Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association

What Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association does

The Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association, Inc. (SAA) is a Minnesota-incorporated 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 1992 to provide continuing interest in and support for the mission and programs of the Charles L. Sommers National High Adventure Base and the Northern Tier National High Adventure Program — Scouting America's oldest high adventure program, operating since 1923. The organization serves current and former seasonal and permanent Northern Tier staff, former adult crew advisors, and program supporters across the United States and Canada, with members having directly and indirectly touched the lives of over 250,000 Scouts and Scouters.

The SAA's core offering is a tiered membership program ($20/year annual, $300 life, $10 for three years for current staff) supplemented by tax-deductible donations across seven named tiers ranging from $50 to $2,000. Programs include the Northern Tier Seasonal Staff Scholarship Program (up to $6,000 over three years across 12 named scholarships), annual seasonal staff recognition gifts, the Red Renner Memorial Work Week, Charlie's Guide staff resource book, the Triple Crown (1995) and Grand Slam (2014) National High Adventure Awards, and the George D. Hedrick Volunteer Service Award. The organization is governed by a 12-member Board of Directors with staggered terms through 2028, led by President Tressa Theis, Vice President Cortney Grosz, Treasurer Robert Breazeale, and Secretary Parker Prewit.

The technology stack is built on the Wild Apricot membership management platform, with member-facing integrations including Google, Microsoft, and Apple SSO, JotForm for scholarship applications, and a Lands' End Business branded merchandise store. The SAA distributes content through the Reflections newsletter (now email-based), the holry.org website, a Flickr photo archive, and in-person events including biennial reunions at Northern Tier bases in Ely (MN), Atikokan (Ontario), and Bissett (Manitoba), plus annual presence at Canoecopia. Revenue is primarily recurring membership dues and donations, with the 2023 publication of 'The Far Northland' hardcover book introducing a modest content-publishing revenue stream.

Name

Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association

Legal name

Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association, Inc.

Website

https://holry.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1992 that serves as the alumni organization for Scouting America's Northern Tier National High Adventure Program, providing membership, scholarships, volunteer labor, and historical preservation for current and former wilderness canoe base staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alumni Association / Nonprofit Membership Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Alumni Events, Reunions & Regional Chapters (EDALAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fundraising & Annual Giving (EDALAOAB), Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF)

Keywords

• Alumni association services
• Nonprofit membership organization
• Youth outdoor adventure programs
• Scouting alumni support
• Wilderness education nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Ely

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues of $20 per calendar year, life membership at $300 (or $200 for current staff during their service year and the following year), and current staff membership at $10 for three calendar years. Active members can vote and hold office; affiliate members receive all rights except voting and office-holding.
2. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations supporting Northern Tier programs, seasonal staff scholarships, and general operations. Named donation tiers include Singing Brook Portages ($50), Prairie Portage ($100), Meadows Portages ($200), Horse Portage ($500), Yum Yum Portage ($1,000), Grand Portage ($1,500), and Double Pack ($2,000). Donors may designate contributions to the Northern Tier Seasonal Staff Scholarship Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association (SAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that supports the Northern Tier National High Adventure Program of Scouting America. It sells annual ($20), life ($300), and current-staff ($10/3 years) memberships and delivers seasonal staff scholarships (up to $6,000 over three years), volunteer work programs, alumni reunions, a Reflections newsletter, the Charlie's Guide staff resource book, and the Triple Crown/Grand Slam high adventure awards.

Product overview

The Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association operates as a membership-based nonprofit organization supporting the Northern Tier National High Adventure Program. The core offering is the SAA Membership Program, which provides alumni with directory access, newsletters, volunteer opportunities, and event registration. Supporting programs include the Seasonal Staff Scholarship Program (up to $6,000 over three years), Staff Support and Recognition Program, Work & Staff Training Week, Charlie's Guide Staff Resource Book, Triple Crown & Grand Slam Awards, and the George D. Hedrick Volunteer Service Award. The association also publishes the Reflections Newsletter, offers The Far Northland book, maintains historical archives, and provides a member clothing store through Lands' End Business. Key events include biennial alumni reunions at the Northern Tier base.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SAA Membership Program Alumni membership program offering annual ($20/year), life ($300), and current staff ($10 for three years) tiers; members gain voting rights, alumni directory access, newsletter subscription, and event registration privileges. Open to current and former Northern Tier staff, former adult crew advisors, and supporters of the program.
• Northern Tier Seasonal Staff Scholarship Program Post-secondary educational funding assistance providing up to $6,000 paid over three years to qualified Northern Tier seasonal staff members who exhibit academic competence and exemplary service to youth. Includes twelve endowed named scholarships.
• Seasonal Staff Support and Recognition Program Annual gift program providing seasonal staff with support items and years-of-service recognition gifts including Trading Post credits, Bending Branches canoe paddles, Portage North guide packs, and cast iron skillets.
• Work & Staff Training Week (Red Renner Memorial Work Week) Annual volunteer event held late May/early June where members provide sweat equity to maintain and enhance Northern Tier facilities, with meals and accommodations provided. Includes educational Seminar Day activities.
• Charlie's Guide Staff Resource Book Comprehensive guidebook containing information about lakes, campsites, portages, points of interest, fishing spots, and history for staff at Northern Tier's three canoe bases (Ely, Atikokan, Bissett).
• Triple Crown & Grand Slam of National High Adventure Awards Recognition awards program created to promote Scouting America's National High Adventure programs and identify Scouts with a thirst for high adventure who may be interested in serving on staff. Triple Crown created in 1995; Grand Slam added in 2014.
• George D. Hedrick Volunteer Service Award Annual recognition award honoring individuals whose service and dedication to Northern Tier is noteworthy in terms of impact and/or duration. Recipients receive a plaque and have names inscribed on a permanent plaque in the Charles L. Sommers Lodge.
• The Far Northland Book Full-color hardcover book celebrating one century of wilderness high adventure at Northern Tier, featuring over 170 images and trail stories by Dave Kenney. Priced at $34.99 through Northern Tier's Trading Post and online.
• Member Clothing Store Branded merchandise store offering member-only polo shirts and dress shirts through a partnership with Lands' End Business.
• Biennial Alumni Reunions Regular reunion events held at Northern Tier's Charles L. Sommers Wilderness Canoe Base, including outdoor activities, behind-the-scenes tours, recognition dinners, and the George D. Hedrick Volunteer Service Award presentation.
• Reflections Newsletter Official publication of the association, shared with members and former staff of the Northern Tier High Adventure program, covering program updates, reunion information, alumni essays, and work projects. Archives available from 1991 to present.
• Historical Archives and Digital Library Digital archive maintaining crew photos (1955-1986), alumni essays and articles, trek logs, paddle awards, miniature paddle brand collection, and historical documents from Northern Tier's canoe bases.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 250,000 Scouts and Scouters have had their lives touched by members of the SAA through summer canoeing and extreme winter camping adventures
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Northern Tier National High Adventure ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe SAA exists to provide continuing interest and support for the mission and programs of the Charles L. Sommers National High Adventure Base and the Northern Tier National High Adventure Program. This is the core purpose of the organization, established in 1992 by former staff, volunteers, and supporters of the program.
• Northern Star ScoutingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAA operates in keeping with the policies of Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America). The annual meeting is held at the Northern Star Scouting Leadership Center in Fort Snelling, MN. Northern Star Scouting is the local council supporting Northern Tier operations.
• Scouting AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe SAA operates in keeping with the policies of Scouting America. The Northern Tier National High Adventure Program is Scouting America's oldest high adventure program, operating since 1923.
• Other Scouting America National High Adventure BasesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe SAA created the Triple Crown (1995) and Grand Slam (2014) awards in partnership with other National High Adventure programs to promote participation across all Scouting America high adventure bases.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Order of the Arrow: Scouting America's national honor society, which functions as a quasi-alumni/membership society with dues, recognition awards, and chapter structure. Multiple SAA board members serve as OA Key Volunteers, evidencing direct operational overlap and a comparable member-engagement model.
• Florida National High Adventure Sea Base Alumni: Alumni organization for Scouting America's Florida Sea Base, another of the four National High Adventure bases alongside Northern Tier. Comparable as a peer alumni association serving a different high adventure program within the same Scouting America ecosystem.
• Philmont Scout Ranch Alumni Association: Direct peer operating as the alumni association for Philmont Scout Ranch, Scouting America's flagship high adventure base in New Mexico. Mirrors SAA's structure, mission, and member offerings (reunions, scholarships, recognition) for the parallel Northern Tier program.
• The Summit Bechtel Reserve Alumni Association: Alumni network for The Summit Bechtel Reserve, Scouting America's newest National High Adventure base in West Virginia. Comparable peer in mission and structure, supporting a different high adventure program within the same national framework.
• Northern Tier National High Adventure Program: The high adventure program that the SAA exists to support. While not an alumni association itself, it is the program's operational arm and SAA's central partner, making it the most directly relevant comparable organization for understanding the broader Northern Tier ecosystem.
• National Eagle Scout Association: The official alumni organization for Eagle Scouts within Scouting America. Comparable as a tier-above alumni association serving Scouting's broader community with similar membership dues, scholarship, recognition, and networking programs.

Broad incumbents

• Outward Bound USA: National wilderness education nonprofit offering canoeing and high adventure expeditions. Comparable as a broader outdoor/adventure nonprofit with similar programming ethos; SAA's Hudson Bay Bread recipe was originally obtained from Minnesota Outward Bound School.
• Scouting America: The national parent organization under which Northern Tier operates. SAA maintains policy alignment with Scouting America and supports its high adventure programs, making this the umbrella incumbent whose strategic direction and enrollment trends directly shape SAA's outlook.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/holry

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association