Lake Louise Christian Community

What Lake Louise Christian Community does

Lake Louise Christian Community is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Christian camp and retreat center founded in 1934 in Boyne Falls, Northern Michigan, operating continuously since 1935. The organization holds 2,400 acres of original donated land (from an initial 5,500-acre gift), with 750 acres placed in a perpetual conservation easement via the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Forest Legacy Grant. The property centers on a spring-fed Thumb Lake and includes summer cabins, a 15-room retreat center, modern lodges, dining facilities, multiple chapels, an amphitheater, and recreational infrastructure. Lake Louise is accredited by the American Camp Association (meeting up to 300 standards) and operates as an affiliate of the Michigan Area United Methodist Conference while remaining independently governed by a Board of Trustees.

The organization generates revenue through four primary streams: tiered summer camp registration fees (with voluntary Tier A/B/C pricing from $185 to $588 per week across 12 themed youth camp sessions), year-round retreat and event facility rentals (including $1,500 wedding ceremony packages and $600 reception venues), charitable donations and a current $900,000 'Changing Lives' Capital Campaign, and a volunteer work-team program that offsets operational costs. Customer segments include youth campers (grades 4-13), retreat groups of 30-170 guests, clergy and ministry professionals, wedding parties, and 126 cottager families who lease property surrounding Thumb Lake. The organization employs approximately 10-15 year-round professional staff supplemented by seasonal summer hires and volunteer deans/counselors.

Lake Louise distributes services through direct registration via its website and the CampBrain third-party platform, with marketing conducted through organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok), Constant Contact email newsletters, and word-of-mouth via its alumni and Methodist denominational networks. The organization has no proprietary technology stack beyond standard SaaS tools for registration, volunteer management, and email communications; its competitive position rests on 90+ years of brand heritage, a multi-generational cottager and alumni community, ACA accreditation, and the irreplaceable natural setting of its 2,400-acre lakefront property.

Name

Lake Louise Christian Community

Legal name

Lake Louise Christian Community, Camp & Retreat Center

Website

https://lakelouisecommunity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lake Louise Christian Community is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating an ACA-accredited Christian camp and retreat center on a 2,400-acre Northern Michigan property. It serves youth campers, retreat groups, wedding parties, clergy, and 126 cottager families with summer camps, year-round retreats, and facility rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Camp & Retreat Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds (721211)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cabin & Cottage Campgrounds (THAGAOAD), Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps) (THAGAOAG), Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus) (THAMAJAJ)

Keywords

• Christian summer camps
• Retreat center bookings
• Wedding venue rental
• Cabin lodging
• Youth ministry programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Boyne Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Registration Fees: Tiered pricing structure for youth camps ranging from partial subsidies to true cost tiers. Family camps for clergy and ministry professionals also generate revenue. Revenue is seasonal, concentrated in summer months.
2. Facility Rentals: Year-round rental of cabins, lodges, retreat center, and venues for weddings, retreats, family reunions, and group events. Wedding ceremony packages and reception venues are priced separately. Accommodations for guests available at additional charge.
3. Donations and Capital Campaign: The organization relies on charitable donations from campers, cottagers, alumni, and community members. A current capital campaign aims to raise $900,000 for facility improvements, recreation enhancements, and endowment establishment. Memorial donations and general fund contributions are accepted.
4. Work Team Program: Individuals and groups volunteer time for facility work in exchange for food and lodging, reducing operational costs while generating nominal value through labor contribution.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Lake Louise Christian Community operates a Christian camp and retreat center at 11037 Thumb Lake Road in Boyne Falls, Michigan. Founded in 1934 and registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, it delivers summer youth camps, year-round retreat hosting, wedding venue services, cabin and lodge rentals, a seasonal cottager community, and volunteer programs for individuals, families, church groups, and small ministries.

Product overview

Lake Louise Christian Community operates as a year-round Christian camp and retreat center in Northern Michigan, offering a portfolio of services including themed overnight summer camps for youth (grades K-13), retreat center facilities for groups, cabin and lodge rentals, wedding venue rentals, a cottager community of 126 leased properties, and volunteer programs. The organization is ACA-accredited and affiliated with the Michigan Area United Methodist Conference. Core programs include themed camp sessions (Camp Beloved, Choir Camp, As We Are, etc.), retreat hosting with professional staff and dining services, and facility rentals for families, couples, and groups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Youth Camps Multi-day residential summer camp programs for youth held on the community's Boyne Falls, Michigan property, offering faith-based programming, recreation, and outdoor activities in an ACA-accredited environment.
• Retreat Center Hosting Year-round facility and lodging rentals for church groups, ministries, and small organizations hosting spiritual retreats, conferences, and group gatherings at the Boyne Falls property.
• Wedding Venue On-site wedding ceremony and reception venue hosting for couples seeking a faith-based or rustic outdoor setting, with access to on-site lodging options for guests.
• Cabin & Lodge Rentals Overnight accommodations in cabins and lodges available to retreat guests, families, and the cottager community on a seasonal basis.
• Cottager Community Seasonal cottager program allowing families and individuals to occupy cottages on the property for personal retreat and vacation use.
• Volunteer Programs Volunteer service opportunities for individuals and groups to support camp operations, facility maintenance, and program delivery at the Boyne Falls property.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $700 raised for The Manna Food Project in 2023 summer chapel offerings
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Michigan Area United Methodist ConferencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLake Louise was created to hold land in trust for the Detroit and West Michigan United Methodist conferences and serves as an affiliate organization. Until 2006, the conferences designed and funded camping programs at Lake Louise. The organization continues to welcome all persons of Christian faith regardless of denomination.
• Boyne Valley Food PantryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLake Louise collects canned goods at weekly summer Chapel worship services for the Boyne Valley Food Pantry and designates a portion of summer offerings for The Manna Food Project. Raised over $700 in 2023 and over $1,000 in 2018 through fundraising alongside the food pantry.
• Michigan Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Michigan DNR was awarded a Forest Legacy Grant placing 750 acres of Lake Louise property (Gitcha-ninj Nebish Forest) into a conservation easement in perpetuity. This partnership protects the natural character of the land while providing potential financial and tax benefits.
• Local Boyne Area Businesses and OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLake Louise partners with local Boyne area businesses to strengthen the community through work groups that serve in different settings. The organization seeks to be an asset to the local community.
• American Camp AssociationcoreOthersLake Louise is accredited by the American Camp Association, meeting up to 300 standards for health, safety, and program quality. This accreditation provides third-party validation of camp operations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pine Cove: A multi-location Christian camp operator in Texas and beyond, offering themed summer camps and year-round retreats. Comparable as a faith-based camp network with diversified programming and strong brand recognition among Christian families.
• Spring Hill Camps: An evangelical Christian camp in Evart, Michigan offering summer youth programming and year-round retreats. Comparable as a Michigan-based Christian camp with similar adventure-based programming and ACA accreditation.
• Wesley Woods Center: A United Methodist camp and retreat center in Iowa offering summer camps, retreats, and conference hosting. Comparable as a regional Methodist-affiliated camp with similar tiered pricing and year-round facility rental model.
• Kanuga: An Episcopal conference, retreat, and camp center in North Carolina offering summer youth camps, retreats, and conferences. Comparable as a denominational-affiliated camp and conference center with similar large-property asset structure.
• Camp Michigama: A United Methodist camp in northern Michigan offering summer youth programming. Comparable as a Methodist-affiliated Michigan summer camp serving a similar regional audience with comparable pricing tiers.
• Albright Camp: A United Methodist camp and retreat center in Michigan offering summer youth camps and year-round retreat hosting. Directly comparable as a regional Methodist-affiliated camp with overlapping donor and participant base in the same Michigan geography.
• Lake Junaluska: A Methodist assembly and conference center in North Carolina offering summer programming, retreats, and weddings on a large lakefront campus. Directly comparable as a Methodist-affiliated retreat and conference destination with similar event-driven revenue model.

Others

• Camps & Retreats Association (CRA): A professional association supporting United Methodist camps, conference centers, and retreat ministries. Comparable as the ecosystem body that supports Lake Louise's denominational affiliation, accreditation, and peer networking.

Broad incumbents

• Winshape Camp: A faith-based camp and retreat organization affiliated with Berry College in Georgia, operating multiple camp locations. Comparable as a larger, well-resourced Christian camp operator with similar values-based programming and broader scale.

Regional players

• Skyline Conference Center & Camps: A Christian camp and conference center in Tennessee offering summer camps and year-round retreat hosting. Comparable as a faith-based camp and retreat center, but operates in a different regional market than Lake Louise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHlOZyvYd52UB39gMPRxfbA
• Facebookfacebook.com/lakelouisecommunity
• Instagraminstagram.com/lakelouisemi
• TikToktiktok.com/@lakelouisemi
• Xx.com/lakelouisemi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-lake-louise

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Lake Louise Christian Community