Camp Ridgecrest for Boys

What Camp Ridgecrest for Boys does

Camp Ridgecrest for Boys is a Christian residential summer camp operating continuously since 1929 on a 100+ acre property in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Black Mountain, North Carolina, bordering Pisgah National Forest with a private 15-acre lake. The camp delivers a two-week overnight program for boys ages 6-17 built around adventure activities (ziplines, rock climbing, mountain biking, ropes courses), waterfront programming, target sports, life skills, and faith-based discipleship delivered through counselors, cabin devotions, and structured promotion ranks culminating in the Torchman leadership designation. It also operates weekend family programs (Father Son Camp, Mother Daughter Camp, Family Camp) priced at $375-495 per person, a month-long Service and Leadership Training (SALT) program for rising 12th graders at $1,275, and an online merchandise store via Shopify. The business is owned and governed by Ridgecrest Foundation, a Delaware nonprofit formed in September 2020 following LifeWay's decision to divest the property, and operates under the stewardship of Executive Director Phil Berry succeeding Ron Springs' 37-year tenure.

The business model is direct-to-consumer, one-time tuition per session, with all fees due at registration and tiered cancellation policies. Acquisition relies heavily on word-of-mouth, church referrals, alumni networks, and a $500 staff-referral bonus. Technology infrastructure is entirely third-party: CampInTouch for registration and camper management, GazeboEvents for events, WeGive for donations, Campanion for parent communication, and Shopify for merchandise. The camp holds American Camp Association accreditation, multiple safety certifications (ARC, HSI, ACCT, CMP), and operates under extensive staff screening including background checks across all 50 states and random drug testing. Safety technology investments include the ThorGuard Lightning Detection System and Vertical Trek Continuous Belay System on the high ropes course. Annual reach is 2,000+ boys, supported by roughly 20 full-time staff and a much larger seasonal summer staff recruited from colleges nationwide.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The Ron Springs Scholarship Fund, which subsidizes tuition through a stated $1,000,000 fundraising goal (full scholarship cost of $3,350 per camper), represents the principal growth lever and a meaningful demand-fulfillment mechanism for currently unfilled capacity. Customer base is entirely individual families, with no enterprise or institutional contracts, and pricing is transaction-based rather than recurring or subscription. The organization is mature, stable, and oriented toward stewardship and product-line extension rather than aggressive expansion.

Name

Camp Ridgecrest for Boys

Legal name

Ridgecrest Foundation LLC

Website

https://boys.ridgecrestcamps.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Camp Ridgecrest for Boys is a 95-year-old Christian residential summer camp in Black Mountain, North Carolina, serving 2,000+ boys ages 6-17 annually through a two-week overnight program built on adventure activities, faith-based discipleship, and a progressive Torchman leadership track, supplemented by family weekend camps and a SALT leadership program, operated as a nonprofit under Ridgecrest Foundation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Summer Camp Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA), Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus) (THAMAJAJ)

Keywords

• Residential summer camp
• Christian youth camps
• Summer camp programs
• Boys adventure camp
• Overnight camp

Headquarters

HQ city

Ridgecrest

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Tuition: Two-week residential camp sessions for boys ages 6-17. Families pay tuition for each session. Registration and tuition due at time of registration.
2. Family Weekend Camps: Father Son Camp ($375/person), Mother Daughter Camp ($375/person), and Family Camp ($495/person ages 6+, $275 ages 2-5, free under 2). Weekend residential camps at camp properties.
3. SALT Program: Service and Leadership Training program for campers completing 11th grade. Cost is $1,275 per participant for the month-long program.
4. Clothing Store: Camp-themed merchandise sold through Shopify storefront (ridgecrest-summer-camps-store.myshopify.com)
5. Donations/Scholarships: Tax-deductible donations to Ridgecrest Foundation support the Ron Springs Scholarship Fund, providing camp scholarships. Goal of $1,000,000 to fill empty beds with campers who couldn't otherwise attend.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Camp Ridgecrest for Boys is a residential Christian summer camp offering two-week overnight camp sessions for boys ages 6-17 set on a 100+ acre property in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, with structured daily programs of skills, free-time activities, and faith-based discipleship. The camp also operates three weekend family camp programs (Father Son Camp, Mother Daughter Camp, and Family Camp) and a month-long SALT Service and Leadership Training program for rising 12th graders. Activities span adventure, waterfront, target sports, creative/life skills, and team sports, all delivered within a Christian ministry framework.

Product overview

Camp Ridgecrest for Boys is a Christian overnight summer camp for boys located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, founded in 1929 and now owned by the Ridgecrest Foundation. Its primary offering is the two-week Summer Camp program where boys ages 7 and up stay in rustic cabins and participate in a structured daily schedule of skill sessions, free-time activities, and faith-based discipleship events. The camp also operates three family camp programs — Father Son Camp, Mother Daughter Camp, and Family Camp — which allow family members to experience camp together on the same properties. The SALT (Service and Leadership Training) Program is a month-long leadership development track for rising 12th graders. Beyond these programs, the camp provides an extensive activity catalog spanning adventure (ziplines, Swing Shot, rock climbing, mountain biking, campouts), waterfront (Lake Ridgecrest free swim, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing), target sports (archery, riflery, trap shooting, axe throwing), creative and life skills (blacksmithing, cooking, guitar, crafts, Lego, chess, Man Skill), and team sports (basketball, soccer, flag football, pickleball, spike ball, weightlifting). The camp also features a progressive Camper Ranks and Torchman leadership system and a scholarship fund for campers with financial need. Activities are delivered as scheduled skill sessions and free-time options within the unified camp program rather than as separate modules or add-ons.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Camp (Two-Week Session) The flagship two-week overnight summer camp program for boys ages 6-17, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Campers stay in rustic cabins and participate in a structured daily program of skills, free time activities, and faith-based discipleship events including Morning Watch, cabin devotions, campfires, and Sunday Church.
• Father Son Camp A weekend father-and-son campout experience priced at $375 per person. Fathers and sons share cabins and participate in camp activities together including the Blob, zipline, Sock War, riflery, and fishing, combined with faith-based programming.
• Mother Daughter Camp A weekend mother-and-daughter campout experience co-hosted with Camp Crestridge for Girls, priced at $375 per person. Mothers and daughters stay in shared cabins and enjoy adventure activities together alongside faith-based programming.
• Family Camp A long weekend family camp held over Labor Day Weekend spanning both Camp Crestridge for Girls and Camp Ridgecrest for Boys properties. Families stay in private cabins and enjoy activities across both camp properties, with catered meals. Pricing is $495 for ages 6+, $275 for ages 2-5, and free for age 1 and under.
• SALT Program (Service and Leadership Training) A four-plus-week Service and Leadership Training program for campers and newcomers who have completed 11th grade. SALTs assist in camp operations including kitchen and bathhouse duties, are assigned to a camper cabin, lead devotions, and receive discipleship from camp leadership. Application requires a letter of recommendation and phone interview; cost is $1,275.
• Camp Clothing Store A Shopify-based online store selling camp merchandise including water bottles, hammocks, rain flies, and other camp gear for campers and families.
• Ron Springs Scholarship Fund A scholarship fund providing financial assistance to campers who cannot otherwise afford camp. The fund aims to raise $1,000,000 to fill vacant bunks; a full scholarship costs $3,350 per child.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 boys impacted annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ridgecrest Foundation, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020Delaware nonprofit corporation formalized in September 2020 to serve as parent organization for Ridgecrest Conference Center, Camp Crestridge for Girls, and Camp Ridgecrest for Boys after Lifeway's announcement to sell. Primary purposes: share the love of God through Jesus Christ, be steward of legacy and assets, and support the ministries. Led the effort to acquire the camps from Lifeway.
• Sunshine Pharmacy (Black Mountain, NC)coreOthersContract pharmacy that packages all camper medications in 'bubble packs' with proper administration time and date stamps. Contacts each camp family by phone to discuss medication details before arrival. Medication administration is computerized with logging of each dose.
• UPS (Black Mountain Store)minorOthersPartnership with local UPS store in Black Mountain, NC for shipping camper trunks both to and from camp. UPS picks up trunks at camp the day after closing day. Families must work directly with the Black Mountain UPS store for trunk shipments.
• Alpine TowerscoreTechnology or IntegrationIndependent contractor that inspects and certifies all ropes courses and equipment annually to ensure proper working order. Also provides instruction and approval for staff to run high ropes elements.
• Camp In TouchcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline registration and camp management platform used for camper applications, staff applications, login, and account management.
• Ridgecrest Conference CenterminorOthersNearby conference center offering hotel-style lodging for parents visiting during opening/closing days. Partnership provides discounted rates for camp families, available through online booking.
• Abuse Prevention SystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline abuse prevention training provider that empowers all staff as a team to actively protect campers in their care. Required training for all staff before arriving at camp.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of the Blue Ridge: Broader incumbent youth-services organization offering residential and day camps in the western NC region; competes for similar families but at a wider range of price points and with a non-faith-based programming model.

Direct peers

• Camp Highlander: Premier private residential summer camp in Hendersonville, NC serving boys and girls with a multi-activity program, comparable pricing and similar family demographic in the same Blue Ridge region.
• Camp Pinnacle: Residential co-ed summer camp in Hendersonville, NC offering multi-activity programs and family weekends; competes for the same Blue Ridge family demographic and similar summer-camp price point.
• Camp Crestridge for Girls: The sister camp for girls, co-owned by the same Ridgecrest Foundation and operating on adjacent property; runs Mother Daughter and Family Camps jointly with Ridgecrest and shares staff, leadership, and the same Christian mission.
• Camp Tekoa: United Methodist-affiliated residential summer camp in Hendersonville, NC, offering multi-activity summer sessions, family camps, and leadership development programs for the same Christian family demographic.
• Camp Greystone: Long-established Christian residential summer camp in Tuxedo, NC; offers multi-activity summer sessions for both boys and girls, plus family camps, with a similar faith-based mission and Southeast draw.
• Camp Ton-A-Wandah: Long-running residential summer camp in Hendersonville, NC, with similar multi-activity programs, family camps, and a comparable draw from the Southeast; operates at similar scale and price point to Ridgecrest.
• Kanuga Conferences & Camps: Episcopal-affiliated camp and conference center in Hendersonville, NC; operates residential summer camps and family programs in the same western NC mountain corridor, targeting a similar faith-based family segment.
• Camp Carolina: Traditional residential summer camp in Brevard, NC in the Blue Ridge Mountains, serving boys ages 6–17 with a similar multi-activity, overnight program; competes for the same Southeast/Mid-Atlantic family demographic.

Regional players

• Blue Ridge Assembly: Adjacent Christian conference and camp organization in Black Mountain, NC, sharing the same Blue Ridge Mountains geography and overlapping faith-based family audience, though more focused on conferences and retreats than overnight summer camp.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-ridgecrest-for-boys

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Ridgecrest for Boys