Charis Camp & Conference Centre

What Charis Camp & Conference Centre does

Charis Camp & Conference Centre is a registered Canadian non-profit Christian camp and conference facility located on a 17-20 acre property at 51935 Hack Brown Road, Chilliwack, British Columbia. Founded in 1947 by Reverend E.A. Lieske and Reverend A.G. Knopp, the organization operates continuously as a member of the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada and the Fellowship of Christian Camps, delivering summer overnight and day camps for children and youth aged 6-17, off-season youth retreats, spring break day camps, and year-round facility rentals (Lodge with 120 beds, Chalet, Lower Cabins, Tabernacle, Dining Hall, Gym, and tent sites) to church groups, school groups, corporate groups, and families.

The core product set is delivered at a single site and includes multi-tier summer camp programs (Junior, Middle School, Senior, and the Roots & Rings partnership camp with Camp Evergreen BC), leadership and discipleship tracks (LIT, Work Crew, LTD, Cabin Leader Support), outdoor adventure activities (climbing tower, archery, low-ropes course, seasonal heated pool), full catering for rental groups, and Cedar and Moss Coffee, an on-site public coffee shop. Registration is handled through the CampBrain third-party portal and direct phone/email inquiry, with marketing conducted primarily through organic Facebook and Instagram plus community word-of-mouth.

The revenue model is a hybrid of unit-priced camp registration fees ($157-$323 + GST per camper), per-night facility rentals ($125-$260 per room), group catering add-ons, walk-in coffee shop sales, and donation/fundraising revenue. The organization explicitly states that camp fees cover only approximately 50% of the actual cost per camper, with the remaining half subsidized through donations, creating a structurally donation-dependent model. A multi-stage dining hall redevelopment is currently underway to expand capacity, modernize facilities, and create permanent space for Cedar and Moss Coffee.

Name

Charis Camp & Conference Centre

Legal name

Charis Camp and Conference Centre

Website

https://chariscamp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Charis Camp & Conference Centre is a registered non-profit Christian camp and conference facility in Chilliwack, BC, founded in 1947, serving children, youth, church groups, schools, and families with summer camps, year-round facility rentals, and catering on a 17-20 acre property.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-based Camp and Conference Facility Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Conference Center Hotels (THAGALAF), Conference & Convention Center Catering (THAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Summer camp programs
• Conference facility rentals
• Youth retreat services
• Christian camping ministry
• Group catering hospitality

Headquarters

HQ city

Chilliwack

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Camp Registration Fees: Primary revenue stream from summer camp registrations for children and youth. Camp fees cover approximately half the cost of attending camp, with the remainder subsidized through donations and fundraising. Multiple camp programs offered at different price points ranging from $157 to $323 + GST.
2. Facility Rentals: The camp rents its facilities (Lodge, Chalet, Lower Cabins, Tabernacle, Dining Hall, outdoor spaces, tent sites) to guest groups including church groups, school groups, corporate groups, and families during off-season and throughout the year. Bookings require a 2-night minimum and 20-person minimum.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Charis Camp is a registered non-profit organization. Donations from individuals and organizations support camp affordability, facility enhancements, program expansion, and staff development. Donations can be made through CanadaHelps and directly to the Summer Missionary Program.
4. Cedar and Moss Coffee Shop: On-site coffee shop open to the public, Monday-Saturday 8am-6pm and Sunday 9am-3pm. Offers coffee, tea, and baked goods. Located at the back of the dining hall building.
5. Group Catering: Catering services are offered as an add-on to facility rentals, with pricing depending on the number of meals included between arrival and departure. Food is prepared in the dining hall kitchen.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Charis Camp & Conference Centre is a single-location Christian camp and conference facility that delivers residential summer camps, day camps, and youth retreats for children and youth ages 6-17, alongside year-round facility rentals, full catering, and leadership/discipleship programs. It also operates an on-site public coffee shop (Cedar and Moss Coffee) and rents its 17-20 acre property to church, school, community, and family groups for retreats, banquets, and team-building events.

Product overview

Charis Camp & Conference Centre operates as a single-location Christian camp and conference facility offering a portfolio of integrated programs and services. The core offering comprises residential summer camps for youth (ages 7-17), spring break day camps, and youth retreats, supplemented by year-round facility rentals of the Lodge, Chalet, Lower Cabins, Tabernacle, Dining Hall, and outdoor facilities for groups. A subsidiary brand, Cedar and Moss Coffee, serves as an on-site public coffee shop. Discipleship programs (LIT, Work Crew, LTD, CLS) and the Summer Missionary Program extend the camp's ministry model by developing youth leaders and supporting staff fundraising. All programs are delivered at a single 17-20 acre property in Chilliwack, BC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cedar and Moss Coffee: An on-site coffee shop offering high-quality coffees and teas made with Fort Langley's Repulica beans and Westholme Teas of Duncan, BC. Open to the public Monday-Saturday 8am-6pm, Sunday 9am-3pm.

Products and services

• Summer Camps Residential overnight and day summer camps for children and youth ages 7-17, including Junior Camps (ages 7-9), Sprouts Camp, Middle School Camps (Adventure tent camping, Emberwood), the Roots & Rings partnership camp with Camp Evergreen (ages 9-12), and Redwood Senior Camp (ages 14-17). Programs include activities such as archery, climbing wall, low ropes course, swimming, wide games, and chapel services.
• Facility Rentals Rental of camp facilities including the Lodge (120 beds, 145 capacity), Chalet (37 beds, 50 capacity), Lower Cabins (5 cabins with kitchenettes), Tabernacle (200-person capacity), Dining Hall (150 seats), Gym, Tent Sites (5 wall tents), and Outdoor Facilities, available to church groups, schools, community groups, and families with a 2-night and 20-person minimum.
• Spring Break Day Camp Day camp programming during spring break for children ages 6-9 and 10-12, featuring activities, wide games, campfires, and faith-based programming.
• Youth Retreats Off-season retreats for youth in grades 8-12, including the Fall Youth Retreat and Youth Discipleship Retreat, focused on leadership skills, spiritual growth, and community building.
• Cedar and Moss Coffee On-site public coffee shop offering coffee, tea (Republica beans from Fort Langley, Westholme Teas from Duncan BC), and baked goods in a natural setting with patio seating, open Monday-Saturday 8am-6pm and Sunday 9am-3pm.

Quantifiable outcome

• Camp fees cover only approximately 50% of the actual cost per camper, with donations subsidizing the remainder
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Evangelical Missionary Church of CanadacoreOthersCharis Camp is a member of the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada (EMCC). The camp's governing board and staff operate within this church network, providing organizational oversight and alignment with the EMCC's mission and values. This membership is central to the camp's identity as a Christian organization.
• Fellowship of Christian CampscoreOthersCharis Camp is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Camps, a network of Christian camps across Canada. The Fellowship provides peer support, best practices sharing, and collaboration among member camps. Charis has participated in joint work parties with the Fellowship (e.g., the dining hall basement renos work party mentioned in their projects page).
• Camp Evergreen BCflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharis Camp partners with Camp Evergreen BC to deliver the Roots & Rings (R&R) Camp program for children aged 9-12. The R&R program includes leadership, training, and discipleship (LTD) components for teens aged 13-17. This is a flagship partnership camp offered at Charis, with a dedicated cohort running July 19-24, 2026.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Camp Fircom: Faith-affiliated (United Church) camp near Vancouver offering summer youth camps, group rentals, and retreat programming on a multi-acre waterfront property. Closely comparable operating model with overlapping BC customer segments.
• Camp Qwanoes: Long-established Christian summer camp on Vancouver Island serving a similar youth demographic with multi-week residential programs, leadership tracks, and adventure activities. Comparable in mission, programming mix, and BC regional customer base.
• Camp Hatikvah: BC-based residential summer camp offering overnight programs for youth in a faith/values-based setting. Comparable target demographic, multi-night pricing structure, and reliance on community/donor support.
• Camp Squeah: Christian camp and retreat centre in the Fraser Valley with summer camps, leadership programs, and rental facilities. Operates in essentially the same geographic and demographic market as Charis and is a member of the same Fellowship of Christian Camps network.
• Stillwood Camp & Conference Centre: BC-based Christian camp and conference centre that mirrors Charis's dual camp-plus-rental positioning. Operates residential summer camps and year-round retreat rentals for church and community groups in the same regional market.
• Zajac Ranch for Children: BC-based charitable camp serving children and youth with overnight programming and group accommodations. Comparable mission-driven, multi-acre facility with rental and retreat functions, though focused on children with chronic illness and disabilities.
• Camp Evergreen BC: Faith-based residential camp in BC and the explicit co-developer of Charis's Roots & Rings flagship program. Operates a near-identical model of Christian overnight camps, retreats, and group rentals, making it the single most directly comparable peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/chariscamp
• Instagraminstagram.com/chariscamplife
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/charis-camp-&-conference-centre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Charis Camp & Conference Centre