Camp Kawaga
Camp Kawaga is a family-owned boys overnight summer camp in Minocqua, Wisconsin, founded in 1915, serving approximately 200 campers ages 7-15 each summer through 8-week and 4-week sessions, supplemented by year-round paddle tennis and alumni programming.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1915
- HeadquartersMinocqua, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Camp Kawaga does
Camp Kawaga is a privately held, traditional boys overnight summer camp founded in 1915 on 100 wooded acres along Lake Kawaguesaga near Minocqua, Wisconsin. The camp operates as a direct-to-consumer seasonal business serving boys ages 7-15 with two product tiers — an 8-week full session ($14,950 for 2026) and two 4-week sessions ($8,900 each) — supplemented by a Father+Son pre-camp weekend, an Alumni Weekend, and a year-round paddle tennis retreat program at a 4-court facility built in 2020. Programming spans over 100 athletic and non-athletic activities across water sports, land sports, racket sports, wilderness tripping, and special events, with character development reinforced through the proprietary Mawanda/Sachem point system and a codified "Kawaga Ideal" philosophy.
The business is family-owned by the Fisher brothers (Bobby, Michael, Marc, and David/Duke), who acquired the camp in 1987 and saved it from development, joined in 2015 by the Daube family as co-owners. Day-to-day operations are led by Director Ty Simpson (since 2017) and Co-Director Lauren Simpson, neither of whom holds equity. The camp markets primarily through word-of-mouth across its multi-generational alumni network (Fisher and Daube children and grandchildren span three generations of campers), supported by organic Instagram, a CampInTouch enrollment portal, and director-led email communications. Infrastructure includes a Crow's Nest infirmary staffed by three registered nurses, a kitchen crew, maintenance staff, and a seasonal staff base where over 90% return year-over-year.
Revenue is generated almost exclusively from tuition, deposits, installment payments, paddle weekend bookings, alumni event fees, and a merchandise store, with no enterprise or institutional customers and no external capital or private equity involvement. Capacity is structurally constrained by physical site limits and a Mess Hall seating capacity of approximately 250, making the operating model capacity-bound rather than capital-bound.
Camp Kawaga firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Camp Kawaga
- Legal name
- Camp Kawaga for Boys
- Website
- https://kawaga.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1915
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Camp Kawaga is a family-owned boys overnight summer camp in Minocqua, Wisconsin, founded in 1915, serving approximately 200 campers ages 7-15 each summer through 8-week and 4-week sessions, supplemented by year-round paddle tennis and alumni programming.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Camp Kawaga industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Children's Summer Camps
- 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 industry
- Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)
Keywords
Where Camp Kawaga is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minocqua
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Camp Kawaga business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Summer Camp Tuition: Camp Kawaga generates revenue primarily through seasonal tuition fees. The 2026 pricing includes 8-week full sessions at $14,950 (e-check) or $15,489 with credit card (3.5% fee), individual 4-week sessions at $8,900 each, and Father+Son Weekend at $1,200. Additional revenue streams include deposits, installment payments, and optional Tuition Assurance Program ($500 for 8 weeks, $300 for 4 weeks).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Full 8-Week Session |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Individual 4-Week Sessions |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Father+Son Weekend |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Tuition Assurance Program (Insurance) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Alumni Weekend (August 13-16, 2026) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Paddle Weekend Stays |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Camp Kawaga product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Camp Kawaga operates a traditional overnight boys summer camp on 100 wooded acres along Lake Kawaguesaga near Minocqua, Wisconsin, delivering 8-week and 4-week sessions plus supplemental weekend and off-season programs. The core offering is an immersive residential camp experience built around 100+ athletic and non-athletic activities, character development through the Kawaga Ideal philosophy, and a point-based merit system (Mawanda and Sachem). Year-round programming extends to Father+Son Weekend, Alumni Weekend, paddle tennis retreats, and off-season gatherings for alumni and families.
Product overview
Camp Kawaga is a boys summer camp offering a single unified program centered on its traditional overnight camp experience. The core products are the 8-week and 4-week summer sessions, supplemented by pre-camp father-son weekends and alumni reunions. Year-round offerings include paddle tennis programming at the facility's 4-court complex, wellness retreats, and off-season gatherings. The camp provides over 100 athletic and non-athletic activities including water sports, land sports, racket sports, tripping, and special programs like the Spectacular. Character development is reinforced through the Mawanda and Sachem honor systems and the Kawaga Ideal philosophy. The camp also supports the SCOPE nonprofit for economically disadvantaged youth.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 8-Week Full Summer Session Traditional overnight summer camp program running from June 15 to August 6, offering the complete Kawaga experience with all activities, traditions, and character-building programs for boys ages 7-15. Priced at $14,950 via e-check for the 2026 season.
- 4-Week Session Options Two 4-week session options allowing families who cannot commit to the full 8 weeks to experience Camp Kawaga: First 4-Week Session (June 15 - July 10) and Second 4-Week Session (July 12 - August 6). Priced at $8,900 per session via e-check.
- Father + Son Weekend Pre-camp weekend experience (June 11-14, 2026) allowing fathers and sons to experience camp together before the regular session begins, helping first-time campers and families become familiar with Kawaga. Priced at $1,200 for father and son, with $600 for each additional son.
- Alumni Weekend Annual reunion event held August 13-16, 2026 at the camp's shores, allowing former campers and counselors to reconnect with the Kawaga community and relive cherished memories. Priced at $600 all-inclusive.
- Paddle & Kawaga Program
Companies that use Camp Kawaga
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Camp Kawaga technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Camp Kawaga partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- SCOPE (Summer Camp Opportunities Provide Equality)minorCamp Kawaga is a proud supporter of SCOPE, a nonprofit organization that helps economically disadvantaged boys and girls across the country experience the gift of overnight camping. This represents the camp's commitment to social impact and community support beyond its primary business operations.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Camp Kawaga competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Camp Modin: A premier boys overnight summer camp on Belgrade Lake in Maine, focused on multi-activity programming, water sports, and a strong traditional/alumni-centered culture. Closely matched to Kawaga in scale, family-driven ownership ethos, and demographic focus on boys 7-15.
- Camp Watitoh: A lakefront boys overnight summer camp in Maine with a similar broad-activities approach and roughly 200-camper scale. Directly comparable in terms of traditional overnight programming and premium tuition tier.
- Camp Wah-Nah: A traditional boys overnight camp in Maine with a similar multi-activity program, established alumni base, and comparable full/4-week session structure. Comparable premium positioning and family-style GTM.
- Camp Towanda: A premier boys overnight sleepaway camp in Honesdale, Pennsylvania with a multi-activity program and multi-generational alumni base. Operates in the same premium all-boys segment with comparable pricing and family-driven GTM.
- Camp Cobbossee: A traditional boys overnight summer camp in Maine, offering 4- and 7-week sessions with a broad athletic/activities program. Comparable in target customer (boys 7-15), family-style culture, and traditional sleepaway camp model.
- Camp Chipinaw: A premier traditional boys overnight summer camp on Rangeley Lake in Maine, serving a similar age range (7-15) with a comparable multi-activity, full-session model and premium tuition tier. Camp Chipinaw is one of the closest direct comparables in scale, activity breadth, and target market to Camp Kawaga.
- Camp Kenwood / Camp Echo Nantucket (Kenwood Echo): A pair of traditional brother-sister overnight summer camps in New Hampshire with a multi-activity, family-style culture and similar premium positioning. The boys camp component is a direct peer to Kawaga.
- Camp Winaukee: A traditional boys overnight summer camp on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, offering a multi-activity program with similar emphasis on athletics, water sports, and character development. Directly comparable in mission, target customer, and seasonal operation model.
- Camp Cedar: An established boys overnight summer camp in Casco, Maine offering a traditional multi-activity program with strong athletic and water components. Comparable in scale (~150-250 campers) and premium all-boys market position.
- Camp Arcadia: A boys overnight summer camp in Maine, multi-activity with strong water-sports programming, situated on a lake with similar setting and family-oriented culture. Comparable in scale and target demographic.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Camp Kawaga social profiles
Digital presenceCamp Kawaga financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Camp Kawaga leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Camp Kawaga funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Camp Kawaga 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 Kawaga
What does Camp Kawaga do?
Camp Kawaga operates a traditional overnight boys summer camp on 100 wooded acres along Lake Kawaguesaga near Minocqua, Wisconsin, delivering 8-week and 4-week sessions plus supplemental weekend and off-season programs. The core offering is an immersive residential camp experience built around 100+ athletic and non-athletic activities, character development through the Kawaga Ideal philosophy, and a point-based merit system (Mawanda and Sachem). Year-round programming extends to Father+Son Weekend, Alumni Weekend, paddle tennis retreats, and off-season gatherings for alumni and families.
Is Camp Kawaga a public or private company?
Camp Kawaga is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Camp Kawaga founded?
Camp Kawaga was founded in 1915. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Camp Kawaga based?
Camp Kawaga is headquartered in Minocqua, United States, in the North America region.
How does Camp Kawaga make money?
One revenue line is on record: summer Camp Tuition.
Who are Camp Kawaga's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Camp Modin, Camp Watitoh, Camp Wah-Nah, Camp Towanda, Camp Cobbossee, Camp Chipinaw, Camp Kenwood / Camp Echo Nantucket (Kenwood Echo), Camp Winaukee, Camp Cedar and Camp Arcadia.
Does Camp Kawaga have an API?
No public API is recorded for Camp Kawaga.
What industry is Camp Kawaga in?
Camp Kawaga's product category is Children's Summer Camps. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMALAA, Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports), with a secondary code of EDAMALAO, Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills). Its NAICS code is 721214 and its SIC code is 7000.