Camp Lake Stephens

What Camp Lake Stephens does

Camp Lake Stephens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit faith-based summer camp and year-round retreat center founded in 1946 and located on 87 acres in Oxford, Mississippi. The organization operates four core summer camp programs — Main Camp (overnight, grades 1–11), Adventure Camp (rustic treehouse-based with whitewater rafting and kayaking trips, grades 4–12), Day Camp (K–3rd grade), and Camp Rainbow (a 50+ year specialized program for adults 18+ with special needs using a 1:2 counselor-to-camper ratio). Year-round operations include signature retreats (Confirmation, Children's Retreat, Christmas at Camp, Overflow, Pop-Up Camp, Spring Break Rock Climbing) and a Host-a-Retreat program that rents facilities to churches, schools, and organizations across the Southeastern United States.

The organization runs on a hybrid community-led and event-driven go-to-market motion, leveraging Methodist and regional church referral networks, organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), and direct outreach to book retreats. Distribution is direct-to-consumer: families register through the CampBrain online portal, retreat bookings are handled via year-round staff, and merchandise is sold through Quay's Place (on-site and via Square e-commerce). The organization holds American Camp Association accreditation covering 300+ health, safety, and program quality standards.

Revenue is generated through four streams: tiered summer camp fees (Tier 1 at 80%, Tier 2 at 90%, Tier 3 at 100% of total cost, with Tiers 1 and 2 subsidized by church and donor contributions), retreat hosting fees for church and school groups, merchandise sales through Quay's Place, and tax-deductible donations via Givebutter (Annual Fund, Scholarship Fund, Vesper Hill Club monthly giving). The Scholarship Fund distributed over $43,000 in partial and full scholarships in the most recent year. The organization is staffed by 8 year-round employees and nearly 50 seasonal summer staff drawn from across the South. There is no disclosed revenue figure, no funding rounds, no parent company, and no proprietary technology — operations rely on third-party platforms (CampBrain, Bunk1, Square, Givebutter) for registration, parent communication, commerce, and donations.

Name

Camp Lake Stephens

Legal name

Camp Lake Stephens

Website

https://camplakestephens.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Camp Lake Stephens is a nonprofit faith-based summer camp and year-round retreat center in Oxford, Mississippi, founded in 1946. It serves children, youth, adults with special needs, churches, and schools through overnight camps, signature retreats, and facility rentals across the Southeastern United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Summer Camp and Retreat Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (72131)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps) (THAGAOAG)

Keywords

• Summer camp programs
• Youth retreat facilities
• Faith-based camping
• Outdoor education
• Residential camp

Headquarters

HQ city

Oxford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Fees: Tiered pricing model for summer camp sessions. Families choose between Tier 1 (80%), Tier 2 (90%), or Tier 3 (100%) of total cost. Tiers 1 and 2 are subsidized by church and donor contributions.
2. Retreat Hosting: Fees charged to church groups, schools, and organizations for hosting their own retreats. Pricing based on group size, length of stay, and included services.
3. Merchandise Sales: Quay's Place gift shop sells CLS merchandise including t-shirts, hats, water bottles, stickers. Operates online via Square and in-person during camper pick-up times.
4. Donations and Annual Fund: Tax-deductible donations through Annual Fund (one-time or monthly Vesper Hill Club), Scholarship Fund, and general ministry support. Organization is 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Camp Lake Stephens runs an overnight summer camp and year-round retreat center on a 175-acre lakeside campus in Oxford, Mississippi. Its summer programming includes Main Camp, Adventure Camp, Day Camp, and Camp Rainbow (a camp for adults with special needs), while its retreat hosting serves churches, schools, and other groups seeking meeting, lodging, and activity space. Revenue is generated through camper tuition, retreat rental fees, merchandise sales, and charitable donations.

Product overview

Camp Lake Stephens operates as a unified camp and retreat ministry offering a portfolio of programs and facilities. The core offerings include four distinct summer camp programs: Main Camp (traditional overnight for grades 1-11), Adventure Camp (rustic treehouse-based experience with adventure trips for grades 4-12), Day Camp (daily program for K-3rd grade), and Camp Rainbow (specialized program for adults with special needs). Supporting these are retreat and event hosting services, including facility rentals for self-led group retreats with various lodging options (cabins, lodge rooms, health center rooms, The Resting Place), meeting spaces (chapel accommodating 300, dining hall seating 144, pavilion, prayer room), and recreational facilities (lake, pool, high ropes course, athletic field, trails). Additional offerings include Quay's Place gift shop and a scholarship fund supporting camper accessibility. The programs are unified by a Christian ministry mission centered on spiritual growth through outdoor experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Quay's Place: On-site camp store offering CLS merchandise including t-shirts, hats, water bottles, stickers, and more.

Products and services

• Main Camp

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $43,000 in scholarships distributed to campers annually
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pine Cove Camps: Multi-site Christian summer camp network in Texas operating overnight camps and family retreats with a faith-based curriculum and church partnership model directly comparable to CLS.
• Kanakuk Kamps: Faith-based overnight summer camp network in Branson, MO area serving children and youth with similar church-network referral model and multi-week overnight sessions.
• Camp Eagle: Christian summer camp and retreat center in Texas serving youth and church retreats with overnight lodging, adventure activities, and faith-based programming similar to Camp Lake Stephens.
• YMCA Camp Widjiwagan: YMCA-affiliated summer camp and retreat center in Tennessee offering overnight camps and group retreats; directly comparable as a regional Southeastern camp/retreat facility, and explicitly referenced in CLS staff career history.
• Camp Wesley Pines: United Methodist camp in Mississippi also serving children, youth, and retreat groups with a similar faith-based programming model and church-network GTM. Closest geographic and denominational peer to Camp Lake Stephens.
• Camp Ozark: Large faith-based summer camp in Arkansas operating overnight sessions for children and youth with similar traditional camp programming, lake activities, and church-community GTM.
• Camp Tanasi: YMCA-operated summer camp in Tennessee offering overnight programs, adventure activities, and group retreats in the Southeast with a comparable activity mix and regional market overlap.
• Camp Glisson: United Methodist retreat and summer camp in Georgia with church-network referral model, faith-based programming, and year-round retreat hosting comparable to Camp Lake Stephens.

Others

• Givebutter: Donation and fundraising platform used by Camp Lake Stephens; relevant as an ecosystem/technology partner for nonprofit camp fundraising operations rather than a competing service provider.

Broad incumbents

• Sky Ranch Camps: Multi-site Christian camp network in Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado operating overnight summer camps and family retreats with similar faith-based programming; broader scale and geographic reach than Camp Lake Stephens.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvplv-ELPNgyN0Z5rFZzMEg
• Facebookfacebook.com/camplakestephens
• Instagraminstagram.com/camplakestephens
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lake-stephens-united-methodist-camp

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 Camp Lake Stephens