Maine Summer Camps
Maine Summer Camps is a Portland, Maine-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization serving 150+ member camps, Maine families, and camp-business vendors through directory tools, advocacy, the Junior Maine Guide Program, and the Level Ground Initiative.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Maine Summer Camps does
Maine Summer Camps (MSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization headquartered in Portland, Maine, with eight staff supporting the Maine youth camping industry for more than a century. MSC serves three constituent groups: families seeking summer camp experiences for children, Maine youth camp operators, and businesses supplying goods and services to camps. Core offerings include the Find-A-Camp directory tool listing 145+ member camps, a Summer Camp Jobs board for seasonal staffing, the Junior Maine Guide Program (a youth outdoor skills certification operated jointly with the Maine State Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife since 1937), and the Level Ground Initiative (a tuition-free camp scholarship program for underserved, immigrant, and refugee children launched in 2018).
The underlying technology is intentionally lightweight and not a differentiator: a WordPress-based public website and CMS, PayTrace/Nationwide for payment processing, and Google Analytics for traffic analysis. No mobile application, no AI/ML features, and no proprietary software products are disclosed; the Find-A-Camp tool functions as a structured directory rather than a sophisticated matching platform.
MSC's business model is a hybrid nonprofit membership and donation-funded operation. Revenue is generated from annual membership dues paid by more than 150 camp and business members, fees from events and programs (including the Junior Maine Guide's $34 Art of Outdoor Living manual), and charitable contributions directed at general operations, camperships, and the Level Ground Initiative. The organization distributes its services through its website, an annual in-person camp fair in Portland, virtual job fairs, email newsletters, and community partnerships with schools and nonprofits. Notable recent financial support includes a $100,000 L.L. Bean donation for camperships plus $25,000 for Level Ground administration in 2023.
Maine Summer Camps firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Maine Summer Camps
- Legal name
- Maine Summer Camps
- Website
- https://mainecamps.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Maine Summer Camps is a Portland, Maine-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization serving 150+ member camps, Maine families, and camp-business vendors through directory tools, advocacy, the Junior Maine Guide Program, and the Level Ground Initiative.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Maine Summer Camps industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Camp Association Services
- NAICS
- Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA)
Keywords
Where Maine Summer Camps is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Maine Summer Camps business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Maine Summer Camps is financially supported in large part by dues from its more than 150 business and camp members. These membership dues fund the organization's operations and programs including the Level Ground Initiative and Junior Maine Guide Program.
- Event Fees: Revenue generated from events, workshops, camp fairs, job fairs, and sponsorship opportunities available to members.
- Program Fees: Fees for the Junior Maine Guide Program including the Art of Outdoor Living program at $34.00 with shipping.
- Donations: Charitable contributions from individuals and organizations supporting MSC programs including general operating, educational events, camperships, the JMG program, and the Level Ground Initiative.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Camp Membership - Annual dues for youth camps |
| Subscription | Annual | Business Membership - Annual dues for business members |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Junior Maine Guide Program - Art of Outdoor Living |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Maine Summer Camps product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Maine Summer Camps is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization that supports and promotes Maine youth camps through a Find-A-Camp directory of 145+ member camps, a Summer Camp Jobs Board, camp and business membership programs, an annual camp fair, the Junior Maine Guide outdoor skills certification program (jointly with Maine State Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife), and the Level Ground Initiative scholarship program that funds tuition-free camp experiences for underserved, immigrant, and refugee children.
Product overview
Maine Summer Camps is a nonprofit membership organization that operates primarily as a directory and resource platform connecting families with Maine youth camps. The core offerings include the Find-A-Camp Tool for searching 145+ member camps, a Summer Camp Jobs Board for staffing, plus two specialized programs: the Level Ground Initiative (providing tuition-free camp experiences to underserved children) and the Junior Maine Guide Program (outdoor skills certification for youth). The organization also publishes a blog and manages member business services including payment processing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Find-A-Camp Tool
- Summer Camp Jobs Board
- Level Ground Initiative
- Junior Maine Guide Program
- Camp Membership
- Business Membership
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 160 underserved children served in single season through Level Ground Initiative
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Maine Summer Camps
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Maine Summer Camps technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Maine Summer Camps partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Maine State Department of Inland Fisheries & WildlifecoreJoint partnership established in 1937 by the Maine State Legislature to operate the Junior Maine Guide Program, an outdoors skills program for youth ages 9-18 promoting Maine wilderness recreation and environmentally responsible land use practices.
- King Middle SchoolcoreCommunity partner in Level Ground Initiative, helping identify and work with immigrant and refugee children and their families to make camp experiences possible since the program's inception in 2018.
- Portland Community SquashcoreCommunity partner in Level Ground Initiative, contributing expertise in identifying and supporting children from underserved populations to access summer camp experiences.
- Prosperity MainecoreCommunity partner in Level Ground Initiative, helping identify and refer children from immigrant and refugee communities to access tuition-free camp experiences.
- American Camp Association (ACA)coreMSC aligns with ACA and ACA New England for advocacy, standards development, and professional support. MSC played a key role in working with ACA to resolve regulatory issues affecting Maine camps and camps nationwide.
- Camp BishopswoodcoreParticipating camp in Level Ground Initiative since the program's inaugural year in 2018, providing full scholarships for Level Ground campers including supplies, equipment, uniforms, trips, travel, and medical costs.
- Agassiz VillagecoreParticipating camp in Level Ground Initiative, hosting 14 Level Ground campers in 2024. Aligns with Agassiz's mission to provide a nurturing community that welcomes all and assists in developing each child's personal vision.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Maine Summer Camps competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MySummerCamps: Online camp directory and resource site serving families seeking summer programs; directly comparable to MSC as another digital camp-discovery channel competing for the same family audience.
- American Camp Association: National nonprofit membership association advancing the camp industry through accreditation, advocacy, and professional development; directly comparable to MSC's role as the Maine state-level association serving 150+ youth camps.
- SummerCamps.com: National camp search and directory platform helping U.S. families find overnight, day, and specialty camps; competes head-to-head with MSC's Find-A-Camp tool on directory and matching capabilities.
Others
- Independent Sector: National membership coalition of nonprofits and foundations; comparable to MSC as a membership-supported nonprofit operating with a small staff to convene members, advocate on policy, and advance a sector agenda.
Regional players
- American Camp Association New England: Regional chapter of ACA covering New England; serves many of the same MSC member camps through joint accreditation, events, and advocacy and represents a comparable regional membership association layer.
Emerging players
- CampMinder: Camp management software platform serving summer camps with registration, billing, and family communication; adjacently comparable to MSC's role as the digital backbone of Maine's camp ecosystem.
- Active Network Camps (Camps with Friends): Camp discovery platform with optional registration and activity planning features; overlaps with MSC's Find-A-Camp directory on family discovery for overnight and day camps and represents an emerging digital-first peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Maine Summer Camps social profiles
Digital presenceMaine Summer Camps financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Maine Summer Camps leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Maine Summer Camps funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Maine Summer Camps M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Maine Summer Camps
What does Maine Summer Camps do?
Maine Summer Camps is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization that supports and promotes Maine youth camps through a Find-A-Camp directory of 145+ member camps, a Summer Camp Jobs Board, camp and business membership programs, an annual camp fair, the Junior Maine Guide outdoor skills certification program (jointly with Maine State Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife), and the Level Ground Initiative scholarship program that funds tuition-free camp experiences for underserved, immigrant, and refugee children.
Is Maine Summer Camps a public or private company?
Maine Summer Camps is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Maine Summer Camps founded?
Maine Summer Camps was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Maine Summer Camps based?
Maine Summer Camps is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Maine Summer Camps make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are event Fees, program Fees and donations.
Who are Maine Summer Camps's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MySummerCamps, American Camp Association and SummerCamps.com. Independent Sector is listed as an others. American Camp Association New England is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are CampMinder and Active Network Camps (Camps with Friends).
Does Maine Summer Camps have an API?
No public API is recorded for Maine Summer Camps.
What industry is Maine Summer Camps in?
Maine Summer Camps's product category is Youth Camp Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMALAA, Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports), with a secondary code of MPAKAJAA, Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps). Its NAICS code is 721214 and its SIC code is 8600.