Ekone Ranch

What Ekone Ranch does

Ekone Ranch, operated by Sacred Earth Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust stewarding approximately 1,300 acres in the upper Rock Creek watershed of south-central Washington State, near Goldendale. Founded in 1972 by Ray Mitchell and formally incorporated as Sacred Earth Foundation in 1986, the organization operates an integrated portfolio of nature-based programs centered on a horse herd, off-grid facilities, and 20 acres of natural burial ground within its holdings. Core offerings span summer camps for ages 8-18 (horse, art, music, theater, wilderness, cooking, leadership, and rites of passage programs), the White Eagle Memorial Preserve conservation burial ground, multi-night school field trips, adult retreats and trail rides, seasonal volunteer workparties, and 2-6 month residential internships. All programming is delivered on-site; no drop-in visits are permitted and all engagement requires advance coordination.

The business model is a hybrid of earned income and philanthropy, with the organization stating that approximately 50% of its operating budget is generated through earned income — camp tuition ($900-$1,700 per session), cemetery site sales ($980-$4,000), school field trip fees ($70-150 per person per night), and adult program fees — with the remaining 50% sourced from donations, grants, and the Barbed Wire Ball annual fundraiser. A tiered Base Rate / Restoration Rate pricing model invites higher-paying participants to direct the difference as a tax-deductible donation, supporting the organization's scholarship program that serves approximately 20% of campers annually. The organization holds Green Burial Council certification as a Conservation Burial Ground and is a founding member of the Conservation Burial Alliance.

Infrastructure consists of off-grid solar power with diesel backup, recently rebuilt facilities (Bunkhouse, Yummy Tummy Cafe, Bathhouse, septic system) funded by a $2 million Saddle Up! Capital Campaign completed in 2018-2022, and a 20-acre cemetery at approximately 2,500 feet elevation. Year-round staff of 5 is augmented by seasonal staff, workparty volunteers, and residential interns. The organization maintains a formal partnership with Yakama Nation Cultural Resource Representatives for land access and cultural resource stewardship, and collaborates with facilitators including a licensed therapist and School of Lost Borders-trained rite-of-passage guide for youth programming.

Name

Ekone Ranch

Legal name

Sacred Earth Foundation

Website

https://ekone.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ekone Ranch, operated by Sacred Earth Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust stewarding 1,300 acres in south-central Washington, offering summer camps, natural burial, school field trips, adult retreats, and volunteer programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Summer Camp and Conservation Burial Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Horses and Other Equine Production (11292), Horses and Other Equine Production (112920)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI), Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL), Horse Boarding, Livery & Stable Operations (AFAEAGAG)

Keywords

• Summer camp programs
• Natural burial services
• Conservation burial ground
• Horse connection programs
• Outdoor education retreats

Headquarters

HQ city

Goldendale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Earned Income - Programs: Summer camps, school field trips, adult retreats and programs, and cemetery services (burial sites and services). Approximately 50% of operating budget comes from earned income.
2. Philanthropy and Grants: Donations, grants, and the Barbed Wire Ball annual fundraiser. Approximately 50% of operating budget depends on philanthropic donations and grants.
3. Burial Site Sales: Sale of cemetery sites ($3,000 baseline) with endowment care fund ($300) and burial fees ($700). Sites can be purchased pre-plan or at time of need. Payment plans available up to 3 years.
4. Camp Tuition: Summer camp tuition ranging from $900-$1,700 depending on session type and Restoration Rate model. 20% deposit required at registration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Ekone Ranch, operated by Sacred Earth Foundation, is a 1,300-acre land trust that offers summer camps for children and teens (horse, art, music, theater, wilderness, cooking, leadership, and rites of passage), natural burial services at the White Eagle Memorial Preserve, multi-day school field trips, adult retreats and trail rides, and volunteer/internship programs. Programs are delivered on-site at the ranch in south-central Washington State and serve thousands of children and adults annually.

Product overview

Ekone Ranch, operated by Sacred Earth Foundation, is a 1300-acre land trust offering a diverse portfolio of programs centered on land stewardship, youth development, and nature connection. The core offerings include multiple summer camp programs (horse camps, art, music, theater, wilderness, cooking, leadership, and rites of passage camps), the White Eagle Memorial Preserve natural burial ground, school field trips, adult retreats and trail rides, and volunteer/internship opportunities. The Yummy Tummy Cafe provides meals for all programs, while the Bunkhouse and camping areas provide lodging. Annual events include the Barbed Wire Ball fundraiser. The portfolio functions as an integrated system where camps share facilities, horses, staff, and the land itself, with proceeds from various programs supporting organizational sustainability and land conservation goals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Camp Programs A portfolio of residential summer camps for children and teens ages 8-18 (and select programs for ages 10-16) including horse camps (Young Rider, All Levels, Advanced Riding, Wrangler, Horse Connection), Art Camp, Music Camp, Theater Camp, Wilderness Camp, Harvest Cooking Camp, Teen Leadership Camp, and Rites of Passage for Teens. Sessions range from 6-day programs with daily riding, horse care, and ranch activities to specialized creative and leadership tracks. Pricing ranges from $900 to $1,700 depending on session, with a Base Rate and Restoration Rate tiered model. Approximately 20% of campers receive scholarship support.
• White Eagle Memorial Preserve A Green Burial Council-certified Conservation Burial Ground spanning 20 acres within the 1,300-acre land trust, offering natural burial services with biodegradable materials, hand-prepared graves, handmade shrouds and pinewood caskets from sustainably harvested local wood, and family participation. Full burial sites are 20x20 feet at $3,000 baseline plus $300 endowment care and $700 burial fee ($4,000 total). Cremated remains sites are 10x10 feet at $980 total. Payment plans available up to 3 years.
• School Field Trips Multi-day field trips for K-12 school groups accommodating up to 50 participants, with customized curriculum including land activities, ranch projects, crafts, and animal programs that support classroom learning and class cohesion. Priced at $70-150 per person per night depending on curriculum, with reduced rates available for equity access.
• Adult Retreat and Trail Ride Programs A collection of adult programs for ages 18+ including Adult Horse Connection Camp (4 days, $600-$750), Adult Trail Ride Camp (3 days, $1,000-$1,400 with sliding scale spaces for BIPOC/marginalized identities), Adult Personal Retreat Camp (3-5 days, $200-$560), and Ekone Bird Nerds Spring Excursion (2 days, $85-$115). Programs focus on horse connection, solitude, nature exploration, and personal growth.
• Internship Programs Residential volunteer internship programs lasting 2-6 months with focus areas in garden, forestry, cemetery, horses, kitchen, facilities, and programs. Offers deep skill development and mentorship from staff. Teen Leadership Camp serves as a prerequisite for the intern program.
• Workparties Seasonal volunteer gatherings where participants contribute to ranch stewardship through forestry, gardening, grave digging, and infrastructure projects while enjoying community meals and camping. Workparties serve as an introduction to the ranch and a pathway to deeper engagement.
• Barbed Wire Ball Annual fundraiser and family festival featuring pony rides, beer garden, live music, games, home cooking, auctions, and camping over a weekend. Brings together 300+ supporters and involves 60+ volunteers and staff.
• Family Camp A 4-day multi-generational camp bringing families together for forest walks, pony interactions, rope swings, music, and shared meals over a long weekend at Ekone Ranch. Base Tuition $350; Restoration Rate $500 per person aged 6+. Limited to 10 families.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 20% of campers receive scholarship support each year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Klickitat County Conservation DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Conducted a Cultural Resource Survey in the Ekone Ranch valley in 2018 with Yakama Nation Cultural Resource Representatives to determine the nature of Indigenous presence and purpose on the land.
• Green Burial CouncilcoreOthersWhite Eagle Memorial Preserve is certified through the Green Burial Council as a Conservation Burial Ground. This certification provides third-party validation of natural burial practices and environmental stewardship standards.
• Conservation Burial AlliancecoreOthersWhite Eagle Memorial Preserve is a founding member of the Conservation Burial Alliance, a national non-profit dedicated to supporting Conservation Burial Grounds through advocacy, education, and standards development.
• Yakama Nation Cultural Resource RepresentativesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for cultural resource surveys and ongoing land stewardship. Yakama Nation representatives participate in land management decisions and access facilitation.
• Sacred Groves (Therese Charvet & Tere Carranza)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Sacred Groves facilitators for Spirit n' Soul Quests adult retreat program offered at Ekone Ranch in August 2026.
• Kay AltonminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLicensed therapist co-facilitating Rites of Passage for Teens program at Ekone. Brings clinical expertise to youth development programming.
• Kika KielpinskaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFacilitator trained in rites of passage through School of Lost Borders. Co-facilitates teen rites of passage programs with Kay Alton.
• Funeral Home Partners (Columbia Hills Memorial Chapel)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorColumbia Hills Memorial Chapel in Goldendale provides body transport, refrigeration storage, and related funeral services for cemetery clients when needed, particularly during winter weather closures.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NatureBridge: Multi-site environmental education nonprofit operating residential science programs for schools and families. Comparable to Ekone's school field trips and nature-based youth programming on a larger geographic footprint.
• Honey Creek Woods: Conservation burial ground in Texas, Green Burial Council certified. Directly comparable to White Eagle Memorial Preserve in burial service model and conservation ethos.
• Ramsey Creek Preserve: Pioneering conservation burial ground in South Carolina and a foundational member of the Conservation Burial Alliance. Directly comparable to White Eagle Memorial Preserve in certification, mission, and natural burial service model.
• Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery: Florida-based conservation burial ground offering natural burial within a protected landscape. Closely comparable to White Eagle Memorial Preserve in combining land stewardship with green burial services.
• IslandWood: Washington State-based outdoor learning nonprofit offering overnight school programs and summer camps. Closest geographic and mission peer to Ekone's school field trips and youth camps.

Broad incumbents

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on land conservation and creating parks near people. Comparable conservation/land trust mandate but does not operate camps, schools, or cemetery services.
• The Nature Conservancy: Largest global land trust acquiring and stewarding conservation lands. Comparable to Ekone's land trust model but at vastly larger scale and without Ekone's integrated camp and burial operations.

Regional players

• Wolf Haven International: Washington State nonprofit sanctuary for captive-born wolves offering tours, education, and conservation programs. Comparable to Ekone as a Pacific Northwest nonprofit combining land stewardship, education, and visitor experiences.

Others

• Green Burial Council: Industry certification body that certifies Ekone's White Eagle Memorial Preserve. Not a peer operator but a standards-setting organization whose network of certified grounds defines Ekone's competitive set.

Emerging players

• YMCA Camp Orkila: Pacific Northwest residential summer camp offering outdoor education and youth development. Comparable to Ekone's summer camp portfolio but at larger scale and without cemetery or land trust operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/EkoneRanch
• Facebookfacebook.com/ekoneranch
• Instagraminstagram.com/ekoneranch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ekone-ranch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Ekone Ranch