Campus By The Sea

What Campus By The Sea does

Campus by the Sea (CBS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian camp and retreat center operating from a secluded private cove at 1 Gallagher's Cove on Catalina Island, approximately 22 miles off the Southern California coast and accessible only by boat. Founded in 1951 by Mel and Helen Friesen along with Paul Byer and others from InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, the organization has operated continuously for 75 years and became independent from InterVarsity on January 1, 2021. The camp serves Christian families, church youth groups, InterVarsity alumni, school groups, and guest retreat organizations through Family Camp, Summer Youth Camp, InterVarsity Alumni Camp, Guest Retreats (March–May and August–November), and a partner-operated Marine Science program; the property is leased from the Catalina Island Conservancy, which protects 88% of the island.

The business model combines camper registration fees, tax-deductible charitable donations to the CBS Fund, and merchandise sales through the Boat House store and a Shopify-powered online storefront. Pricing is per-person and varies by program (e.g., $75 per person for the 75th Anniversary Celebration on June 6, 2026), with final payment due one week before events for groups; donors can give online, by check, via PayPal Giving Fund, or via stock donations processed through National Christian Foundation. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the campusbythesea.org website and the Campwise registration portal, with Catalina Express providing ferry logistics from mainland terminals at Long Beach, Dana Point, and San Pedro.

The underlying technology stack is light and entirely third-party: Campwise handles camper registration and group payments, Shopify powers merchandise e-commerce, Adobe eSign processes release and volunteer forms, PayPal Giving Fund and National Christian Foundation process donations, and Google AdWords supports remarketing; there is no proprietary platform, no AI/ML capabilities, and no disclosed data assets. Operations are supported by approximately 13 staff comprising year-round employees and seasonal hires (9-month, 3-month spring, 3-month fall, plus a 10-week summer team), under Year-Round Directors Rod and Heather Fletcher (since 2023), with Greg Jones serving as Director of Development for more than two decades.

Name

Campus By The Sea

Legal name

Campus by the Sea, Inc.

Website

https://campusbythesea.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Campus by the Sea is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian oceanfront camp and retreat center on Catalina Island, serving Christian families, youth groups, InterVarsity alumni, churches, and K-12 schools via Family Camp, Summer Youth Camp, Guest Retreats, and a marine science program operated with partner Catalina School Adventures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Camp and Retreat Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Coastal & Marine Nature Lodges (THAGAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI), STEM & Science Camps (Biology, Chemistry, Space, Lab Science) (EDAMALAC)

Keywords

• Christian camp retreats
• Oceanfront youth camps
• Family camp programs
• Guest group retreats
• Marine science education

Headquarters

HQ city

Avalon

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Camper Fees: Camper registration fees cover most operational expenses for the camp. Fees are collected through the Campwise system with final payment due one week before events for groups, or two weeks from invoice date for post-event payments.
2. Donations (CBS Fund): Tax-deductible donations to Campus by the Sea, Inc. (501(c)(3) nonprofit) support camperships, infrastructure improvements, staff housing projects, and ministry expansion. Donors can give online, by check, via PayPal Giving Fund, or stock donations through National Christian Foundation.
3. Merchandise Sales: The Boat House store sells official 75th Anniversary merchandise and camp souvenirs including gifts, sundries, toiletries, drinks, and snacks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Campus by the Sea is a Christian oceanfront camp and retreat center on Catalina Island offering Family Camp, Summer Youth Camp, InterVarsity Alumni Camp, Guest Retreats for churches and ministries, and a partner-operated Marine Science Camp through Catalina School Adventures. Campers register directly through the Campwise portal for individual programs or through group dashboards for organizational bookings, with stay periods running seasonally from March through November.

Product overview

Campus by the Sea is a Christian oceanfront camp and retreat center located on Catalina Island, California, offering a portfolio of camp programs and services. The core offerings include Family Camp, Summer Youth Camp, InterVarsity Alumni Camp, and Guest Retreats for church groups, Christian schools, and ministries. A partner-operated Marine Science program through Catalina School Adventures provides outdoor education. The organization also operates seasonal and year-round employment programs and accepts volunteer contributions. CBS operates on land leased from the Catalina Island Conservancy and is accessible only by boat from the mainland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family Camp Christian family camp program held during summer months where families participate in waterfront activities, worship, Bible study, and fellowship in a cove setting on Catalina Island.
• Summer Youth Camp Overnight summer camp program for youth featuring waterfront recreation, group activities, worship, and Christian discipleship, designed for church youth groups and Christian organizations bringing students.
• InterVarsity Alumni Camp Camp program for InterVarsity alumni, their families, and friends featuring Christ-centered programming, fellowship, and recreation at the Catalina Island location.
• Guest Retreats Retreat programs for church groups, Christian schools, and ministries hosting their own programming at CBS facilities from March through May and August through November, including church retreats, men's and women's retreats, ministry team retreats, confirmation classes, and leadership retreats.
• Marine Science Camp (Catalina School Adventures) Marine science education program operated by Catalina School Adventures (CSA) offering Christ-centered hands-on lessons exploring marine life, island ecology, and conservation for school groups as one-day, three-day, and five-day programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75 years of continuous operation since 1951
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Catalina School Adventures (CSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024CSA is the exclusive outdoor education partner at Campus by the Sea, offering Christ-centered marine science programs from March through May and August through October. CSA provides all instructors for marine science camps while CBS provides lodging, facilities, meals, and equipment. Programs include one-day, three-day, and five-day options focusing on marine life, island ecology, and conservation from a biblical worldview.
• Catalina Island ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024CBS operates on land leased from the Catalina Island Conservancy, which protects 88% of Catalina Island's natural landscape and wildlife. This partnership enables CBS's unique location in Gallagher's Cove.
• Catalina ExpresscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Catalina Express provides ferry services transporting campers to CBS from mainland terminals in Long Beach, Dana Point, and San Pedro. CBS typically charters boats to bring guests directly to camp's pier. Smaller groups may travel on public Express boats to Avalon and transfer via shore boat.
• InterVarsity Christian FellowshipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021InterVarsity founded CBS in 1951. On January 1, 2021, Campus by the Sea Inc. became independent from InterVarsity. InterVarsity continues to hold alumni camps and chapter camps at CBS. CBS was created by InterVarsity and maintains close ties to the organization.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Forest Home: California-based Christian conference center and camp operating summer youth, family, and guest retreat programs. Comparable in faith-based programming, multi-decade operating history, and conference/retreat group serving church and ministry clients.
• Pine Cove (Timberline): Christian camp network in California and beyond operating summer youth camps, family camps, and guest retreats with similar waterfront and outdoor recreation focus. Comparable in faith-based mission, multi-program portfolio, and family/youth camp mix.
• Pali Adventures: Southern California-based specialty summer camp offering adventure, performing arts, and water sports programs for youth. Comparable in California location, focus on waterfront activities, and youth summer camp serving model.
• Hume Lake Christian Camps: Faith-based residential camp and retreat operator in California offering summer youth camps, family camps, and guest retreats with Christian programming. Directly comparable in mission, target audience (church groups, Christian schools, families), and California regional footprint.
• Thousand Pines Christian Camp: Southern California Christian camp offering summer youth, family, and guest retreat programs in a mountain setting. Comparable in California faith-based camp positioning, church/school group serving, and seasonal operating model.
• Catalina Sea Camp (Guided Discoveries): Operates summer camps and marine science programs on Catalina Island with similar waterfront activities like snorkeling, kayaking, and ocean exploration. Most directly comparable peer given shared island location, marine science curriculum, and seasonal camp model.
• Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center: Northern California Christian conference center and camp offering family camps, youth camps, and church/ministry retreats. Comparable in faith-based mission, multi-generational audience, and reliance on church group bookings.

Broad incumbents

• InterVarsity Christian Fellowship: National collegiate Christian organization that founded Campus by the Sea in 1951 and continues to hold chapter camps and alumni camps there. Comparable as the founding parent organization with shared mission, alumni network, and youth/student ministry focus.
• Young Life: National Christian youth organization operating summer camps, year-round clubs, and discipleship programs for adolescents. Comparable in faith-based youth programming, summer camp model, and dependence on church/school partnerships for referral pipeline.

Others

• Catalina Island Conservancy: Nonprofit land trust that owns and protects 88% of Catalina Island and leases the land on which CBS operates. Comparable as ecosystem partner that enables CBS's unique location rather than as a competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights2 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTCMhQ3gzg8K1uQUNjsRZiQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/campusbythesea
• Instagraminstagram.com/campusbythesea
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/campus-by-the-sea

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Campus By The Sea