Hands In 4 Youth
Hands In 4 Youth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating Camp Vacamas in West Milford, NJ, delivering sleepaway, day, teen adventure, and afterschool programs on a 230-acre campus for children and teens ages 5-17, funded by sliding-scale tuition, donations, and conference/retreat rentals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1924
- HeadquartersWest Milford, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hands In 4 Youth does
Hands In 4 Youth (legal entity Hands In 4 Youth, Inc., also known as Home of Camp Vacamas) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization founded in 1924 as the East Side Vacation Camp Association and headquartered at 256 Macopin Road in West Milford, New Jersey. The organization operates on 230 wooded acres of private land adjacent to New Jersey's 4,500-acre Norvin Green State Forest, featuring a private 50-acre lake and an extensive built environment including the Labadorf Learning and Conference Center (capacity 76), Hayden Lodge (capacity 64), the Leonard Franklin Theater Complex, Donald Jonas Gymnasium, winterized cabins, and rustic summer cabins. It is accredited by the American Camp Association and licensed by local and state health departments.
The organization's core offerings are organized around four youth-facing programs: sleepaway camp (12- and 19-day residential sessions for ages 6-17), day camp (weekday themed programs for ages 5-14, $235-$315/week), teen outdoor adventure programs (biking, canoeing, rock climbing, survival skills, lifeguard training for ages 14-16), and afterschool enrichment programs (3-6pm, delivered inside NYC and NJ public schools with college/career exploration, homework help, and physical activities). A fifth revenue stream is the year-round Conference and Retreat Center (hi4yretreats.org), which rents facilities to corporate, school, faith-based, and private groups. Programs are delivered via the CampInTouch online registration portal, supplemented by phone/email registration support.
Revenue is generated through a combination of income-based sliding-scale program fees (sleepaway camp tiers range from $685 to $2,370 per session depending on family income), tax-deductible donations processed via DonorPerfect, PayPal, and check (including stock donations, supporting the Centennial Campaign for scholarships and facility improvements), and retreat center rental fees. Complimentary bus transportation is included from NYC, Westchester County, Nassau County, and selected NJ locations. The organization employs 51-100 permanent staff supplemented by over 100 seasonal staff during camp operations and is governed by a Board of Directors and Advisory Board with no parent company or institutional equity ownership.
Hands In 4 Youth firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hands In 4 Youth
- Legal name
- Hands In 4 Youth, Inc.
- Website
- https://hi4y.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1924
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Hands In 4 Youth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating Camp Vacamas in West Milford, NJ, delivering sleepaway, day, teen adventure, and afterschool programs on a 230-acre campus for children and teens ages 5-17, funded by sliding-scale tuition, donations, and conference/retreat rentals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hands In 4 Youth industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Development and Summer Camp Services
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Child Care Services (62441), Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA)
Keywords
Where Hands In 4 Youth is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- West Milford
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hands In 4 Youth business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Camp Program Fees: Income-based sliding scale fees for sleepaway camp, day camp, and teen programs. Tiered pricing ranges from $685-$2,370 per session based on family income. Additional fees include $90 registration fee and $60 for additional trips.
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations accepted online via DonorPerfect, PayPal, or check. Stock donations accepted. Part of Centennial Campaign to fund scholarships and facility improvements.
- Conference and Retreat Center Rentals: Year-round facility rentals for corporate, school, faith-based, and private groups. Multi-use facilities include lodging, meeting spaces, and outdoor recreation areas.
- Transportation Services: Complimentary bus transportation from NYC, Nassau County, and selected NJ locations included in program fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Income under $70,000 - lowest tier pricing |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Income $70,001-$100,000 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Income $100,001-$150,000 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Income over $150,001 - highest tier pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Weekly | Day Camp - 5 Days Per Week |
| Unit Pricing | Weekly | Day Camp - 4 Days Per Week |
| Unit Pricing | Weekly | Day Camp - 3 Days Per Week |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Teen Camp Level 1 - Income under $68,000 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Teen Camp Level 2 - Income $68,001-$98,000 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Teen Camp Level 3 - Income $98,001-$130,000 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Teen Camp Level 4 - Income over $130,001 |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Hands In 4 Youth product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hands In 4 Youth is a nonprofit youth development organization operating since 1924 on a 230-acre wooded campus in West Milford, NJ. It runs summer camp programs (sleepaway, day, and teen adventure), afterschool enrichment for elementary-age children, and a year-round conference and retreat center for outside groups. Programs are offered on an income-based sliding scale fee structure.
Product overview
Hands In 4 Youth operates a multi-program youth development organization built around its flagship Camp Vacamas facility. The core offering consists of residential sleepaway camps for ages 6-17 with sliding-scale tuition, supplemented by a teen outdoor adventure program featuring specialized activities (biking, canoeing, rock climbing, survival skills). Day camp programs offer weekday themed adventures for children 5-14, while afterschool enrichment programs serve elementary and middle school students in their own schools with college/career exploration, physical activities, and academic support. The organization also operates a year-round conference and retreat center serving external groups with diverse indoor and outdoor facilities including the Labadorf Learning Center, Hayden Lodge, and various cabins. A web-based registration system (CampInTouch) manages camper enrollment, and an online donation platform supports fundraising for scholarships and facility improvements. The portfolio is unified by its year-round programming calendar and shared mission of inspiring youth from diverse backgrounds, with facilities providing the physical anchor for both direct youth programs and commercial retreat operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Camp Vacamas: The primary camp facility located in West Milford, NJ. Offers sleepaway camps, day camps, teen programs, and conference/retreat facilities on 230 wooded acres with a private 50-acre lake.
- HI4Y Afterschool
Products and services
- Sleepaway Summer Camp
- Day Camp
- Teen Adventure Camp
- Afterschool Enrichment Programs
- Conference & Retreat Center
Quantifiable outcome
- 100 years of continuous operation serving youth
Companies that use Hands In 4 Youth
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Hands In 4 Youth technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Hands In 4 Youth partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- American Camp AssociationcoreHands In 4 Youth maintains accreditation through the American Camp Association (ACA), which validates compliance with over 300 health, safety, and program quality standards. ACA accreditation is renewed annually and indicates adherence to best practices in youth development and camp operations.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hands In 4 Youth competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Camp Towanda: Traditional private sleepaway camp in Honesdale, PA serving a similar age range (6-17) with multi-week sessions. Comparable program structure and tri-state feeder geography, though positioned as a for-profit premium operator.
- The Fresh Air Fund: NYC-based nonprofit that provides free summer camp and outdoor experiences to NYC children from low-income communities. Highly comparable mission, target demographic (NYC youth), and reliance on donations for scholarships.
- Ramapo for Children: NYC-area nonprofit that runs residential summer programs and year-round youth development services for children from under-resourced communities. Closely aligned mission, NYC catchment, and nonprofit camp-based model.
- Police Athletic League (PAL NYC): Large NYC-based nonprofit providing youth development, athletics, and summer programs to underserved children. Comparable afterschool and youth programming delivered through NYC public schools, serving similar demographics.
- Frost Valley YMCA: A long-running nonprofit sleepaway and day camp in the Catskills serving youth from the tri-state area with sliding-scale access. Directly comparable to Camp Vacamas on program mix, age range, ACA accreditation, and tri-state catchment.
Others
- Appalachian Mountain Club: Northeast-based nonprofit focused on outdoor recreation, conservation, and outdoor education with youth programs and camp offerings. Comparable outdoor/adventure orientation and nonprofit structure, but primarily an enabling/recreation organization rather than direct camp operator.
Regional players
- Girl Scouts of Greater New York: Regional Girl Scouts council serving NYC with summer camp, afterschool, and outdoor programming for girls. Comparable regional footprint, summer camp offerings, and NYC public-school partnerships, though gender-specific.
- 92nd Street Y (92Y): NYC community and cultural organization offering youth programming, summer camps, and enrichment classes serving similar tri-state families. Comparable youth enrichment and family programming focus, though primarily an urban operator.
Broad incumbents
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National nonprofit operating youth development programs including summer and afterschool at club locations across the U.S. Comparable mission of serving youth from diverse economic backgrounds, though at much greater scale and broader programmatic breadth.
- YMCA of Greater New York: Major regional YMCA operating year-round youth programming, summer camps, afterschool, and family services across NYC. Comparable youth development mission and afterschool/summer programming, though much larger and broader in scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hands In 4 Youth social profiles
Digital presenceHands In 4 Youth financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hands In 4 Youth leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Hands In 4 Youth funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hands In 4 Youth 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 Hands In 4 Youth
What does Hands In 4 Youth do?
Hands In 4 Youth is a nonprofit youth development organization operating since 1924 on a 230-acre wooded campus in West Milford, NJ. It runs summer camp programs (sleepaway, day, and teen adventure), afterschool enrichment for elementary-age children, and a year-round conference and retreat center for outside groups. Programs are offered on an income-based sliding scale fee structure.
Is Hands In 4 Youth a public or private company?
Hands In 4 Youth is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Hands In 4 Youth founded?
Hands In 4 Youth was founded in 1924. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Hands In 4 Youth based?
Hands In 4 Youth is headquartered in West Milford, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hands In 4 Youth make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Camp Program Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Charitable Contributions, conference and Retreat Center Rentals and transportation Services.
Who are Hands In 4 Youth's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Camp Towanda, The Fresh Air Fund, Ramapo for Children, Police Athletic League (PAL NYC) and Frost Valley YMCA. Appalachian Mountain Club is listed as an others. Regional players are Girl Scouts of Greater New York and 92nd Street Y (92Y). Broad incumbents are Boys & Girls Clubs of America and YMCA of Greater New York.
Does Hands In 4 Youth have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hands In 4 Youth.
What industry is Hands In 4 Youth in?
Hands In 4 Youth's product category is Youth Development and Summer Camp Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAJAA, Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps). Its NAICS code is 61162 and its SIC code is 7997.