Chanco

What Chanco does

Chanco on the James is a nonprofit Christian camp and year-round conference/retreat center located on the James River in Spring Grove, Virginia. Founded in 1968 as a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia, the organization serves youth ages 7–16 through residential summer, winter, and specialty camps (Adventure, Mariner's, Wilderness, All God's Children), and serves families, church groups, corporate groups, and young adults through year-round retreat programming including EYC youth retreats, Cursillo adult retreats, women's retreats, the Recharge young adult retreat, and culinary-themed retreats such as Food for the Soul. Activities center on traditional outdoor programming (ropes courses, zip lining, archery, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, sailing) within a faith-centered environment; Chanco earned American Camping Association accreditation in 2017 with a perfect score and has been named Virginia Living's "Best Summer Camp" for six consecutive years.

The business model is a hybrid of program fees and donor support. Camp pricing is per-camper/per-program ($125 for Winter Camp, $900 for a family of four at Family Camp), while adult retreats price per attendee ($35 day pass to $220–$270 for overnight retreats). Military families receive a 10% discount. Revenue is supplemented by an Annual Fund with an $85,000 goal and scholarship support ($44,854 disbursed in 2017 to 75 youth). Distribution is primarily direct through the chanco.org website, CampBrain registration, phone (888-724-2626), and off-site church receptions; marketing runs through the Chanco Chatter e-newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Core technology is minimal — registration runs on CampBrain and the organization has no proprietary platform, app, or AI capability. Operational leadership comprises a small team including Executive Director Gareth Kalfas, Director of Programs Nathan Hoyt, Marketing and Development Coordinator Talley Banazek, and Director of Finance and Administration Judy Dobson. Ownership and governance rest entirely with the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia; Chanco does not raise venture or private equity capital.

Name

Chanco

Legal name

Chanco on the James

Website

https://chanco.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chanco on the James is a nonprofit Episcopal camp and year-round retreat center in Spring Grove, Virginia, serving youth ages 7–16 through residential summer, winter, and specialty camps, and hosting retreats for families, church groups, and adults on the James River.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Camp and Retreat Center Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wellness Retreat Centers (Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness) (THAGAMAB), Conference Retreat Hotels (THAGALAG), Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI)

Keywords

• Residential summer camps
• Youth camp programs
• Retreat center services
• Conference retreat hosting
• Christian camp ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Spring Grove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chanco on the James is a nonprofit Episcopal camp and conference center that runs year-round residential camp programs for youth ages 7–16 — including a flagship ACA-accredited summer camp, winter camp, family camp, and specialty camps (Adventure, Mariner's, Wilderness, and All God's Children) — alongside a retreat and conference hosting business for church groups, corporate groups, youth programs, and families. The riverside James River campus combines traditional outdoor activities (ropes courses, zip lining, archery, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, sailing) with Christian spiritual formation through worship, Eucharist, and discipleship retreats such as EYC, Cursillo, women's retreats, the Recharge young adult retreat, and the Food for the Soul culinary retreat.

Product overview

Chanco on the James is a ministry of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Southern Virginia, operating as a year-round camp and conference center. The organization offers a portfolio of camp programs for youth ages 7-16 (summer residential camp, winter camp, family camp, and specialty camps including Adventure, Mariner's, Wilderness, and All God's Children camps) alongside conference and retreat services for church groups, corporate groups, youth programs, and families. The retreat programming includes EYC youth retreats, Cursillo adult retreats, women's retreats, young adult retreats, and culinary-themed retreats. The camp programs provide traditional outdoor activities including ropes courses, zip lining, archery, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, and arts and crafts, all within a Christian faith-centered environment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Camp (Camp Chanco) ACA-accredited residential summer camp program for youth ages 8–16 offering traditional camp activities including high and low ropes courses, zip lining, archery, pool activities, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, nature instruction, and arts and crafts. Earned "Best Summer Camp" recognition from Virginia Living magazine for six consecutive years.
• Winter Camp Winter camp program for youth ages 7–12 offering traditional camp activities in the off-season, providing an opportunity for new campers to experience Chanco before attending summer sessions.
• Family Camp Family-oriented camp program for all ages offering activities including swimming, boating, zip lines, rock wall climbing, archery, worship, and chaplain program, with all meals and lodging included. Serves as an introduction to Chanco for families with young children.
• Adventure Camp Specialty camp program for ages 12–16 featuring advanced outdoor adventure activities.
• Mariner's Camp Water-focused specialty camp featuring sailing, canoeing, kayaking, and maritime activities.
• Wilderness Camp Wilderness-focused specialty camp with backcountry skills and outdoor adventure activities.
• All God's Children Camp Specialty camp program for children with incarcerated parents, offered in partnership with Virginia United Methodist Conference, providing a supportive faith-based experience.
• Conference and Retreat Services Year-round retreat and conference hosting services for church retreats, corporate groups, youth programs, and families. Includes lodging, meeting spaces, dining facilities, and activities on a remote James River location with sandy beaches and peaceful accommodations.
• EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) Retreats Youth retreats for grades 6–12 including Happening, November Weekend, May Weekend, and other youth programming designed to form disciples of Jesus through worship, fellowship, education, service and wellness.
• Cursillo Retreats Adult faith formation retreats within the Episcopal Church Cursillo movement, offered three times annually. Four-day retreats including self-reflection, prayer, group discussion, music, worship, and fellowship.
• Women's Retreats (Advent and Lenten) Seasonal women's retreats including Lenten and Advent retreats featuring workshops, worship, fellowship, and reflection focused on themes like "Living the Magnificat".
• Recharge Young Adult Retreat Young adult retreat (ages 18+) designed for young adults to take a break from hectic schedules, featuring fellowship, team building, ropes course, worship, and connection with God's creation.
• Food for the Soul Retreat Culinary-themed retreat featuring cooking lessons with Chef Raphael, gourmet dining, Virginia wine tasting, campfire with s'mores, candlelit Eucharist, and spiritual nourishment activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75 scholarships awarded to youth in 2017 through Annual Fund
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center: United Methodist Assembly in Lake Junaluska, NC hosting conferences, retreats, and summer youth programs. Comparable faith-affiliated lakeside retreat and camp operation with similar year-round programming mix.
• Camp Widjiwagan: Residential summer camp in the Adirondacks, NY offering adventure and water-based specialty programs for youth. Comparable specialty-camp model (e.g., Mariner's/Wilderness/Adventure at Chanco), similar age range and pricing tier.
• Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center: Presbyterian camp and retreat center in Windsor, NY offering summer youth camp and year-round retreat services. Comparable as a faith-affiliated residential camp plus retreat/conference business with similar seasonality and pricing architecture.
• Camp McDowell: Episcopal Diocese of Alabama's camp and conference center offering summer youth programs and year-round retreat hosting. Same denomination, same camp-plus-retreat structure, and same mission-driven nonprofit operating model.
• Camp Pinnacle: Residential summer camp in Hendersonville, NC for ages 6–16 offering traditional outdoor activities (ropes, zip line, archery, water sports). Directly comparable in activity mix and camper demographic, though secular rather than faith-based.
• Kanuga Conference Center & Camp: Episcopal camp and conference center in Hendersonville, NC operating youth summer camps and year-round retreats. Comparable in faith-based positioning, dual camp/retreat business model, and denominational parent governance.
• Camp Hanover: Episcopal-affiliated residential summer camp and year-round retreat center in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Most directly comparable peer: same diocese-adjacent region, same faith-based residential camp + retreat model, same age demographic, ACA-accredited.
• Bonclarken Conference Center: Presbyterian-affiliated retreat and conference center in Hendersonville, NC with summer youth camps and year-round retreat hosting. Closely comparable dual camp/retreat model and denominational nonprofit structure, though heavier on adult retreat mix.
• Camp Merrowvista: Residential summer camp in Center Tuftonboro, NH offering traditional adventure activities for youth. Comparable as an ACA-accredited residential youth camp with similar activity mix (ropes, water sports, archery), secular positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Christian Camp & Conference Association (CCCA) member camps (collective peer set): CCCA represents the broader population of Christian residential camps and retreat centers across the US. Useful as a comparable cohort since Chanco is one of many similar faith-affiliated camp/retreat operators competing for the same family and parish customer pool.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/chancoonthejames
• Facebookfacebook.com/Chancoonthejames
• Instagraminstagram.com/chanco.on.the.james
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chanco

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Chanco