What YMCA Camp Kern does

YMCA Camp Kern is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit residential and day camp operated by the YMCA of Greater Dayton on a 485-acre campus in Oregonia, Ohio, in the Little Miami River Valley. The organization has run continuously since 1910, originally as Camp Ozone, and now serves multiple segments from a single destination facility: families with children ages 5-17 (overnight villages, day camps, teen leadership and specialty theme camps), schools (outdoor education and living history field trips aligned to Ohio academic standards), corporate teams (retreats, team building), church groups, youth organizations (Girl Scout badge programs), horse enthusiasts (Circle K Ranch lessons, trail rides, boarding), and weddings/special events. The property supports 500+ year-round beds across four villages, 60+ horses, a 55-foot Tango Tower climbing structure, nine ziplines through Ozone Zipline Adventures, and the 220-seat Carl B. Kern Auditorium.

Revenue is generated across seven documented streams: summer camp registration fees ($250-$999/week), group rentals and corporate retreats ($43-$232/person), horse program services (boarding at $475/month, lessons at $210-$450/session, trail rides), outdoor education per-student tuition ($42-$246), donations (2025 Scholarship Campaign goal of $115,000 plus Heritage Club planned giving), and special events such as the annual Bob Barr Memorial Golf Outing ($125-$1,800). The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer and inside-sales driven, using CampInTouch as the primary registration platform, supplemented by phone, email, and dedicated inquiry forms for group bookings, with social media and SEO-optimized content (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube) used for top-of-funnel awareness.

The technology stack is non-proprietary and consists of standard camp-industry and nonprofit-finance SaaS: CampInTouch for camper registration and account management, Campanion and Bunk1 for parent-facing photo sharing, Funraise for donation processing, and Gazebo Events for event ticketing. The organization holds ACA and ACCT accreditations and operates year-round (365 days), with stated goals of serving "hundreds of campers" annually through financial assistance funded entirely by donations.

Name

YMCA Camp Kern

Legal name

YMCA Camp Kern

Website

https://campkern.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1910

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

YMCA Camp Kern is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a 485-acre residential and day camp in Oregonia, Ohio, serving families, schools, corporate groups, churches, scouts, horse enthusiasts, and weddings with summer camps, outdoor education, equestrian programs, and zipline adventures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Summer Camps & Outdoor Recreation Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (72121)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI), Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

Keywords

• Summer camp programs
• Outdoor education services
• Horseback riding lessons
• Corporate team building
• Youth retreat facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Oregonia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Registration Fees: Primary revenue stream from week-long overnight and day camp programs for children ages 5-17. Camps include traditional overnight camps, horse camps, specialty theme camps, teen leadership camps, and seasonal camps. Registration fees range from $300-$999 per week depending on program type.
2. Group Rentals & Retreats: Revenue from hosting corporate retreats, team building events, church groups, family reunions, and weddings. Includes facility rental fees, programming fees, meal services, and lodging accommodations across multiple venues.
3. Horse Program Services: Revenue from horseback riding lessons (private, semi-private, group, and homeschool programs), trail rides, horse boarding ($475/month), and scout badge programs. Circle K Ranch offers year-round equestrian services.
4. Outdoor Education Programs: School groups pay for overnight and day outdoor education programs aligned with Ohio academic standards. Pricing ranges from $42-$246 per student depending on program duration, with additional fees for horse rides and high adventure activities.
5. Donations & Financial Assistance: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, YMCA Camp Kern relies on charitable donations through its Annual Scholarship Campaign (2025 goal of $115,000) and planned giving through the Heritage Club. Donations directly fund financial assistance for campers.
6. Special Events: Revenue from hosted events such as the annual Bob Barr Memorial Golf Outing ($125-$1,800 participant cost) and facility rentals for weddings and private events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

YMCA Camp Kern operates a year-round 485-acre residential camp and outdoor recreation facility in Oregonia, Ohio, offering traditional summer camps, outdoor education programs for schools, group/corporate retreats, team-building experiences, horseback riding programs, and zipline adventures. Programming is delivered on-site through direct enrollment of campers and contracted bookings from schools, churches, and corporate groups.

Product overview

YMCA Camp Kern operates as a traditional YMCA summer camp offering a diverse portfolio of outdoor recreation and youth development programs. The core offerings include Traditional Overnight Camps organized by age-based villages (Frontier, Explorer, Adventure, and Pioneer), Summer Day Camps, Horse Camps at Circle K Ranch, Specialty Theme Camps (Star Wars, Harry Potter, Dungeons & Dragons, etc.), and Teen Leadership Camps. The camp provides year-round programming through Group Rentals for corporate retreats and team building, Outdoor Education for schools, and seasonal camps. Additional programs include Church Group Retreats, Wedding Services, and Financial Assistance scholarships. The facility spans 485 acres in Oregonia, Ohio with over 500 year-round beds across multiple lodging options including cabins, yurts, and lodges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ozone Zipline Adventures: Educational canopy tour experience featuring 9 ziplines ranging from 200 to nearly 1,200 feet in length, providing thrilling outdoor adventures over the Little Miami River valley.
• Circle K Ranch
• Heritage Club

Products and services

• Summer Camps (Overnight, Day, Teen, Specialty, Seasonal) Multi-week and short-session resident and day camps for children and teens, including traditional overnight camps, themed specialty camps (e.g., adventure, sports, arts), teen-specific programs, and shorter seasonal sessions. Targeted at families with school-age children.
• Horse Summer Camps
• Outdoor Education / Living History Field Trips Curriculum-aligned, on-site outdoor education programming and living-history field trips delivered to K-12 school groups during the school year. Includes hands-on science, history, and team-based activities.
• Group Rentals & Retreats Year-round rental of cabins, meeting spaces, dining, and recreational facilities to outside organizations for retreats, conferences, family reunions, and church gatherings. Includes lodging and meal packages.
• Team Building Programs Facilitated outdoor team-building and leadership programs for corporate, school, and youth groups, run through a dedicated brand/site (teamscl.com). Programs include low- and high-rope challenge courses and group initiatives.
• Ozone Zipline Adventures Public-facing zipline canopy tour and aerial adventure experience operated under the Ozone Zipline brand. Open to general visitors, group bookings, and camp participants.
• Circle K Ranch Horse Programs Year-round equestrian services including group and private horseback riding lessons, horse boarding, and guided trail rides, operating from the on-site Circle K Ranch stables. Open to the general public and camp participants.
• Wedding & Special Event Venue Rustic outdoor and indoor wedding and special-event venue hosting on the 485-acre property, including ceremony, reception, and lodging packages, marketed under a dedicated brand/site.
• Family Camp Programs Multi-generational camp weekends and family retreat packages allowing parents and children to experience camp activities together, including lodging and meals.
• Church & Youth Group Retreats Tailored retreat packages for church youth groups and faith-based organizations, combining lodging, meals, recreation, and team-building activities on-site.

Quantifiable outcome

• ACA accreditation ensures rigorous standards in health, safety, facilities, programming, and staff qualifications
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Camp Laurel: Premier residential co-ed summer camp in Mt. Vernon, Maine serving ages 7-15 with traditional, sports, and waterfront programming. Comparable in scale, traditional overnight camp model, and broad activity mix serving private-pay families.
• Camp Towanda: Privately-owned traditional residential summer camp in Honesdale, Pennsylvania serving children ages 7-17 with sports, waterfront, and adventure programming. Comparable as an established multi-activity overnight camp with broad amenities and strong brand heritage.
• YMCA Camp Marston: YMCA-affiliated overnight camp in Julian, California offering traditional summer camping, outdoor education, and retreat services. Directly comparable in mission, programming mix, and YMCA nonprofit operating model.
• YMCA Camp Nockamixon: YMCA-affiliated camp in Kintnersville, Pennsylvania offering summer camps, outdoor education, group rentals, and adventure programming. Closely comparable as a multi-vertical YMCA camp with both youth and group rental businesses.
• Camp Pinnacle: Traditional residential summer camp in Hendersonville, North Carolina offering 1-4 week sessions for ages 6-16 with adventure activities including climbing, zip-lining, and water sports. Comparable as a multi-activity traditional overnight camp with broad programming.
• YMCA Camp Pinewood: Historic YMCA residential camp in Twin Lake, Michigan (est. 1921) operating traditional summer camps, equestrian programs, and group retreats. Comparable as a Midwest multi-program YMCA camp with similar mission and seasonality profile.

Broad incumbents

• NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School): National nonprofit outdoor education school offering wilderness expeditions and leadership courses across multiple U.S. locations. Comparable in mission of outdoor education and leadership development, though NOLS operates at much greater scale and scope.

Regional players

• The Wilds: Conservation and wildlife park in Cumberland, Ohio offering zipline safaris, guided tours, and educational programs. Comparable as a regional Ohio-based outdoor adventure tourism operator with zipline canopy tours and environmental education programming.

Emerging players

• French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts: Specialty performing arts and traditional summer camp in Hancock, New York for ages 4-17. Comparable in offering themed and specialty summer camp programming in addition to traditional camp activities, similar to Camp Kern's specialty theme camps.
• Boy Scouts of America - Camp Friedlander: Large regional Boy Scout camp in Loveland, Ohio (close to Camp Kern's Ohio geography) offering summer programs, badge work, and outdoor adventure. Comparable in youth outdoor programming, badge-driven activities, and group camping model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/campkern
• Facebookfacebook.com/campkern1910
• Instagraminstagram.com/campkern1910
• TikToktiktok.com/@campkern1910
• Xx.com/campkern
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ymca-camp-kern

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 YMCA Camp Kern