Bishop Gravatt Camp and Conference Center

What Bishop Gravatt Camp and Conference Center does

Bishop Gravatt Camp and Conference Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1949 and headquartered on a nearly 300-acre campus in Aiken, South Carolina, that operates as a year-round retreat, conference, and youth camp facility. The organization generates revenue from five streams: residential summer camp sessions for grades 1-11, year-round conference and retreat lodging, the UP Outdoors environmental education and team-building program for schools and groups, signature annual events such as Under the Tent and the Christmas Military Retreat, and donations through its Annual Fund, Lodge Renovation Fund, Mac Westmoreland Scholarship Fund, and planned giving. Customers span five segments: youth and families, corporate and organizational groups, churches and religious organizations (notably the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina), public, private, and homeschool institutions, and military families. Lodging ranges from climate-controlled rooms in Cole Lodge and four cottage buildings (28+ rooms) to rustic platform tents and cabins accommodating up to 200 guests seasonally, supported by on-site dining services with dietary accommodations.

The business model is a hybrid of fee-for-service hospitality (camp tuition, retreat bookings, event tickets), education services (UP Outdoors programming aligned with South Carolina state standards), and charitable fundraising. Distribution is fully direct-to-consumer via the campgravatt.org website, phone inquiries, and email; registration runs on Campwise software, and email marketing is delivered through robly.com. Operations use no proprietary technology, and there is no disclosed AI/ML capability. The company is governed by an 11-member volunteer Board of Trustees (currently chaired by Jenny Buck) and led by a full-time team of approximately 20 year-round staff supplemented by seasonal summer staff and interns. Recent 2025 strategic actions include a $275,000 Cole Lodge renovation, Westmoreland Director's Cabin rehabilitation, construction of two new camp cabins, rehiring of Frank Townsend as Director of Guest Services, and creation of a Development Director role, all signaling reinvestment in facilities and professionalization of fundraising as the organization approaches its 75th anniversary.

Name

Bishop Gravatt Camp and Conference Center

Legal name

Gravatt Camp and Conference Center

Website

https://campgravatt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bishop Gravatt Camp and Conference Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 300-acre year-round retreat, conference, and youth summer camp facility in Aiken, South Carolina, serving youth and families, churches, schools, corporate groups, and military families across the Southeast US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Camp and Conference Center Hospitality

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM & Science Camps (Biology, Chemistry, Space, Lab Science) (EDAMALAC), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)

Keywords

• Summer camp programs
• Conference retreat facilities
• Environmental education
• Team building programs
• Youth faith formation

Headquarters

HQ city

Aiken

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, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Fees: Residential summer camp programs for youth in grades 1-11. Fees vary by session length and camper type. Christian-centered, community-based programming with activities including lake activities, challenge courses, archery, and team building.
2. Conference & Retreat Services: Year-round venue rental for meetings, retreats, and conferences. Includes lodging, dining, meeting space, and recreational facilities. Conference side offers climate-controlled lodging; camp side offers rustic platform tents and cabins.
3. UP Outdoors Environmental Education: School group programs during academic year featuring environmental education, team building courses, and challenge courses. Curriculum aligned with South Carolina state standards. Includes day and overnight programs.
4. Annual Events & Programs: Revenue from signature events including Under the Tent fundraising dinner, Women Need Women retreat, Fishing Tournament, and Alumni Weekend. Tickets range from $40-$325 per person with additional lodging packages.
5. Donations & Fundraising: Annual Fund support for general operations, Lodge Renovation Fund for facility improvements, Mac Westmoreland Scholarship Fund for camper financial aid, and planned giving/legacy gifts. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bishop Gravatt Camp and Conference Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a nearly 300-acre year-round retreat center and summer youth camp in Aiken, South Carolina. The organization delivers residential summer camp programming for youth in grades 1-11, year-round conference and retreat venue rentals with lodging and dining, and the UP Outdoors experiential education program covering environmental education, challenge courses, and team building.

Product overview

Bishop Gravatt Camp and Conference Center operates as a multi-faceted hospitality and recreation organization offering a unified portfolio of services centered around its 300-acre facility in Aiken, South Carolina. The core offerings consist of Summer Camp (a Christian-centered youth camp for grades 1-11), Conferences & Retreats (year-round meeting and lodging facilities), and UP Outdoors (environmental education and adventure programming). These core services are supported by lodging accommodations (climate-controlled conference-side rooms in Cole Lodge and cottages, plus rustic camp-side platform tents and cabins), dining services, and various annual events including Under the Tent (fundraiser), Women Need Women Retreat, Fishing Tournament, Alumni Weekend, and Christmas Military Retreat. The organization also operates the Mac Westmoreland Scholarship Fund to provide financial assistance to campers. Gravatt serves the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina and surrounding communities, hosting approximately 4,000 guests annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Camp Christian-centered, community-based residential summer camp experience for boys and girls in grades 1-11, featuring youth development, faith formation, and outdoor activities including lake activities, challenge courses, archery, and team building.
• Conferences and Retreats Year-round conference and retreat venue rental offering indoor and outdoor meeting space, lodging, worship space, recreation facilities, and dining services for groups of various sizes.
• UP Outdoors

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000+ guests served annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Regional players

• Camp Thunderbird: Episcopal-affiliated summer camp and retreat center in Lake Wylie, SC. Regional peer serving similar faith-based youth and family populations in the Carolinas.
• Lakeshore Retreat Center: Presbyterian retreat center in Lincoln, AL offering summer camps and year-round conferences. Comparable operating model in the Southeast faith-based retreat segment.

Direct peers

• Montreat Conference Center: Presbyterian-affiliated retreat and conference center in Montreat, NC offering youth camps, adult retreats, and conference facilities. Directly comparable in mission, scale, and seasonal operating model to Gravatt.
• Ridgecrest Conference Center: LifeWay Baptist conference center in Ridgecrest, NC operating camps, conferences, and retreats. Comparable in faith-affiliated hospitality model and summer youth camp programming.
• Kanuga: Episcopal conference and camp center in Hendersonville, NC operating a similar hybrid model of summer youth camps, year-round retreats, and outdoor programming. Direct competitor for Episcopal-affiliated group bookings across the Carolinas.
• Camp Pinnacle: Traditional residential summer camp in Hendersonville, NC for rising 2nd-12th graders. Direct competitor in the Southeast youth summer camp market with similar multi-activity programming.
• Bonclarken Conference Center: Presbyterian conference and retreat center in Hendersonville, NC offering summer camps and year-round retreat hosting. Direct competitor for faith-based group bookings in the Carolinas.
• YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly: YMCA-affiliated conference and retreat center in Black Mountain, NC serving conferences, youth programs, and outdoor education. Closely comparable in mission-driven retreat/conference operations.
• Camp St. Christopher: Episcopal summer camp on Seabrook Island, SC serving dioceses in the Lowcountry. Direct peer for Episcopal-affiliated residential summer camp operations in South Carolina.
• The Wilds Christian Association: Christian camp and conference center in Brevard, NC offering summer youth camps, family camps, and retreat facilities. Comparable in faith-based residential camp and conference programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GravattCCC
• Instagraminstagram.com/gravatt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bishop-gravatt-center-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Bishop Gravatt Camp and Conference Center