Camp Fire Heart of Iowa

What Camp Fire Heart of Iowa does

Camp Fire Heart of Iowa is a private non-profit youth development organization affiliated with the national Camp Fire organization (founded 1910), operating programs primarily across six central Iowa counties: Polk, Dallas, Warren, Jasper, Boone, and Story. Its core delivery infrastructure consists of two camp facilities — Camp Hantesa (overnight and day camp in Boone, adjacent to Ledges State Park) and Camp Canwita (day camp in Ames, established 1925) — supplemented by satellite day-camp and before/after-school sites. The organization serves approximately 1,500-1,600 youth annually through a portfolio that includes summer day camps, resident overnight camps, before/after-school programming (Sparks), teen leadership (Junior Apprentice/Apprentice/Outpost), school-day-off and school-year overnight camps, family camps, and specialty programs (Out & About for LGBTQ+ youth, Camp Brave for youth impacted by crime).

The organization runs on standard third-party SaaS rather than proprietary technology: Camp Brain handles online registration, waitlists, and payments; Kindful powers online donations; Constant Contact is used for email newsletters; and POINT supports volunteer management. Pricing follows a tiered model (Tier A CCA/Campership rate through Tier D) calibrated to household income and Child Care Assistance eligibility, with deposits, early-bird and sibling discounts, and scholarship support funded through partnerships such as Variety — the Children's Charity of Iowa and United Way. Day camps price between roughly $230-$370 per week by tier and location; resident overnight camps price $650/week with discount add-ons; Outpost Camp reaches up to $1,125.

Revenue mechanics combine earned program fees, facility rentals (Clayton Lodge, Owaissa Valley Lodge/Cabins, and other camp venues for weddings, retreats, and conferences), grants, and individual donations. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors with representation from major central Iowa employers (Des Moines Public Schools, Principal Financial Group, Housby, John Deere, Wells Fargo, Eide Bailly, Corteva Agriscience, MidAmerican Energy, ITA Group) and is led day-to-day by a small professional staff of approximately 13, headed by Executive Director Owen Ballard since March 2024. In June 2025, Camp Fire sold its long-time headquarters and relocated to a co-located space with Community Youth Concepts at 1446 Martin Luther King Jr Parkway in Des Moines, signaling an emphasis on operational efficiency and shared services with another youth-serving nonprofit.

Name

Camp Fire Heart of Iowa

Legal name

Camp Fire Heart of Iowa

Website

https://campfireiowa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1910

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Camp Fire Heart of Iowa is a central Iowa non-profit youth development organization operating Camp Hantesa and Camp Canwita, serving roughly 1,500-1,600 youth annually through day camps, resident overnight camps, before/after-school care, teen leadership, and specialty programs across six counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development and 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

Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO), Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA), STEM & Science Camps (Biology, Chemistry, Space, Lab Science) (EDAMALAC), Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Summer camp services
• Overnight camp experiences
• Before after school care
• Environmental education

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines, Iowa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Camp Fire Heart of Iowa is a private nonprofit youth development organization that delivers nature-based summer day camps, overnight resident camps, before/after school care, teen leadership programs, and specialty retreats for youth from kindergarten through 12th grade across central Iowa. Programming is anchored at two owned camp facilities — Camp Hantesa in Boone and Camp Canwita in Ames — supplemented by satellite day camp drop-off locations, with a research-based Camp Fire Journey social-emotional learning framework running through all programs.

Product overview

Camp Fire Heart of Iowa is a youth development nonprofit organization offering a diverse portfolio of nature-based programs and camp experiences. The organization operates primarily through two camp facilities (Camp Hantesa in Boone and Camp Canwita in Ames) supplemented by multiple satellite day camp locations across central Iowa. The core program portfolio includes Summer Day Camps (Discovery, Adventure, DSM Outrageous, Canwita Day Camp, Hantesa Day Camp) serving grades K-8; Overnight/Resident Camps at Camp Hantesa for grades 1-12; Teen Leadership Programs (Junior Apprentice, Apprentice) for grades 9-12; Outpost Camp wilderness expeditions for grades 8-12; and year-round School-Year Programs including before/after-school care (Sparks), School Day Off Camps, and overnight camps. Specialty offerings include Camp Brave for youth impacted by crime, Out & About for LGBTQ+ youth, and Family Camps. Additional services encompass Environmental Education for schools, Event/Facility Rentals, a Volunteer Program, Alumni Association, and Donation Platform. The organization uses a tiered pricing structure (Tier A-D) with scholarship and Child Care Assistance (CCA) eligibility to ensure accessibility across Polk, Dallas, Warren, Jasper, Boone, and Story Counties, serving approximately 1,600+ youth annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Camp Hantesa: An overnight and day camp facility in Boone, Iowa, adjacent to Ledges State Park. Pronounced Han-Teh-Sha, meaning 'red cedars' in Lakota. Serves youth grades 1-12 with resident and day camp programs, family camps, school day off programs, and winter/spring break camps.
• Camp Canwita
• Out & About
• Sparks

Products and services

• Summer Day Camp Day camp programs for youth entering Kindergarten through 8th grade, offering nature-based activities, field trips, swimming, crafts, and STEM programming across multiple locations in central Iowa.
• Overnight Camp (Resident Camp) Multi-day residential camping experience at Camp Hantesa featuring activities including rock climbing, archery, riflery, pottery, canoeing, nature education, team games, and traditional camp activities for grades 1-12.
• Camp Hantesa Year-round camp facility in Boone, Iowa adjacent to Ledges State Park serving as the primary site for overnight camps, day camps, family camps, and group rentals.
• Camp Canwita Day camp facility in Ames, Iowa established in 1925, serving youth from kindergarten through 8th grade with outdoor exploration and structured enrichment activities.
• Before and After School Program (Sparks) Before and after-school care program serving PreK-5 students in Story and Jasper counties, providing a safe and engaging environment with camp activities during school hours.
• School Day Off Camps Day camps offered during school holidays including Winter Break and Spring Break, serving youth in grades K-12 with themed activities and camp experiences.
• School-Year Overnight Camps Overnight camping experiences at Camp Hantesa offered during the school year (fall, winter, spring) for youth entering grades K-12, featuring traditional camp activities and seasonal programming.
• Summer Teen Leadership Program (Apprentice/Junior Apprentice) Leadership development program for teens entering grades 9-12, offering hands-on counseling experience at day camps and overnight camp, with advanced training and mentorship components.
• Outpost Camp Two-week overnight program for teens entering grades 8-12 focused on outdoor skills development, including trip planning, preparation, training, and a week-long camping expedition.
• Teen Retreats Weekend retreats at Camp Hantesa for youth entering grades 6-12, combining service activities, leadership development, outdoor recreation, and social connection.
• Out & About Weekend excursion program for middle and high school LGBTQ+ youth, friends, and allies providing safe social spaces with peer support, skill-building activities, and community exploration.
• Family Camps Overnight family camping experiences offered multiple times per year, allowing families to participate together in campfire activities, outdoor recreation, and quality bonding time.
• Camp Brave Specialty camp supporting youth entering grades 1-12 who have been impacted by crime, providing traditional camp activities along with coping strategies, resilience building, and peer support.
• Environmental Education Programs Educational programming for schools and youth groups at Camp Hantesa aligned with Iowa K-12 Science Standards, including ecological education, team building, ropes courses, rock climbing, archery, and orienteering.
• Event Rentals (Facility Rentals) Rental of camp facilities including Clayton Lodge, Variety Club, Cyrus Lodge, Village Lodge, Shady Glade Lodge, and Owaissa Valley accommodations for retreats, conferences, weddings, and group events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 1,500-1,600+ youth annually across six central Iowa counties
• +2 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

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Community Youth Concepts (CYC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2025Camp Fire Heart of Iowa relocated headquarters to CYC's office building at 1446 Martin Luther King Jr Parkway. Both are youth-serving nonprofits with shared missions. Co-location enables operational efficiency and enhanced collaboration to benefit central Iowa youth and families.
• United WayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way supports Camp Fire's literacy and STEM program, which helps reduce summer learning loss among day camp participants.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boys & Girls Club of Central Iowa: Provides after-school, summer, and youth-development programming for central Iowa youth, including underserved populations. Directly comparable target market, programming mix, and donor base.
• YMCA of Greater Des Moines: Large regional nonprofit operating before/after-school care, summer day camps, and youth programming across the same counties. Overlaps directly with Camp Fire's Sparks and day-camp offerings.
• Boy Scouts of America – Mid-Iowa Council (now Scouting America): Long-established central Iowa youth-development nonprofit delivering outdoor, leadership, and camp programming. Competes for the same families, school partnerships, and donor pool.
• Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa: Operates the other major girls'-focused youth-development council serving central Iowa, including troop programming, camp experiences, and leadership pathways. Directly comparable mission, geography, and nonprofit operating model.
• YWCA of Des Moines: Regional nonprofit serving youth and families in central Iowa with childcare, before/after-school programs, and inclusion-focused programming. Comparable target population and grant-funding channels.

Broad incumbents

• Camp Fire (National Organization): National parent organization of Camp Fire Heart of Iowa. Provides brand standards, program frameworks (e.g., Camp Fire Journey), and national fundraising reach; serves as a system-level peer for the local council.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth-services umbrella organization with affiliates including Boys & Girls Club of Central Iowa. Provides programming standards, branding, and national funding partnerships relevant to the local council's competitive positioning.
• Iowa 4-H / Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: Statewide youth-development organization offering summer camps, school enrichment, and clubs aligned with Iowa K-12 standards. Broader mandate and university backing, but overlapping mission, audience, and grant pool.

Others

• Variety – the Children's Charity of Iowa: Major Iowa nonprofit funder supporting children's programming through grants. Has awarded Camp Fire Heart of Iowa multiple recent grants and is comparable as a central Iowa youth-services ecosystem participant.

Regional players

• Camp Tanager: Iowa-based nonprofit residential camp serving youth with nature-based and SEL programming. Comparable operating model and youth outcomes framework, though smaller scale and broader statewide draw.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-fire-heart-of-iowa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Fire Heart of Iowa