Menno Haven Camp & Retreat Ctr

What Menno Haven Camp & Retreat Ctr does

Menno Haven Camp & Retreat Center is a private nonprofit Christian camp and retreat facility located on 231 acres in the rolling hills of north-central Illinois (Tiskilwa, IL), operating continuously since 1958. The organization serves youth, families, Mennonite and other church groups, school groups, and businesses through a dual model: hosting external groups for retreats and special events on its food, lodging, and meeting facilities, while simultaneously operating its own year-round programming that includes age-banded summer youth camps (Cottontail, Blue Jay, Junior High, High School, Adventure, Sports), family camps, GrandCamp (grandparents with grandchildren), women's retreats, winter retreats, and adventure education (high ropes, climbing wall, team-building). Lodging options span a hotel, dorms, cabins, and a tent/RV campground, supported by a dining hall, meeting spaces (Upper Lakeview Lodge, Conference Room, Pavilion, Lost Meadow), and recreation amenities (Eagle Wing Activity Center, pool, lake, ball field, hiking trails).

The business model combines multiple revenue streams: facility rental and retreat hosting for outside groups, program fees for operated camps and retreats, adventure education services, and donations/contributions. Customer acquisition is primarily driven by word-of-mouth within the Mennonite church community, alumni referrals, an annual Rally Day open house, email newsletters, and social media (Facebook, Instagram). Program registration is handled through the third-party CampBrain platform, enabling self-service online sign-ups. Operating geographies are limited to a regional North-central Illinois catchment, and the organization has no subsidiaries, no parent company, no external investment, and no public stock listing. A modest six-person full-time staff is supplemented by seasonal summer staff, SALT volunteers from Iowa Mennonite School, and a broader volunteer network (SOOP, Long Term Volunteers).

Name

Menno Haven Camp & Retreat Ctr

Legal name

Menno Haven Camp and Retreat Center

Website

https://mennohaven.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Menno Haven Camp & Retreat Center is a nonprofit Christian camp and retreat facility on 231 acres in north-central Illinois, serving Mennonite church groups, families, youth, schools, and businesses through lodging, programming, and adventure education since 1958.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Camp and Retreat Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps) (THAGAOAG), Cabin & Cottage Campgrounds (THAGAOAD)

Keywords

• Christian camp programs
• Retreat center hosting
• Youth summer camps
• Adventure education programs
• Group retreat facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

North-central Illinois

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

Revenue model

1. Facility Rental & Retreat Hosting: Menno Haven generates revenue by hosting external groups including church groups, family reunions, school groups, and businesses for retreats and special events. These groups rent the facilities including lodging (hotel, dorms, cabins, tent/RV campground), meeting spaces, dining, and recreation facilities.
2. Program Fees: Revenue from their own operated programs including summer youth camps (Blue Jay, Cottontail, Junior High, High School, Adventure, Sports, CROSS Training), family camps, GrandCamp (grandparents with grandchildren), women's retreats, and winter retreats. Programs include registration fees for overnight stays, activities, and meals.
3. Adventure Education Services: Revenue from adventure education programming including high ropes courses, climbing wall, team-building initiatives, and cooperative programs offered to external groups and their own camp participants.
4. Donations & Contributions: The organization accepts donations through their website and has received support for programs like Haven at Home Boxes during COVID-19, indicating a philanthropic revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Menno Haven Camp & Retreat Center is a nonprofit Christian camp and retreat center situated on 231 acres in north-central Illinois. The organization operates year-round summer youth camps, family camps, women's retreats, winter retreats, and adventure education programs featuring high ropes courses and climbing walls, while also hosting church groups, family reunions, school groups, and businesses for retreats and conferences.

Product overview

Menno Haven Camp & Retreat Center is a traditional camp and retreat facility offering a portfolio of lodging, dining, recreation, and programmed camp experiences. The facility provides overnight accommodations (Hotel, Dorms, Cabins, Tent/RV Campground), meeting/event spaces, and dining services. Its programming includes seasonal youth summer camps (Blue Jay, Junior High, Cottontail, Adventure, High School, Sports), family-oriented programs (Family Camp, GrandCamp), adult retreats (Women's Retreat), and winter retreats. Adventure Education programs offer teambuilding through ropes courses and climbing wall activities. Haven At Home provides remote programming options. The center operates year-round programs serving youth, families, churches, and groups on its 231-acre campus in north-central Illinois.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Youth Camps Multi-day overnight summer camp programs designed for children and youth, providing Christian-based programming, outdoor activities, and adventure experiences on the 231-acre property.
• Family Camps Multi-generational camp programs where families attend together to participate in shared outdoor activities, faith-based programming, and fellowship opportunities.
• GrandCamp Specialty camp program designed for grandparents and grandchildren to attend together, providing shared experiences and bonding activities.
• Women's Retreats Faith-based retreat programming designed specifically for women's groups, featuring Bible study, fellowship, recreational activities, and spiritual formation.
• Winter Retreats Cold-weather retreat programming offering winter-specific activities and indoor/outdoor experiences for groups during the off-summer season.
• Adventure Education Program High ropes course, climbing wall, and other adventure-based activities available to camp attendees and visiting groups for team building and outdoor recreation.
• Group Retreat Hosting Facility rental and hosting services for outside organizations including church groups, family reunions, school groups, and businesses seeking a retreat-style venue.

Quantifiable outcome

• 109 Haven at Home Boxes provided free of charge during COVID-19 pandemic 2020

Named customers3 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

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• EverenceminorOthers · 1 January 2020Everence sponsored the virtual 5K fundraiser that helped support the Haven at Home Box program during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
• Iowa Mennonite School (IMS)minorOthers · 1 January 2019IMS students participate in Service and Learning Term (SALT) program at Menno Haven, helping with renewable energy projects like solar panel installation, prairie burns, and facility maintenance.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Young Life: National Christian youth organization operating summer camps and year-round youth programs. Comparable in faith-based youth programming mission though operates at much larger national scale.
• Kampgrounds of America (KOA): Largest system of franchised campgrounds in North America. Comparable as a campground and outdoor lodging operator but serves a much broader, secular RV-traveler market at significantly larger scale.

Regional players

• Camp Chestnut Ridge: Non-denominational Christian camp in North Carolina offering summer camps and retreat facilities. Comparable in camp operations model but serves a different geographic region.

Direct peers

• Camp Friedenswald: Mennonite camp and retreat center in Cassopolis, Michigan serving similar church-community demographics with summer camps, family camps, and retreat hosting. Directly comparable in mission, programming model, and customer base.
• Spruce Lake Retreat: Christian retreat center in Pennsylvania offering family camps, youth programs, and retreat hosting with similar multi-generational programming focus and faith-based mission.
• Lake Lundgren Bible Camp: Christian summer camp in Wisconsin offering youth programs, family camps, and retreat hosting with similar mix of lodging, dining, and recreation amenities.
• Camp Hebron: Christian retreat and conference center in Pennsylvania providing lodging, meeting spaces, dining, and adventure programming. Comparable lodging-and-program business model with similar facility mix.
• Camp Pine Lake: Mennonite camp and retreat center in Eldora, Iowa offering summer camps, family camps, and retreat hosting. Closely comparable in scale, regional Mennonite focus, and program portfolio.
• Camp Sugarbrook: Mennonite camp in Michigan providing youth summer camps and retreat hosting for church groups. Comparable in mission, customer base, and faith-based program offerings.

Others

• Iowa Mennonite School: Mennonite secondary school whose students participate in SALT service-learning at Menno Haven. More of an ecosystem partner than a competitor, but comparable in serving the same Mennonite demographic.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/menno-haven-camp-&-retreat-ctr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Menno Haven Camp & Retreat Ctr