Christ in the Rockies

What Christ in the Rockies does

Christ in the Rockies (CITR) is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) Christian nonprofit organization headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, that operates multi-day outdoor adventure camps in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Founded in 2007 by Executive Director Mike Haddorff under a teaming agreement with Christ in the Tetons and inspired by Robert Lewis's "Men's Fraternity" and "Raising A Modern Day Knight" curriculum, CITR hosts programs that combine adventure activities (mountain biking, rock climbing, fly fishing) with biblical teaching on the masculine journey, rites of passage, and the "Life Giver" framework. The organization runs four core five-day camp products segmented by life stage: a Base Camp for fathers and sons ages 16+, a Base Camp for men 20+, a fly-fishing focused "Going Inward Moving Onward" camp for men 35+ in the Wild and Scenic Poudre Canyon, and "The Way of Wisdom" near Buena Vista for men 50+ on the Arkansas River.

CITR's operating model is volunteer-driven, with a board of directors and an estimated 1–10 personnel. Camp sessions are intentionally kept small (approximately 6 participants plus staff) to preserve intimacy. The organization maintains an extensive content library — including 199+ "One Man's Journey" blog posts, 305+ Gospel of John posts, a Tool Talk video series, and downloadable supplemental materials — used to drive top-of-funnel awareness and year-round community engagement. Distribution is primarily through direct website enrollment (DocuSign-based registration), email newsletters, organic social (Facebook, Instagram), YouTube, and word-of-mouth referrals from alumni.

Revenue is generated through three streams: per-participant camp tuition (pricing not publicly disclosed), donations, and sponsorship programs (both open and designated). Geographic reach is concentrated in Colorado (Poudre Canyon and Buena Vista), with affiliated camp programs extending the brand into the Tetons, Ozarks, and Smokies regions. CITR pursues a three-tier alumni engagement strategy — participants progress to volunteer staff and ultimately to launching camps in their own geographies — that functions as a lightweight franchise replication model for Christian men's outdoor ministry.

Name

Christ in the Rockies

Legal name

Christ in the Rockies

Website

https://christintherockies.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Christ in the Rockies is a volunteer-driven Colorado-based nonprofit that runs five-day Christian outdoor adventure camps — combining rock climbing, mountain biking, and fly fishing with biblical teaching — for fathers and sons and men across four life stages (16+, 20+, 35+, 50+).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Outdoor Adventure Retreats

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Adventure Multi-Sport Camps & Skills Academies (THAAAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps) (THAGAOAG)

Keywords

• Christian men's camps
• Father-son retreats
• Outdoor adventure ministry
• Masculine journey programs
• Religious adventure camps

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Collins

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees/Tuitions: Fees charged for camp attendance including accommodation, meals, activities, and instruction. Programs include five-day base camps for fathers/sons and men 20+, fly fishing camps for men 35+, and wisdom camps for men 50+.
2. Donations and Sponsorships: Financial contributions from supporters, including open sponsorships for deserving father/son pairs and designated sponsorships for individuals. Also accepts in-kind donations of equipment.
3. Sponsorship Programs: Open sponsorships awarded by CITR to deserving families, and designated sponsorships where donors can sponsor specific father/son pairs they know.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Christ in the Rockies hosts multi-day Christian outdoor adventure camps in the Colorado Rocky Mountains that combine activities such as mountain biking, rock climbing, and fly fishing with biblical teaching on authentic Christian manhood. The organization offers age-segmented programs including father-son rite-of-passage camps, men's camps for ages 20+, fly fishing camps for men 35+, and wisdom-focused camps for men 50+, each culminating in ceremonies and curriculum rooted in Robert Lewis's teachings.

Product overview

Christ in the Rockies (CITR) offers a suite of Christian outdoor adventure camps for men across different life stages. The portfolio includes four core camp programs: (1) Base Camp-Poudre Canyon Fathers and Sons for fathers and sons ages 16+, featuring rock climbing, mountain biking, and a rite-of-passage ceremony; (2) Base Camp-Poudre Canyon for men 20+, combining high adventure activities with teaching on authentic Christian manhood; (3) Going Inward Moving Onward for men 35+ in the Wild and Scenic Poudre Canyon, integrating fly fishing with masculine journey content; and (4) The Way Of Wisdom for men 50+ near Buena Vista, combining Arkansas River fly fishing with wisdom-focused sessions. All camps are held in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and include meals, accommodations (tents or private rooms), and a biblical curriculum delivered through evening teaching sessions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Base Camp - Poudre Canyon Fathers and Sons (Ages 16+) A five-day father-and-son adventure camp held in the upper Poudre Canyon featuring rock climbing, mountain biking, and a rite-of-passage ceremony in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Fathers and sons stay in private tents with cots, with meals prepared by camp staff, and the week culminates in a ceremony where fathers call their sons up into manhood.
• Base Camp - Poudre Canyon Men 20 and Older A five-day men's camp hosted in the upper Poudre Canyon, designed for single men aged 20 and older. Includes adventure activities, evening teaching sessions on authentic Christian manhood, and mentoring from older experienced staff, with private tents and chef-prepared meals.
• Going Inward Moving Onward - Poudre Canyon Men 35 and Older A five-day fly fishing camp for men 35 and older, located on the Wild and Scenic Poudre River in the Roosevelt National Forest. Combines Euro-style tight-lining fly fishing instruction with evening sessions on navigating the masculine journey; all gear provided and no prior fishing experience required.
• The Way of Wisdom - Buena Vista Men 50 and Older A five-day camp near Buena Vista, Colorado, for men 50 and older that combines fly fishing on the Arkansas River with evening sessions focused on wisdom, purpose, and finishing well in life. Accommodations are in private rooms at a residential dwelling with chef-prepared meals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Small group sizes (6 participants plus staff) ensure personalized, powerful experiences
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered foundational and minor.

• Christ in the TetonsfoundationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal inspiration and teaming partner for CITR. In 2005, Mike Haddorff and his oldest son Joel attended Christ in the Tetons father-son adventure camp, which was based on Robert Lewis's teaching. A teaming agreement was formed under the 'Adventures for Life' banner, giving CITR its founding genetics.
• Christ in the OzarksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated camp program offering Passage to Manhood experiences for fathers and sons ages 16 and older in the Ozarks region.
• Christ in the SmokiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated camp program offering Passage to Manhood experiences for fathers and sons ages 17 and older in the Smoky Mountains region.
• Christ in the Ozarks (Rugged Faith Ministries)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJim Zalenski serves as Camp Director for Christ in the Ozarks, part of Rugged Faith Ministries, and previously served on CITR's board.
• Robert Lewis / Men's FraternityfoundationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCITR's curriculum and approach is attributed to Robert Lewis's video series 'Men's Fraternity, Quest For Authentic Manhood' and his book 'Raising A Modern Day Knight'. These teachings form the theological foundation of the organization.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Yvon Chouinard / Patagonia (philosophy reference): Not a direct peer but a well-known reference point for outdoor adventure organizations embedding values-based missions; useful as a broad-incumbent comparison for mission-driven outdoor brands.
• Men's Fraternity: Robert Lewis's original small-group video curriculum (Quest for Authentic Manhood) that forms the theological foundation for CITR's teaching content; comparable as content/IP partner rather than a competing camp.

Emerging players

• Passage to Manhood: Organization offering rite-of-passage wilderness experiences for adolescent boys and their fathers; overlaps with CITR's father-son rite-of-passage ceremony concept but with a less explicitly Christian framing and different delivery model.
• True North Journeys: Faith-based wilderness rite-of-passage programs for young men and their fathers, with comparable outdoor adventure + spiritual formation combination though serving a slightly different theological tradition.

Direct peers

• Christ in the Ozarks: Affiliated camp under Rugged Faith Ministries offering Passage to Manhood experiences for fathers and sons 16+ in the Ozarks region; directly comparable format, curriculum, and audience, with shared leadership overlap.
• Ransomed Heart Ministries: John Eldredge's earlier men's ministry focused on authentic Christian manhood, healing, and adventure-based experiences; overlaps with CITR in the Christian masculine-journey content space and shares theological influences.
• Christ in the Smokies: Affiliated Camp program offering Passage to Manhood experiences for fathers and sons 17+ in the Smoky Mountains region; comparable format and mission with the same Adventures for Life genetic lineage as CITR.
• Wild at Heart: John Eldredge's Christian men's ministry combining outdoor adventure, masculine formation, and biblical teaching; comparable mission and target audience (Christian men seeking authentic manhood) though delivery is more content/event-based than residential camp-based.
• Christ in the Tetons: Founding inspiration and teaming partner under the Adventures for Life banner; runs the same father-son Christian outdoor adventure format in Wyoming/Teton region using Robert Lewis's curriculum. The most directly comparable program to CITR.
• Adventures for Life: Umbrella organization that originally gave CITR its founding genetics through the Christ in the Tetons teaming agreement; comparable as a network of father-son Christian adventure camps with shared DNA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ChristInTheRockies
• Instagraminstagram.com/christ_in_the_rockies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/christ-in-the-rockies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Christ in the Rockies