ThorpeWood

What ThorpeWood does

ThorpeWood is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Thurmont, Maryland, operating on a 156-acre preserved property in the Catoctin Mountains approximately 1 hour 15 minutes from Washington and Baltimore. Its mission is to reconnect humans and nature to promote mental health, wellness, and environmental stewardship, and it delivers this through four core program lines: Ecotherapy Adventures (nature-based learning for youth experiencing anxiety, bullying, or home disruption), the Umbrella Project (wilderness backpacking and grief support for adults grieving the loss of a loved one, segmented into 18-29 and 30+ cohorts), Team Building retreats for organizations, and HOOP / Healing Ourselves & Our Planet (an adult program for processing eco-emotions and climate grief). The underlying "technology" is outdoor ecotherapy methodology delivered by Wilderness First Aid-certified trip leaders and licensed grief counselors, with no proprietary software platform.

The organization's go-to-market is community-led rather than technology-led. Participants are acquired primarily through a referral network of Frederick County schools, Head Start, YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs, Centro Hispano, Kids Like Us, Camp Jamie, Child Advocacy Center, Frederick Health Hospice, and other community agencies; supplemental reach comes via public community events (the monthly Nature on Tap speaker series at RAK Brewing, Star Party, grief support groups, workshops), a monthly newsletter, and an active Facebook and Instagram presence. Distribution is dual-channel: on-site at the mountain property and off-site through school and agency partnerships, with the Appalachian Trail in Maryland serving as a destination for Umbrella Project backpacking.

Revenue is generated through three streams: tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations (the dominant funding source, with stated 100% pass-through to programs), fee-based program delivery to schools and organizations, and venue rentals priced at $250+ half-day, $500+ full-day, and $100/hour team building, with sliding-scale rates for mission-aligned nonprofits. The organization became an independent 501(c)(3) in 2024 — previously the property was held under the Merle Thorpe Jr. Charitable Trust — and has accumulated over 30 years of operating history serving thousands of participants. It is governed by a board of directors and has 1-10 employees with no disclosed venture, private equity, or institutional grant funding of material size.

Name

ThorpeWood

Legal name

ThorpeWood Inc.

Website

https://thorpewood.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ThorpeWood is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Thurmont, Maryland operating a 156-acre mountain sanctuary that delivers nature-based mental health, grief support, youth ecotherapy, and team-building programs to Frederick County communities and the greater DC-Baltimore region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nature-Based Mental Health and Wellness Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

akta.pro primary industry

Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs (THAAAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Educational Adventure Programs (Outdoor Education, Skill Development) (THAAAAAO), Wilderness & Backcountry Lodges (Remote/Off-Grid) (THAGAIAB)

Keywords

• Nature-based therapy
• Ecotherapy programs
• Grief support services
• Outdoor team building
• Nonprofit wellness programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Thurmont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, ThorpeWood relies on tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization states that 100% of contributions stay local to fund life-changing programming.
2. Venue Rentals: ThorpeWood generates revenue through venue rentals including half-day rentals (starting at $250), full-day rentals (starting at $500), and team building experiences ($100/hr). Sliding-scale rates are available for nonprofit organizations.
3. Program Fees: Revenue is generated through fee-based programs including Ecotherapy Adventures delivered to schools and organizations. Some programs like Umbrella Project are offered at no cost to participants through grant funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ThorpeWood is a nonprofit organization that delivers nature-based mental health, wellness, and community programs on its 156-acre property in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland. Its core offerings include Ecotherapy Adventures for youth, the Umbrella Project (grief support backpacking and hiking trips for adults), Team Building retreats for organizations, and HOOP (Healing Ourselves & Our Planet) climate grief programming, supplemented by venue rentals and community events.

Product overview

ThorpeWood is a nonprofit nature-based mental health and wellness organization offering a portfolio of programs on its 156-acre Catoctin Mountains property. The core offerings include Ecotherapy Adventures (youth programs), the Umbrella Project (grief support backpacking and hiking trips), Team Building retreats, and HOOP (Healing Ourselves & Our Planet - climate grief program). Additional services include venue rentals and the Nature on Tap speaker series. All programs are designed to reconnect humans with nature to promote mental health, wellness, and environmental stewardship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ecotherapy Adventures: Nature-based programs for children and adolescents using principles of ecotherapy and adventure-based learning to build resilience, emotional regulation, and sense of belonging.
• Umbrella Project
• Team Building
• HOOP (Healing Ourselves & Our Planet)

Products and services

• Ecotherapy Adventures Nature-based programs for children and adolescents that use ecotherapy and adventure-based learning principles to build resilience, emotional regulation, and peer connections through hands-on outdoor experiences. Delivered through partnerships with schools and youth-serving organizations.
• Umbrella Project Grief support program offering backpacking trips, hiking, and outdoor adventures for adults grieving the death of a loved one, facilitated by grief counselors and Wilderness First Aid-certified trip leaders. Includes young adult (ages 18-29) and 30+ cohorts on the Appalachian Trail.
• Team Building Nature-based team building retreats for organizations featuring collaborative challenges, reflective practices, and outdoor activities designed to strengthen communication, trust, and camaraderie. Priced at $100/hour with sliding-scale options for mission-aligned nonprofits.
• Healing Ourselves & Our Planet (HOOP) Adult program exploring personal healing alongside environmental care through guided reflection, hands-on sustainability projects, mindful forest walks, journaling, and eco-emotion processing. Offered as 8-week groups or 4-day immersive retreats, with sponsorship available at $375 per retreat participant.
• Event Rentals Venue rental services offering half-day ($250+) and full-day ($500+) rentals of ThorpeWood's mountain retreat facilities, with discounted sliding-scale rates for mission-aligned nonprofit organizations.
• Nature on Tap Speaker Series Monthly community speaker series featuring nature-themed presentations by local experts on topics including wildlife, plants, and outdoor recreation, held at RAK Brewing in Frederick, MD.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 years of service and thousands of participants served
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Frederick CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThorpeWood partners with Boys & Girls Clubs for summer programming, providing nature-based experiences for youth participants through the Ecotherapy Adventures program.
• Centro Hispano of FrederickcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer programming partnership serving the Latino community in Frederick County through nature-based experiences and youth development.
• Clearview CommunitiessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity wellness partnership focused on providing nature-based programming for community members.
• Child Advocacy Center (Frederick County)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing community wellness programming support for families and children served by the CAC.
• Frederick Health HospicesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership focused on community support and wellness programming related to end-of-life care and grief.
• Kids Like UscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing youth wellness programming partnership serving children and adolescents in Frederick County.
• SteadfastsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity wellness partnership focused on providing nature-based support services.
• Rising Sol TherapysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health service partnership providing professional counseling support for ThorpeWood programs.
• Frederick County YMCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer programming partnership providing nature-based experiences for YMCA participants.
• Frederick County Public LibrariescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOngoing partnership for community events including Nature Journaling workshops and Meditation on the Deck sessions. Presented in partnership at Thurmont Regional Library.
• RAK Brewing CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMonthly Nature on Tap speaker series venue host in Downtown Frederick. Free community education events featuring nature topics with local experts.
• TriState AstronomerssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Star Party partnership hosting astronomy viewing events at ThorpeWood with the TriState Astronomers club.
• Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNature on Tap speakers include MD DNR staff (Outdoor Recreation Specialist Emily Morrow, natural resources biologists Jay Kilian and Brooke Landry, mussel biologist Matthew Ashton, State Herpetologist Beth Schlimm, and Kevin Lamp from Wildlife & Heritage Service).
• The National AquariumsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNature on Tap speaker Drew Roderuck, Herpetologist for The National Aquarium, presented on crocodiles at RAK Brewing.
• Frostburg State UniversitysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNature on Tap speaker Rich Raesley, Professor of Biology at Frostburg State University, presented on bats.
• Garrett CollegesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNature on Tap speaker Kevin Dodge, Director of the Natural Resources and Wildlife Technology Program at Garrett College, presented on Night Sounds of Western Maryland.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Eden Village Camp: Maryland-based nonprofit sleepaway camp integrating environmental education, organic farming, and nature-based programming for youth. Comparable to ThorpeWood's youth-focused outdoor programming, farm-based animal interactions, and environmental stewardship mission in the same regional market.
• Common Ground Center: Vermont-based nonprofit retreat and camp center offering nature-based family programs, outdoor education, and rental of facilities for groups and organizations. Directly comparable to ThorpeWood's combination of nature programming, retreat/camp offerings, and venue rental business model.
• Outward Bound: National nonprofit providing outdoor adventure-based experiential education programs for youth and adults, including wilderness expeditions, character development, and team-building courses. Directly comparable to ThorpeWood's outdoor adventure, team-building, and youth programming models, though at much greater national scale.
• Camp Korey: Nonprofit that provides year-round outdoor programs, including therapeutic recreation and grief/bereavement support, for children with serious medical conditions and their families. Closely comparable to ThorpeWood's blend of nature-based programming, mental health support, and animal-assisted activities for vulnerable populations.
• National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE): Nonprofit providing wilderness and outdoor adventure education programs including backpacking expeditions, sea kayaking, and leadership courses for teens and adults. Directly comparable to ThorpeWood's Umbrella Project backpacking trips and outdoor experiential programming model.
• Road Less Traveled: Operator of teen adventure travel and outdoor experiential education programs including backpacking, service learning, and community-building itineraries. Directly comparable to ThorpeWood's Ecotherapy Adventures and backpacking-based Umbrella Project in serving youth and young adults through outdoor immersion.

Regional players

• Appalachian Mountain Club: Northeast-based nonprofit offering outdoor education, guided hiking, conservation, and backcountry programs in the Appalachian region. Comparable to ThorpeWood's Appalachian Trail backpacking trips and outdoor education focus, but serves a different geographic territory (New England vs. Mid-Atlantic).

Broad incumbents

• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): Large established nonprofit offering wilderness education and leadership training across the U.S. and globally. Comparable to ThorpeWood in its use of wilderness expeditions and certified instructors, but operates as a broad incumbent with a much wider geographic and curriculum footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ThorpeWood-232216523522772
• Instagraminstagram.com/thorpewoodmaryland
• Xx.com/ThorpeWood
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thorpewood-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 ThorpeWood