Camp Wanake

What Camp Wanake does

Camp Wanake (legal name: Wanake Camp & Retreat Center) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Christian camp and retreat center founded in 1943 and operating as a ministry of the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. Located on 250 acres in Beach City, Ohio, the facility includes 47 buildings, Lake Arnold, a pool, challenge course, rock climbing wall, a newly dedicated observatory with resident telescope, Wanake Farm with animals, and various lodging (cabins, lodges, retreat centers, rustic camping areas). The camp pioneered small group decentralized camping on a national scale in the 1970s, organizing campers into "family groups" of up to 12 with adult counselors, a model now codified in its three-week staff training program.

The organization runs a portfolio of approximately 15 summer camp products spanning traditional adventure programs (Wanake Adventures, Wanake Adventures Advanced), themed specialty camps (Night Games, Moonlight Madness, Wet & Wild, Rock Lodge Quest, Fishing Camp, Animal Friends, Tails & Trails, Pool Daze/Pizzaz, Summer Games), short-term day camps (Discover Camp!), a teen leadership program (Leaders in Training), and SPC Advanced for adults with developmental disabilities. Year-round operations include facility rentals, outdoor education, themed retreats (Women's Spiritfire, Women's Winter Bible Study, Confirmation Retreat, Labor Day Family Weekend, Parent-Child Overnight), and hosting Walk to Emmaus weekends. The Rhythms of Faith Project, a five-year Lilly Endowment-funded initiative coordinated by Wheaton College's HoneyRock center, develops evidence-based family faith formation programming.

Revenue mechanics combine tiered summer camp registration ($530–$872 per camper, with Tier 1 subsidized by donors), facility rentals for retreat groups, individual donations, and volunteer labor. Customer segments span individual camper families, United Methodist church congregations, school groups, church retreat organizations, veterans' programs (Warrior's Journey Home), and the East Ohio Emmanuel Emmaus Community. Marketing relies primarily on church referral networks, supplemented by direct-to-consumer online registration via CampBrain, and organic social channels (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram).

Name

Camp Wanake

Legal name

Wanake Camp & Retreat Center

Website

https://campwanake.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1943

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wanake Camp & Retreat Center is a 501(c)(3) United Methodist-affiliated Christian camp on 250 acres in Beach City, Ohio, offering summer camp programs for children and teens, retreats for church groups and families, and inclusive programs for adults with developmental disabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Camp and Retreat Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus) (THAMAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI), Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)

Keywords

• Summer camp programs
• Christian retreat center
• Outdoor youth ministry
• Faith formation programs
• Facility rental services

Headquarters

HQ city

Beach City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Registration Fees: Tiered pricing model for summer camp programs with three tiers (Tier 1 subsidized by donors, Tier 2 & 3 covering true costs). Pricing ranges from $530-$872 depending on program, tier level, and early bird status.
2. Retreat and Event Rental: Facility rentals for retreat groups, confirmation retreats, women's retreats, family weekends, Walk to Emmaus weekends, and other community events. Pricing varies by event type and duration.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, campership contributions, memorial gifts, legacy gifts, planned giving, and Amazon Wish List contributions support camp operations and provide financial assistance to families.
4. Volunteer Support: Volunteer labor for maintenance, food service, administration, and program support, reducing operational costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Camp Wanake operates a 250-acre Christian camp and retreat center in Beach City, Ohio, delivering week-long residential summer camp programs for children and youth (grades 1-12), specialty themed camps (water, fishing, adventure, night games), short day camps, a teen leadership program (LIT), and an inclusive program for adults with developmental disabilities (SPC Advanced). The center also provides year-round facility rentals, themed retreats, outdoor education, and the Lilly Endowment-funded Rhythms of Faith family faith formation program.

Product overview

Camp Wanake is a Christian camp and retreat center offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs for children, teens, adults, and families. The core offering consists of summer camp programs spanning traditional adventure camps (Wanake Adventures, Wanake Adventures Advanced), themed specialty camps (Pool Daze, Pool Pizzaz, Night Games, Moonlight Madness, Wet & Wild, Rock Lodge Quest, Summer Games, Fishing Camp, Tails & Trails, Animal Friends), and short-term day camps (Discover Camp!). Teen leadership development is addressed through the Leaders in Training (LIT) program, while SPC Advanced serves adults with developmental disabilities. Beyond summer programming, Wanake operates year-round retreat services including facility rentals, outdoor education programs, and themed retreats (Women's Spiritfire Retreat, Women's Winter Bible Study Weekend, Confirmation Retreat, Labor Day Family Weekend, Parent-Child Overnight, Walk to Emmaus). A significant initiative is the Rhythms of Faith Project, a Lilly Endowment-funded family faith formation program. The camp is located on 250 acres in Beach City, Ohio, and operates facilities including lodges, cabins, rustic camping areas, retreat centers, Lake Arnold, and an observatory.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wanake Adventures Summer Camp Traditional residential summer camp for grades 1-12 offering campfire cooking, hiking, canoeing, fishing, rock climbing, team-building, biking, and art activities in a faith-developing environment.
• Wanake Adventures Advanced Camp Advanced adventure summer camp for grades 9-12 with build-your-own-adventure activities including raft building, canoeing, bouldering, rock climbing, swamp canoeing, outer-woods hike, waterfall hike, Baylor Beach day trip, and Tuscarawas River trip.
• Animal Friends Camp

Quantifiable outcome

• 452 summer campers welcomed in 2023 - most post-pandemic
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rhythms of Faith Project (Lilly Endowment Inc.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Wanake was selected as a partner camp and project grantee in this 5-year nationwide initiative. Wanake works with Wheaton College's Center for Leadership Development (HoneyRock) and Sacred Playgrounds to develop evidence-based family faith formation programs. The project equips camps to partner with parents and congregations to develop resilient faith in youth.
• East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1943Camp Wanake is a ministry of the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. The conference provides operational support, campership funding, and connects Wanake with member churches for camper referrals. The conference's camping program is an extension of the educational ministry of local United Methodist Churches.
• Wheaton College Center for Leadership Development (HoneyRock)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoneyRock coordinates the Rhythms of Faith Project, bringing together scholars and practitioners from Lutheran, United Methodist, and Evangelical traditions to capitalize on the power of camp for youth faith development.
• Sacred PlaygroundscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutdoor ministry research organization partnering in the Rhythms of Faith Project to conduct evidence-based action research.
• American Camp Association (ACA)minorOthersACA accreditation demonstrates Wanake meets camp industry standards for health, safety, and program quality. Wanake displays the ACA logo on its website indicating verified accreditation.
• Christian Camp and Conference Association (CCCA)minorOthersCCCA membership provides networking, resources, and industry connections for Christian camps. Wanake displays the CCCA logo on its website.
• Warrior's Journey HomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterans recovery program that uses Wanake facilities monthly for sweat lodge experiences and healing retreats. Supports combat veterans dealing with PTSD, survivor's guilt, and reintegration challenges through nature-based healing experiences at Wanake.
• East Ohio Emmanuel Emmaus CommunitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmmaus Community uses Wanake as host site for Walk to Emmaus three-day retreats for men and women. Provides venue, meals, and accommodations for this spiritual renewal ministry.
• United Methodist Churches in East OhiocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal churches refer families to camp, provide campership funding, and support the ministry financially. Churches are seeking partnerships with Wanake for family faith formation through the Rhythms of Faith Project.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pine Cove: One of the largest Christian summer camp networks in the U.S. operating family camps and retreat centers across multiple states. Directly comparable to Wanake as a faith-based, multi-site residential camp operator with church-partnership GTM and ACA accreditation.
• Kanakuk Kamps: Long-established (since 1926) interdenominational Christian family camp network based in Branson, Missouri. Comparable to Wanake in residential faith-formation programming, multi-week camp sessions, tiered pricing, and family camp branding.
• Sky Ranch: Non-profit Christian camp network with multiple residential and retreat sites across the U.S. Comparable to Wanake in faith-formation programming, ACA/CCCA accreditation, year-round retreat hosting, and church partnership distribution.
• SpringHill Camps: Christian summer camp network operating multiple residential sites with specialty programming and adventure activities. Compares to Wanake on faith-based residential summer camps, multi-site retreat operations, and church-partnership marketing.
• Camp Ozark: Premier Christian family summer camp network in Texas operating since 1947. Comparable to Wanake on multi-week residential summer camp programs, family-segment focus, tiered pricing, and faith-formation outcomes for similar age segments.
• Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center: United Methodist-affiliated camp and retreat center in New York state where current Wanake Camp Director Julie Lautt previously served for 11 years. Directly comparable on denominational ownership, residential summer programming, retreat hosting, and ACA/UMC operational standards.
• Camp Geneva: Midwest-based Christian camp and retreat center (Michigan) serving similar regional markets to Wanake. Closely comparable as a denominational-affiliated (Reformed Church) residential summer camp and year-round retreat facility serving faith-based youth and family segments.
• HoneyRock (Wheaton College Center for Leadership Development): Wheaton College's residential camp and outdoor leadership development program in Wisconsin. Directly comparable to Wanake as an academic-affiliated Christian camp AND is an explicit partner through the Rhythms of Faith Project with similar faith-formation programming and ACA accreditation.

Others

• American Camp Association (ACA): National accrediting body for camps of all types (over 3,000 accredited member camps). Wanake is ACA-accredited; ACA membership signals safety/quality accreditation common across all comparable residential summer camp operators.
• Christian Camp and Conference Association (CCCA): Industry trade association for Christian camps and conference centers of which Wanake is a member. Not a direct competitor but a key peer/industry body for benchmarking, accreditation support, and networking across the comparable Christian camp operator set.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@wanakecampandretreatcenter2599
• Facebookfacebook.com/CampWanake
• Instagraminstagram.com/campwanake
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-wanake

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Wanake