CAMP OF THE CROSS MINISTRIES

What CAMP OF THE CROSS MINISTRIES does

Camp of the Cross Ministries is a nonprofit religious organization founded in 1954 in Garrison, North Dakota, operating a 150-acre year-round camp and retreat center on Lake Sakakawea. The organization delivers faith-based overnight camping and retreat programming for youth (grades 2-12), families, and adult groups, with a portfolio that includes traditional summer camps, specialty camps (Art, Creative Writing, Fishing, Guitar & Ukulele, Whittling, Trekkers), family camps (Parent & Me, Grandparent & Me, Family Camp), and year-round retreats (crafting, men's, women's, Enneagram, youth bashes). Facilities include a Retreat Center with 11 hotel-style rooms, six retreat cabins, row and hill cabins, and an 8-site RV/tent campground, supporting approximately 120 sleeping spaces.

The ministry is ecumenically supported by a constituency of 70+ Lutheran and United Church of Christ congregations across North Dakota, which provide recurring donor support and a primary referral channel for campers. Go-to-market is event-driven and relationship-based: direct registration via the CampBrain online platform, phone/email inquiries, on-site tours, and congregation-led promotion. Pricing is per-unit and pay-as-you-go, ranging from $50 deposits to $520 per full-week program, with tiered early-bird discounts (50% off by December 31, 25% by January 31, 15% by April 1) and camperships for those unable to pay. Revenue is generated through camp registration fees, retreat bookings, donations (Tithe.ly, Giving Hearts Day, capital campaigns), and ancillary merchandise through the Jacob's Well on-site store.

Operations are run by 11 employees led by Executive Director Janie Hague, with seasonal summer staff supplementing the year-round core. There is no disclosed parent company, no private equity involvement, and no public funding rounds — the organization is self-governed by a board and congregation-supported. Recent strategic activity centers on capital reinvestment: completion of the Fellowship Center, the 2024 Hill Cabins renovation campaign (targeting $70,000 on Giving Hearts Day), and the release of the 2025-2026 retreat season brochure, signaling steady, facility-driven rather than scale-driven growth.

Name

CAMP OF THE CROSS MINISTRIES

Legal name

Camp of the Cross Ministries

Website

https://campofthecross.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Camp of the Cross Ministries is a nonprofit Lutheran-UCC camp and retreat center founded in 1954 on a 150-acre Lake Sakakawea site in Garrison, North Dakota, delivering faith-based summer camps, family camps, specialty camps, and year-round retreats to youth, families, and adult groups supported by 70+ regional congregations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Camp & Retreat Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds (721211), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Wilderness & Backcountry Lodges (Remote/Off-Grid) (THAGAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Traditional Campgrounds (Tent & Mixed-Use) (THAMAJAB), Mountain & Wilderness Lodges (THAAAHAE)

Keywords

• Faith-based youth camps
• Christian retreat center
• Summer camp programs
• Family camp retreats
• Nonprofit ministry camps

Headquarters

HQ city

Garrison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Camp Registration Fees: Fees charged for summer camps, specialty camps, family camps, and retreat programs ranging from $50 deposits to $520 full-week programs
2. Retreat Bookings: Year-round retreat center lodging and programming fees for youth bashes, crafting retreats, men's and women's retreats, and group retreats
3. Donations and Fundraising: Donations through Tithe.ly platform, Giving Hearts Day campaigns, capital projects, and various fundraising events including golf outings and galas
4. Jacob's Well Store: On-site camp store selling handmade items, apparel, and merchandise

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Camp of the Cross Ministries operates a year-round Christian camp and retreat center on a 150-acre lakeside site near Lake Sakakawea in Garrison, North Dakota. It sells overnight summer camps for youth in grades 2-12, specialty instruction-based camps, family camps, and adult/seasonal retreats, supplemented by on-site lodging rentals, fundraising events, and a merchandise store called Jacob's Well.

Product overview

Camp of the Cross Ministries operates a year-round camp and retreat center in Garrison, North Dakota, offering a portfolio of faith-based overnight camps and retreat programs. The core offerings include Traditional Summer Camps (for youth entering grades 2-12 featuring bible study, campfire worship, waterfront activities, archery, and cabin experiences), Specialty Camps (focused programs in Art, Creative Writing, Fishing, Guitar & Ukulele, Whittling, and Trekkers), Family Camps (Grandparent & Me, Parent & Me, and Family Camp programs), and Adult/Youth Retreat Programs (crafting retreats, men's/women's retreats, Enneagram workshops). The facility provides multiple lodging options including the Retreat Center, Retreat Cabins, Row Cabins, Hill Cabins, and a Campground with RV hookups. Additional services include Jacob's Well merchandise store, year-round facility rental for outside groups, and various fundraising events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Jacob's Well: Camp store selling merchandise including apparel, handmade items, hats, and miscellaneous goods

Products and services

• Traditional Summer Camp Programs

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Flat Rock Lutheran Camp: Lutheran camp in Michigan offering summer youth camps, family programs, and adult retreats. Similar faith-based programming and congregational support structure to Camp of the Cross.
• Camp Concordia: Christian camp and retreat center in Michigan providing summer camps, family camps, and year-round retreat hosting. Comparable faith-based nonprofit camp with similar lodging and programming mix.
• Calvin Center Ministries: Reformed/Christian camp and retreat center in Georgia offering youth, family, and adult programs. Comparable faith-based nonprofit model with year-round retreat operations.
• Camp Jorn YMCA: YMCA-affiliated summer camp in Wisconsin offering youth camps, family programs, and group retreats on a lake. Comparable regional camp with similar cabin/lodging model.
• Trout Lake Camp: Year-round Christian camp and retreat center in Wisconsin offering summer youth camps, adult/family retreats, and group accommodations. Operates on a lakeside site similar to Camp of the Cross.
• Luther Point Bible Camp: Lutheran summer camp and year-round retreat center in Wisconsin serving youth, families, and adult groups. Closely aligned mission, customer base, and facility mix (cabins, retreat center, waterfront).
• Camp Luther: Faith-based Lutheran summer camp and retreat center in Nebraska offering youth programs, family camps, and adult retreats. Directly comparable as a regional Lutheran-affiliated camp with similar year-round programming model and congregation-supported governance.

Broad incumbents

• Blue Ridge Assembly (YMCA of the Blue Ridge): Large Christian conference and retreat center in North Carolina. Larger scale, broader portfolio, but comparable faith-based retreat operations and group hosting model.
• Camp Widjiwagan (YMCA): Established YMCA summer camp in Minnesota offering youth programs and outdoor education. Larger organization with similar lakeside camp programming and cabin accommodations.

Emerging players

• Koinonia Retreat Center: Christian camp and retreat ministry in the upper Midwest offering faith-based youth and family programming. Comparable niche faith camp with smaller scale and congregational support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/campofthecross
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-of-the-cross-ministries

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 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 OF THE CROSS MINISTRIES