Camp Wesley Woods

What Camp Wesley Woods does

Camp Wesley Woods is a nonprofit Christian camp and retreat center founded in 1959 and operated as a ministry of the Holston Conference Camping & Retreat Ministries of the United Methodist Church. Headquartered on a 700+ acre campus at 329 Wesley Woods Road in Townsend, Tennessee, in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, the organization serves children, youth, schools, churches, families, and corporate groups through three core programs: a multi-track Summer Camp portfolio (Discovery day camp, Basecamp, Adventure Junior/Senior, Leadership Programs, and Winter Camp), year-round Outdoor Education aligned with Tennessee State Standards, and Retreat Ministry for church and corporate groups. It serves more than 6,000 children, youth, and adults annually, with roughly 1,000 youth attending summer programs and approximately 5,000 participating in off-season outdoor education and retreats.

The organization's technology footprint is intentionally light: registration and administration run on CampBrain camp management software, and web design/hosting is provided by AIMS Computer Systems. There is no proprietary technology platform, mobile app, or disclosed AI capability. Operational infrastructure includes Tipton Lodge (dining), Nickle Lodge (sleeps 60), 10 cabins, an outdoor pool, challenge course, climbing tower, high ropes, and access to the Little River.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid nonprofit model: tiered camper fees (confidential three-tier pricing — heavily subsidized, partially subsidized, full cost), paid school outdoor education programs, retreat and lodging bookings, an annual Golf Tournament with structured sponsorship tiers, a Trail Run fundraiser, and donations including a Kroger Community Rewards program (Organization #55517). Approximately $35,000 is distributed annually in scholarships, supporting 10% of campers. The organization employs around 40 staff, is accredited by the American Camp Association, and is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees representing the Mountain View, Smoky Mountain, and Tennessee Valley Districts of the Holston Annual Conference.

Name

Camp Wesley Woods

Legal name

Camp Wesley Woods

Website

https://campwesleywoods.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Camp Wesley Woods is a nonprofit United Methodist summer camp, retreat center, and outdoor education facility on a 700+ acre campus in Townsend, Tennessee, serving roughly 6,000 children, youth, schools, churches, and corporate groups annually with tiered pricing and a $35,000 scholarship fund.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Summer 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

Eco-Camps & Sustainable Camping Retreats (THAGAOAE), Cabin & Cottage Campgrounds (THAMAJAD)

Keywords

• Summer camp programs
• Outdoor education
• Retreat ministry
• Youth ministry
• Conference retreat center

Headquarters

HQ city

Townsend

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Fees: Tiered pricing system for summer camp programs with three levels (Tier 1 heavily subsidized, Tier 2 partially subsidized, Tier 3 full cost) to make camp accessible. Families choose their payment tier confidentially.
2. Outdoor Education Programs: Schools pay for overnight or day educational programs. Pricing varies by length of stay, lodging choice, and class selections.
3. Retreat Ministry: Group retreat bookings with customizable lodging and programming packages for church groups, businesses, and families.
4. Golf Tournament: Annual fundraising golf tournament with player fees ($150/player) and sponsorship tiers (VIP $2,000, Lunch $1,500, Presenting $1,000, Champion $750, Hole $250). Proceeds benefit scholarship program.
5. Donations and Sponsorship: Annual giving campaign, Kroger Community Rewards, and general donations support the sponsorship fund that helps children attend camp. In 2022, 10% of campers received sponsorships totaling approximately $35,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Camp Wesley Woods operates a year-round camp and retreat center offering summer camp programs (Discovery day camp, Basecamp, Adventure, Leadership Programs, Winter Camp) for children and youth, outdoor education programs for schools aligned with Tennessee State Standards, and retreat ministry services for church groups, businesses, and families. The organization provides lodging, meals, and customizable adventure activities (challenge course, climbing tower, canoeing, caving, high ropes) across 700+ acres in the Great Smoky Mountains foothills.

Product overview

Camp Wesley Woods is a ministry of the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church offering a multi-faceted portfolio of services centered on youth development and outdoor experiences. The core offerings include Summer Camp Programs (overnight and day camp with Discovery, Basecamp, Adventure, and Leadership tracks), Winter Camp, and year-round Outdoor Education split into Adventure Education and Environmental Education components. Retreat Ministry provides customizable group retreats with lodging and programming options. The organization also operates Facilities and Lodging for external group bookings, and runs signature fundraising events including an Annual Golf Tournament and Trail Run. A tiered Sponsorship/Scholarship Program and Kroger Community Rewards partnership support financial accessibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Camp Programs Overnight and day camp programs for children and youth, including Discovery (day camp), Basecamp, Adventure (junior and senior), and Leadership Programs for teens. Registration is managed through CampBrain.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,000+ children, youth and adults served annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Holston Conference Camping & Retreat MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp Wesley Woods is part of the Holston Conference Camp and Retreat Ministries of the United Methodist Church. The board of trustees includes clergy and lay persons representing Mountain View, Smoky Mountain, and Tennessee Valley Districts of the Holston Annual Conference.
• KrogerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCamp Wesley Woods is a Community Rewards Partner with Kroger Stores. Community members can link their Kroger Plus Card to direct rewards to camp with organization number 55517.
• Church Partners (Adopt-a-Piece-of-Camp)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurches adopt cabins, trails, program areas, flower beds or other parts of camp, committing to keep those areas clean, safe, and functional. Examples include Broadway UMC (Tipton Lodge Porch), Concord UMC (Eagle Cabin & Bramwell House), Sweetwater UMC (Bear Cabin).
• Centennial Golf CourseminorOthersAnnual golf tournament held at Centennial Golf Course, 101 Centennial Blvd, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Tournament date April 27th, 2026.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Camp Glisson: United Methodist retreat center in Dahlonega, GA hosting summer camps, church retreats, and outdoor education — directly comparable multi-program UMC ministry in the Southeast.
• Camp Blue Ridge: United Methodist camp in Nelson County, VA offering summer camp and retreat ministry in a mountain setting — same UMC camp/retreat model in the broader Appalachian region.
• Lake Junaluska: United Methodist retreat and conference center in western NC hosting church groups, family retreats, and summer programming — comparable retreat ministry and denominational backing at a similar scale.
• Camp Tekoa: Western North Carolina UMC camp offering summer overnight/day camps, retreat hosting, and outdoor adventure programming in a mountain setting — directly comparable to Camp Wesley Woods on geography and program mix.
• Camp Mikell: United Methodist camp and retreat center in Toccoa, GA providing summer camp, retreat hosting, and outdoor programming — directly comparable denominational ministry with similar lodging and program offerings.
• Kanuga: Episcopal retreat center and summer camp in Hendersonville, NC operating in the western NC mountains with lodging, retreats, and youth programs — same geography, lodging-based retreat model, and faith-based customer base.
• Camp Bob: United Methodist camp in Livingston, TN serving youth with summer camp and retreat programming — Tennessee-based peer with same denomination, program structure, and target audience.
• Camp Widjiwagan (YMCA): YMCA-affiliated overnight camp and outdoor education provider serving youth with summer camp and school-year programming — broadly comparable outdoor youth development model with similar mission-driven positioning.
• Eagle's Landing Camp: United Methodist camp in Floyd, VA offering summer camp and retreat programs in a mountain setting — comparable UMC ministry with similar programming tiers.
• Camp Lookout: United Methodist camp on Lookout Mountain (TN/GA border) offering summer camp, retreat ministry, and outdoor education — a near-identical model to Camp Wesley Woods in mission, programming, and denominational affiliation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/166446490085721
• Instagraminstagram.com/campwesleywoods?ref=badge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-wesley-woods

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Wesley Woods