What Camp Cherith does

Camp Cherith (legally North Central Camp Cherith) is a Minnesota-incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit interdenominational Christian youth summer camp operating since 1947 on a 280-acre campus in Frazee, MN. The organization runs separate week-long residential camps for boys and girls ages 6-18, with a stated weekly capacity of approximately 110 campers attending from 16 states and over 160 churches. Core programming includes Bible Exploration, horsemanship, waterfront activities (Lake Six), archery, riflery, crafts, leadership development (CILT and BUILT two-year programs), and service-based discounted attendance (Sweat and Serve, Corral Aide). Supporting revenue lines include Mother-Daughter and Family Weekends, off-season facility rentals, the Tuck Shop retail operation, and a Horse Adoption donation program.

The underlying technology stack is intentionally minimal: registration and donations are handled through the third-party CampWise platform, with marketing driven by social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), a Vimeo-hosted video library, and a biannual email newsletter (Cherith Chatter). Camp operations rely on 150+ seasonal volunteers and paid summer staff, with a core year-round team of under 10 led by Executive Director Kendra Mohn.

Commercially, the business model blends user fees with a heavy donation component. Weekly camper fees are $495 — held at approximately 50% of actual cost per camper — with discounted Sweat and Serve ($250) and Corral Aide ($90 off) alternatives, a $150 horsemanship add-on, and various tiered transportation and special-weekend pricing. The roughly half-cost gap is subsidized through donations, including general fund, endowment, Team363 ($363/year), Sustain100 ($100/month), and scholarship contributions. Distribution is entirely direct-to-consumer via online registration and a six-city Minnesota bus transportation network, with demand generation centered on the church referral channel and word-of-mouth through alumni, families, and staff. The organization is accredited by the American Camp Association (since 1957) and licensed through Pioneer Clubs, and operates within the six-member Association of Cedarbrook Camps network across North America.

Name

Camp Cherith

Legal name

North Central Camp Cherith

Website

https://camp-cherith.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Camp Cherith is a 501(c)(3) interdenominational Christian residential summer camp on 280 acres near Detroit Lakes, MN, serving children and teens ages 6-18 with separate boys and girls weeks, drawing attendees from 16 states and 160+ churches through subsidized camper fees and donation-supported operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Youth Summer Camp Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus) (THAMAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

Keywords

• Christian summer camps
• Youth residential programs
• Outdoor recreation services
• Leadership training programs
• Religious youth ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Frazee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Camper Fees: Primary revenue stream from weekly camp fees ($495 per camper), Sweat and Serve discounted rate ($250), and specialty programs. The camp keeps fees about 50% of actual cost per camper, with the remainder subsidized through donations.
2. Donations and Contributions: Major funding source including general fund donations, endowment fund, Team363 ($363/year), Sustain100 ($100/month), scholarship donations, and capital project funding. The 2026 season needs total $273,000.
3. Tuck Shop Sales: Camp store selling merchandise including t-shirts ($16), hoodies ($20), blankets ($40), snacks, and souvenirs to campers during their stay.
4. Horse Adoption Program: Donation-based program where supporters can adopt horses for one month ($100) or entire season ($300), with additional options for full lease payment ($1,800) or off-season care ($500).
5. Camp Rentals: Off-season facility rentals to external groups from mid-August through mid-October. Groups provide their own food and cleanup.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Camp Cherith operates week-long residential Christian summer camps on a 280-acre campus near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, with separate boys and girls programs for ages 6-18 and a weekly capacity of about 110 campers. Core programming combines outdoor recreation (waterfront, horsemanship, archery, riflery, crafts) with daily Bible study, worship, and small cabin groups of about 8 campers. Supporting offerings include two-year leadership training (CILT/BUILT), Sweat and Serve and Corral Aide work-study tracks, family and mother-daughter weekend retreats, horsemanship classes, Tuck Shop merchandise, and off-season facility rentals.

Product overview

Camp Cherith is a Christian residential summer camp offering a portfolio of programs centered on spiritual formation, leadership development, and outdoor activities. The core offerings include separate week-long camps for boys (ages 6-18) and girls (ages 6-18) during the summer, with a weekly capacity of 110 campers. Supporting programs include CILT and BUILT (two-year leadership training programs for older teens), Sweat and Serve and Corral Aide work programs (offering discounted fees in exchange for camp labor), Family Weekend and Mother-Daughter Weekend (special retreats), and Camp Rentals (off-season facility access). Activity programs include horsemanship (with additional fee), Bible Exploration, and over 20 skill-building activities such as water sports, archery, riflery, crafts, and outdoor adventures. The Tuck Shop provides merchandise and snacks. The camp operates on 280 acres near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, with facilities including Lake Six for waterfront activities and Schram's Lake for devotions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Boys Camp Week-long residential Christian summer camp for boys ages 6-18, run as separate boys-only weeks with activities including waterfront sports, horsemanship, archery, riflery, crafts, outdoor cooking, and wilderness skills.
• Girls Camp
• CILT (Campers in Leadership Training)
• BUILT (Boys Under Intense Leadership Training)
• Mother-Daughter Weekend
• Family Weekend
• Sweat and Serve
• Corral Aide Program
• Horsemanship Class
• Tuck Shop
• Camp Rentals
• Bible Exploration

Quantifiable outcome

• 110 campers weekly capacity ensures small group sizes and personalized attention
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pioneer ClubscoreOthersParent organization that provides licensing and oversight. Pioneer Clubs provides churches with age-appropriate children's ministry resources. Camp Cherith is licensed by Pioneer Clubs and maintains accreditation through this organization. The camp follows Pioneer Clubs' statement of faith, values, and camping program standards.
• Association of Cedarbrook CampscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of camps that came out of the Pioneer Clubs ministry. All Cedarbrook Camps share the same statement of faith, values, and camping program philosophy. There are 6 Cherith camps in North America including Camp Cherith-Ontario and Western New York Camp Cherith. The association provides programming collaboration and shared standards.
• American Camp Association (ACA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACA accreditation since 1957 demonstrates Camp Cherith's commitment to quality camp programming and safety standards. The American Camp Association is a community of camp professionals who ensure the quality of camp programs.
• Christian Camp and Conference Association (CCCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCCA exists to maximize ministry for member camps and conference centers. Membership provides resources and networking opportunities within the broader Christian camping community.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Young Life: Large interdenominational Christian youth organization that runs summer camps (e.g., Crooked Creek, Malibu) overlapping directly with Camp Cherith's faith-based youth development mission, but operates at vastly larger national scale.
• Pioneer Clubs: Parent licensing organization for Camp Cherith providing statement of faith, Bible X curriculum, and broader church-based children's ministry programming across many affiliated camps and weekly clubs.
• YMCA of the USA: National nonprofit operating hundreds of residential summer camps, family retreat facilities, and youth development programs; competes for the same Upper Midwest family market with broader non-sectarian programming.

Direct peers

• Trout Lake Camps: Upper Midwest Christian residential camp with week-long youth programs, horsemanship and waterfront activities, and multi-generational family retreat weekends comparable to Camp Cherith's Mother-Daughter and Family Weekends.
• Kanakuk Kamps: Interdenominational Christian residential summer camp serving youth with structured week-long sessions, broad activity programming, and a well-developed leadership training pipeline analogous to Cherith's CILT/BUILT.
• Pine Cove: Multi-site Christian residential summer camp network with week-long youth programs, leadership development tracks (e.g., ChristFocus), and outdoor activity portfolios closely mirroring Camp Cherith's offering.
• Camp Lebanon: Minnesota-based Christian residential summer camp that is a fellow member of the Association of Cedarbrook Camps. Shares the same interdenominational statement of faith, Pioneer Clubs heritage, and structured youth programming model.
• Camp Shamineau: Faith-based residential summer camp in Minnesota offering week-long sessions with similar outdoor activities (waterfront, horsemanship, etc.) and a comparable family-weekend/leadership track structure serving the Upper Midwest.
• Western New York Camp Cherith: Sister Cherith camp within the same Cedarbrook network, sharing statement of faith, programming philosophy, and Pioneer Clubs licensing. Operates as a single-gender interdenominational Christian residential summer camp for youth in its own region.
• Camp Cherith Ontario: Canadian sister camp in the same six-camp Cherith network across North America. Same faith-based mission, similar week-long residential format, similar age groups and leadership training programs (e.g., CILT-equivalent).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CampCherithMN
• Facebookfacebook.com/CampCherithMN
• Instagraminstagram.com/campcherithmn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-central-camp-cherith

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Camp Cherith