day canoe trip during the first session and leadership training, service projects, and camper activities during the second session.
- Canoe Tripping Program A progressive wilderness canoe trip program with escalating difficulty from local overnight trips to extended multi-week expeditions into Canadian wilderness areas, including Quetico Provincial Park, Boundary Waters Canoe Area, and Hudson Bay expeditions.
- Camp Activities Program A diversified activity program featuring over a dozen activities across waterfront, shooting sports, athletics, and wilderness skills categories including sailing, canoeing, swimming, archery, riflery, trap shooting, fencing, tennis, soccer, climbing, orienteering, campcraft, and nature education.
- Camp Chippewa Foundation Donation Program Tax-deductible donation program funding general operations, capital projects, and scholarships for underserved communities to attend Camp Chippewa.
Quantifiable outcome
- 75% return camper rate over 5-year period; 90% for oldest campers
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Camp Chippewa Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Camp Chippewa Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Camp Chippewa Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Select Schools in MinneapoliscorePartnership with select schools in Minneapolis to help identify scholarship candidates for the Camp Chippewa Scholarship Fund. Students from these schools may receive financial support to attend camp.
- Select Schools in MilwaukeecorePartnership with select schools in Milwaukee to help identify scholarship candidates for the Camp Chippewa Scholarship Fund. Students from these schools may receive financial support to attend camp.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Camp Chippewa Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Camp Kenwood: Boys' overnight camp in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, part of the Kenwood & Evergreen sibling camps. Operates a similar traditional, multi-activity, no-tryout model with a strong wilderness/adventure component targeting boys of comparable ages.
- Camp Becket: Boys' overnight summer camp in Becket, Massachusetts, founded in 1938. Comparable in single-gender tradition, multi-activity curriculum, leadership development programming, and long-tenured staff pipeline.
- Camp Winona: Boys' overnight camp in DeLand, Florida, founded in 1907. Operates a comparable traditional single-gender model with a diversified activity program and multi-week sessions targeting boys ages 6-16.
- Camp Marist: Catholic-affiliated boys' overnight camp in Center Ossipee, New Hampshire, founded in 1949. Comparable in traditional single-gender overnight programming, diversified activity curriculum, and multi-week session structure.
- Camp Timberlane: Boys' overnight camp in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin. Geographic peer in the Upper Midwest with the same traditional boys' wilderness/activity mix and similar pricing tier to Camp Chippewa.
- Taylor Statten Camps: Boys' overnight camp in McKellar, Ontario, founded in 1921. Closely mirrors Camp Chippewa's traditional Canadian wilderness setting, canoe-tripping focus, multi-generational alumni base, and nonprofit-supported scholarship program.
- Camp Keewaydin: Boys' overnight camp founded in 1893 with operations in Salisbury, Vermont, and Temagami, Ontario. Directly comparable to Camp Chippewa's progressive canoe tripping program — Keewaydin is among the most recognized wilderness tripping camps in North America.
- Camp Mah-Kee-Nac: Boys' overnight summer camp in Becket, Massachusetts. Directly comparable traditional boys' camp with diversified land and water sports, similar staff-to-camper ratios, and a comparable premium pricing tier.
- Camp Mowglis: Traditional boys' overnight wilderness camp in East Hebron, New Hampshire, founded in 1903. Closely comparable to Camp Chippewa in single-gender positioning, multi-activity program, canoe tripping, and multi-generational alumni culture.
- Camp Robin Hood: Boys' overnight camp in Freedom, New Hampshire, with a long-established traditional program. Comparable in age range, single-gender format, broad activity menu, and multi-week session architecture.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Camp Chippewa Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceCamp Chippewa Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Camp Chippewa Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Camp Chippewa Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Camp Chippewa Foundation 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 Camp Chippewa Foundation
What does Camp Chippewa Foundation do?
Camp Chippewa Foundation operates a traditional overnight wilderness summer camp for boys ages 8-17, offering tiered session programs (Full Session 8 weeks, Session I/II 4 weeks, Badger Camp 2 weeks) anchored by a progressive canoe tripping curriculum and diversified activities. The foundation also accepts tax-deductible donations to support camp operations, capital projects, and scholarship outreach to underserved communities.
Is Camp Chippewa Foundation a public or private company?
Camp Chippewa Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Camp Chippewa Foundation founded?
Camp Chippewa Foundation was founded in 1935. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Camp Chippewa Foundation based?
Camp Chippewa Foundation is headquartered in Tulsa, United States, in the North America region.
How does Camp Chippewa Foundation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Summer Camp Tuition is the primary driver. The others are camp Store and donations and Scholarships.
Who are Camp Chippewa Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Camp Kenwood, Camp Becket, Camp Winona, Camp Marist, Camp Timberlane, Taylor Statten Camps, Camp Keewaydin, Camp Mah-Kee-Nac, Camp Mowglis and Camp Robin Hood.
Does Camp Chippewa Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Camp Chippewa Foundation.
What industry is Camp Chippewa Foundation in?
Camp Chippewa Foundation's product category is Youth Summer Camp Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAJAA, Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps), with a secondary code of THAGAOAG, Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps). Its NAICS code is 721214 and its SIC code is 7000.