Crowders Camps

What Crowders Camps does

Crowders Camps, the doing-business-as name of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Now Outreach, is a non-denominational Christian camp ministry founded in 2014 by Jay Oliver and headquartered in Gastonia, North Carolina. The organization operates three physical camp properties in North Carolina — Crowders Ridge in Gastonia (acquired 2014, 400-person capacity), Crowders Springs in Kings Mountain (57 acres purchased 2019, officially opened January 2026), and South Mountain Christian Camp in Bostic (240 acres, Legacy Partnership completed January 2026) — serving an audience of church youth groups, schools, individual families, and at-risk youth through summer camps, year-round retreats, field trips, and mentorship programs. Group summer camps (Student Camp for grades 6-12 at $399/person; Kids Camp for grades 3-6 at $349/person) and individual camper registrations ($299/person at South Mountain) are bundled into four-night, 11-meal packages that include lodging, programming, and activities such as high ropes, aerial parks, laser tag, paintball, foam chutes, and waterfront programming.

The core technology is physical camp infrastructure rather than software: a portfolio of adventure activities (high ropes courses, an aerial park with xtreme zip, 4-lane winter foam chutes that operate without snow, tactical laser tag, paintball, mud runs, gaga ball, swimming pools, and waterfront) layered onto meeting spaces of varying capacities (The Barn holds up to 400 at Crowders Ridge; Crowders Springs accommodates up to 40 with cabin or bell-tent retreats). Booking and registration flow through the organization's website, third-party group registration forms (zfrmz.com), and a self-serve individual registration platform (campwise.com), while donation and fundraising activity is run through funraise.org's camp-a-thon platform — none of which represents proprietary technology.

The revenue model is a hybrid nonprofit structure combining fee-for-service camp and retreat programming with a substantial donor-funded scholarship program; 48% of campers at Crowders Springs and roughly 80% at South Mountain attend for free, supported by recurring donations, major gifts, planned giving, and naming opportunities. Go-to-market is primarily relationship-driven through youth pastors and church leadership across the Southeast, supplemented by direct outreach to schools (field trips), email/newsletter cultivation of donors and families, and social media presence; the organization had approximately 12 listed full-time staff and a deeper seasonal/college-staff layer supporting more than 20 weeks of combined summer programming across the three sites.

Name

Crowders Camps

Legal name

Now Outreach

Website

https://crowderscamps.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Crowders Camps (Now Outreach) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian camp ministry operating three North Carolina properties — Crowders Ridge, Crowders Springs, and South Mountain Christian Camp — serving church youth groups, schools, families, and at-risk youth with summer camps, retreats, field trips, and mentorship programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Summer Camp and Retreat Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (72121)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI), Traditional Campgrounds (Tent & Mixed-Use) (THAMAJAB), Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

Keywords

• Christian summer camps
• Youth retreat centers
• Outdoor adventure programs
• Camp ministry services
• Group retreat facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Gastonia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Group Camp Registration Fees: Churches and youth groups pay per-person fees for summer camp and retreat programs. Student camp is $399 per person for groups, Kids camp is $349 per person for groups. Includes lodging, meals, programming, and activities.
2. Individual Camp Registration Fees: Individual campers can register for camp sessions. Individual pricing at South Mountain is $299 per person. Includes 4 nights, 11 meals, all programming, and free giveaway items.
3. Group Retreat Rentals: Church groups, organizations, and schools book retreats at Crowders Ridge or Crowders Springs. Packages include meeting spaces, lodging, meals, and activities. Springs pricing is quote-based.
4. Scholarship Donations: Individual donors and supporters contribute to scholarship programs that allow campers who cannot afford camp to attend. The organization emphasizes that 48% of campers attended for free at Crowders Springs, funded by donors.
5. Donor Contributions & Planned Giving: Tax-deductible donations support camper scholarships, facility improvements, program development, and operational needs across all three locations. The organization accepts recurring donations, major gifts, naming opportunities, and estate planning gifts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Crowders Camps is a non-profit Christian camp ministry operating three camp properties in North Carolina (Crowders Ridge, Crowders Springs, and South Mountain Christian Camp). It sells overnight summer camp sessions, year-round group retreat rentals, day camp programs, and school field trips, delivering faith-based programming, lodging, meals, and adventure activities (high ropes, waterfront, laser tag, paintball, aerial park) to church groups, schools, and individual campers.

Product overview

Crowders Camps operates as a non-profit, non-denominational Christian camp ministry under the Now Outreach umbrella, offering three camp locations (Crowders Ridge, Crowders Springs, and South Mountain Christian Camp) across North Carolina. The organization provides a comprehensive portfolio of programs including overnight summer camps for students (grades 6-12) and kids (grades 3-6), group retreats, school field trips, leadership development programs, and employment opportunities. The three camp locations work together as an integrated ministry: Crowders Ridge serves as the original flagship location with capacity for 400 guests; Crowders Springs focuses on smaller groups and younger campers with capacity for 40 guests; and South Mountain Christian Camp adds a 240-acre legacy property established in 1974. Supporting programs include the Leadership Institute mentorship program for students from fatherless homes, Camp Leadership University (CLU) year-long training for college students, High School Interns program, College Summer Staff employment, and a Camper Scholarship program that has enabled 48% of Crowders Springs campers to attend for free.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Crowders Ridge The original Crowders Camps property in Gastonia, NC, offering overnight summer camps, group retreats (up to 400 guests), and day trips with facilities including The Barn meeting space, bunkhouses, cabins, dining lodge, pool, waterfront, paintball, laser tag, giant swing, and foam chutes.
• Crowders Springs A 57-acre camp property in Kings Mountain, NC, designed for smaller groups and younger campers with capacity up to 40 guests. Offers day camp, overnight camp, and retreats with The Hub meeting space, outdoor amphitheater, high ropes course, aerial park, creek activities, and cabin accommodations.
• South Mountain Christian Camp A 240-acre Christian camp in the Appalachian foothills of Bostic, NC, originally established in 1974. Offers summer camp, retreats, and field trips with activities including climbing, swimming, high ropes, banana boat, gaga ball, and putt putt. 80% of campers attend on scholarships.
• Student Camp

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ campers served annually at Crowders Ridge alone
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• South Mountain Christian Camp (Legacy Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2026In January 2026, Crowders Camps (Now Outreach) completed a Legacy Partnership with South Mountain Christian Camp, founded in 1974 by Captain O.A. Fish and Charlotte Fish. The partnership was completed when Captain Fish's family invited Crowders Camps founder Jay Oliver to carry forward the camp's vision. The South Mountain Board of Directors voted unanimously. The entire 240-acre property remains a Christian camp. South Mountain retains its name, and existing retreat bookings are honored. Donors can designate gifts specifically for South Mountain.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WinShape Foundation (WinShape Camps): Faith-based camp organization affiliated with Chick-fil-A that operates overnight summer camps for school-age children with similar programming (waterfront, ropes courses, small groups). Comparable Christian camp mission, target demographic, and resort-style facilities.
• Pine Cove: Christian summer camp network operating multiple properties across the Southeast and Texas, serving churches and families with overnight camps and retreats. Comparable faith-based mission, multi-property structure, and church-group customer base.
• CentriKid Camps: Lifeway-sponsored Baptist overnight summer camp program for grades 2-6, focused on church group attendance. Comparable target demographic, church-driven GTM, and multi-week summer programming model.
• Young Life: Large Christian youth ministry that runs summer camps and year-round programs targeting middle and high school students through church partnerships. Highly comparable mission, customer demographic, and camp-based delivery model, though at significantly greater national scale.
• Carolina Creek: Christian summer camp in Texas serving churches and youth groups with overnight programs, high ropes, and waterfront activities. Comparable Christian youth camp mission, church-group GTM, and activity-based programming.

Regional players

• Montreat Conference Center: Presbyterian retreat and conference center near Asheville, NC offering lodging, meeting facilities, and youth programs for church groups. Comparable denominational conference center model serving Southeast church and youth markets.
• Ridgecrest Conference Center (LifeWay Ridgecrest): Baptist retreat and conference center in the North Carolina mountains hosting church groups, youth retreats, and summer camps. Comparable retreat offerings, regional church customer base, and lodging/meeting space business model.
• Kanuga: Episcopal conference and retreat center in the mountains of western North Carolina offering year-round lodging, meeting space, and summer youth programs. Comparable North Carolina regional footprint and retreat programming for church groups and youth.

Emerging players

• Camp Twin Lakes: Georgia-based nonprofit operating year-round camp programs for children with serious illnesses, disabilities, and other life challenges, with significant donor-subsidized camper access. Comparable nonprofit camp model with scholarship-driven mission and multi-stakeholder funding base.
• Royal Family Kids: Faith-based nonprofit operating camps and mentor programs for children in foster care, with a donation-supported access model. Comparable mission-driven, donor-funded access philosophy and youth-focused programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crowderscamps

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Crowders Camps