Plein Air Ville-Joie

What Plein Air Ville-Joie does

Plein Air Ville-Joie is a Quebec-registered non-profit charity (œuvre de bienfaisance, registration #085085 actually listed as #085035) operating an outdoor recreation base on the shores of Lac St-Pierre, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. The entity was created in 1992 as a non-profit spin-out from the Dominican Sisters of the Trinity, who in 2021 bequeathed the site and all buildings to the organization in perpetuity to continue the social mission. It serves as both a charitable outdoor recreation provider (camps, nature education, respite) and a commercial event venue (weddings, corporate retreats), with revenues from rentals and events cross-subsidizing accessible programming for underprivileged families through income-adjusted pricing of 35-60% discounts.

The organization runs year-round operations across roughly seven program lines (5-day all-inclusive family camp; 7-week summer day camp for ages 4-12; outdoor nature classes for school groups; March break day camp; La Relève youth employment preparation; respite days for children aged 5-12 with autism, ADHD, or other special needs) plus a rental portfolio of 4 event halls, 9 chalets/micro-chalets, and a 15-room Auberge rebuilt in 2026 following a June 2023 fire. Day-use access is sold at $5/adult and $3/child, and annual passes at $85-$120 grant unlimited site and equipment access. Le Castel 1954 and Paul Piché Traiteur provide partner catering. Underlying technology is standard off-the-shelf infrastructure with no proprietary platform: WooCommerce powers reservations and online payments (credit card, Klarna, Affirm), Microsoft 365/OneDrive handles internal operations, Google Analytics tracks web usage, and Hotjar captures session analytics.

Revenue mechanics span six streams: camp and recreation programming, facility and accommodation rentals, catering and bar services, day access and annual subscription passes, charitable donations, and individual memberships ($10/year with governance rights). Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the ville-joie.com booking system, walk-in at site, the Sports-Plus online platform for camp registration, and direct school outreach (Microsoft Forms) for Classes Nature. Funding comes from a diversified mix including federal, provincial, and municipal government partners, Centraide Montréal, and several smaller local foundations, supporting the social-economy model.

Name

Plein Air Ville-Joie

Legal name

Plein Air Ville-Joie

Website

https://ville-joie.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Plein Air Ville-Joie is a Quebec-registered non-profit charity operating an outdoor recreation base on Lac St-Pierre (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve) in Trois-Rivières, offering family camps, day camps, school nature classes, special-needs respite, event halls, chalet rentals, and a rebuilt Auberge, with revenue cross-subsidizing accessible programming for low-income families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Recreation and Hospitality Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds (721211), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Campground & Overnight Facilities Operations (Campsites, Cabins, Backcountry Huts) (THAAAGAE), Eco-Camps & Sustainable Camping Retreats (THAGAOAE), National Park & Conservancy Lodges (THAGAIAI)

Keywords

• Outdoor recreation programs
• Family camp services
• Camp de jour
• Chalet rentals
• Nature education classes

Headquarters

HQ city

Trois-Rivières

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, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Camp and Recreation Programming: Family camps, day camps, respite days, and nature classes for schools. Family camps offer 5-day all-inclusive packages with accommodation, meals, and animated activities. Income supports social mission.
2. Facility and Accommodation Rentals: Rental of 4 halls (Dominicaines, Desjardins, Fleuve, Préau), 9 cottages/chalets including micro-chalets, and the Auberge (inn). Revenue supports the social mission by cross-subsidizing accessible programs.
3. Catering and Bar Services: Restaurant and bar services for event clients and camp participants, including partner caterers Le Castel 1954 and Paul Piché Traiteur.
4. Day Access and Annual Passes: Daily site access fees ($5/adult, $3/child) and annual subscription passes for unlimited access to site and activities. Includes free lending of sports equipment.
5. Donations and Charitable Support: Donations from individuals and organizations supporting the charitable mission of accessible outdoor recreation for underserved families.
6. Membership Fees: Individual membership at $10/year allowing participation in AGM and candidacy for Board of Directors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Plein Air Ville-Joie operates a year-round outdoor recreation base on the shores of Lac St-Pierre (UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve) in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, providing family camps, day camps, nature classes for schools, respite days for children with special needs, youth employment preparation, event hall and chalet rentals, and a rebuilt Auberge inn. The charity cross-subsidizes accessible outdoor recreation for lower-income families through commercial rental and event revenue.

Product overview

Plein Air Ville-Joie is an outdoor recreation charity operating a 5-ecosystem nature base on Lac St-Pierre in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. The organization operates on a social economy model offering two interconnected portfolios: (1) Recreational Camps & Programs including Family Camp (all-inclusive 5-day packages), Day Camp (7-week summer program), Nature Classes (school outdoor education), La Relève youth employment prep program, March Break Day Camp, and Respite Days for children with special needs; (2) Rental Facilities including 9 Chalets/Micro-chalets, 4 Event Halls (Salle des Dominicaines, Salle Desjardins, Salle du Fleuve, Préau), and the rebuilt Auberge with 15 private rooms; plus (3) Daily Access Services including annual/multi-pass subscriptions and free nautical equipment loans via the Circonflexe program. The social mission focuses on making outdoor recreation accessible to lower-income families through income-based pricing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chalets (9 units) Rental cabins and micro-chalets for groups and families, including Chalet Colibri (14 beds), Chalet Bourgeois (59 beds), and four glamping micro-chalets. Used by families and event organizers for overnight stays at the outdoor recreation base.
• Salles (4 event halls) Event hall rentals including Salle des Dominicaines ($810), Salle du Fleuve ($560), Salle Desjardins ($260), and Préau ($325) for weddings, corporate events, and gatherings. Used by event organizers with optional bar service and catering.
• Forfaits Auberge (Inn Packages) Inn and room rental packages including Full Meeting Package and Complete Base Package with reconstructed inn, dining hall, and commercial kitchen access. Packages start at $1,750+.
• Camp Familial (Family Camp) Five-day all-inclusive family vacation packages including lodging, meals, and animated activities at the Lac St-Pierre waterfront location. Offers income-based pricing discounts ranging from 35% to 60% based on household size and gross annual income.
• Camp de Jour (Day Camp) Day camp program for children aged 4-12, running 7 weeks from June 25 to August 14, 2026, with activities including climbing, archery, kayaking, and nature exploration. Priced at $195/child/week.
• Classes Nature (Nature Classes) Outdoor activity days for school groups with at least 3 activity blocks, offered in fall (Sept 1 - Oct 31), winter (Nov 1 - Mar 31), and spring (May 1 - Jun 23) seasons. Pricing varies by season and format (with/without overnight).
• Camp de Jour de la Relâche (Spring Break Day Camp) March break day camp for children aged 5-9, offering winter activities including climbing, zipline, ice skating, snowshoeing, and snow fort building. Priced at $195/week for March 2-6, 2026.
• Programme La Relève Youth employment preparation program for teens too old for day camp, providing 67 hours of training across 3 cohorts (summer 2026) in animation, customer service, and food service sectors over two weeks. Priced at $390/cohort.
• Journées de Répit (Respite Days) Respite care days for children aged 5-12 with special needs (autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, communication disorders, behavioral disorders, intellectual or physical disabilities, Tourette syndrome), providing recreational activities in a safe outdoor environment while parents rest. Priced at $45/participant/day.
• Accès Journalier (Daily Site Access) Daily site access for visitors ($5/adult, $3/child) including beach, pool, hiking trail, disc golf, and Hébertisme obstacle course, plus free nautical equipment loans via Circonflexe program.
• Prêt d'embarcations nautiques (Free Nautical Equipment Lending) Free paddleboard, kayak, canoe, and CORCL rentals via the Circonflexe program on weekends from June 27 to September 6, 2026, in partnership with Unité Régionale de Loisirs et de Sports de la Mauricie.
• Carte d'Accès Annuel (Annual Access Pass) Annual access subscriptions: Family pass ($120 for 2 adults + 2 children) and Individual pass ($85 for 1 subscriber + 1 guest), providing unlimited site access year-round.
• Adhésion Membre (Individual Membership) Annual membership ($10) allowing voting rights at Annual General Meeting and eligibility to serve on the Board of Directors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Income-based discounts of 35% to 60% offered to families based on household size and gross annual income
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministère de l'Éducation du QuébeccoreOthersGovernment partner providing funding and support for educational programs including nature classes and summer camps. Contributes to accessibility mission.
• Gouvernement du CanadacoreOthersFederal government partner supporting the charitable mission through funding for accessibility and recreation programs.
• Ville de Trois-RivièrescoreOthersMunicipal government partner providing local support and funding for community recreation programs.
• Centraide MontréalcoreOthersMajor charitable funding partner supporting the organization's social mission of accessibility for underprivileged families.
• Unité Régionale de Loisirs et de Sports de la Mauricie / Centrale CirconflexecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional recreation authority partnership enabling the Circonflexe program providing free watercraft loans (kayaks, paddleboards, CORCLs) to site visitors. Seasonal program running summer 2026 with 15 CORCLs, 16 regular paddleboards, and 2 giant paddleboards.
• Les Sœurs Dominicaines de la Sainte TrinitécoreOthersOriginal founding religious order that transferred site ownership to Plein Air Ville-Joie in 2021 to maintain the social mission. Continued spiritual and historical connection.
• Innovation et Développement Trois-RivièresminorOthersLocal economic development organization supporting regional tourism and recreation development.
• Fonds d'aide des Bingos de Trois-RivièresminorOthersLocal charitable funding partner supporting community organizations in Trois-Rivières.
• Fondation Ensemble pour l'Enfance du Club Richelieu de Trois-RivièresminorOthersCharitable foundation supporting childhood programs, associated with the Ensemble pour l'Enfance swimming pool.
• Diocèse de Trois-RivièresminorOthersDiocesan partner with historical connections to the founding religious order.
• Fondation Adrénaline UrbaineminorOthersFoundation supporting urban adventure and sports programs.
• Mercier Autoroute 40minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatural partnership with regional highway company enabling the Labyrinthe Mercier40 adventure activity on site. New obstacle course/platform activity available from 2025.
• Technic AlarmeminorOthersSecurity alarm company associated with parking area (Stationnement Technic Alarme). Provides infrastructure support.
• Le Castel 1954minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecommended catering partner for events at the venue. Clients contact directly for catering services.
• Paul Piché TraiteurminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecommended catering partner for events at the venue. Clients contact directly for catering services.
• Fédération Québécoise du KiteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuebec kitesurfing federation listing Plein Air Ville-Joie as an approved practice site on their member site map.
• Tourisme Trois-RivièresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated member of regional tourism organization promoting the site as a tourism destination.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• YMCA Canada: YMCA Canada runs charitable outdoor recreation programs including summer camps and family wellness activities across the country. The mission-aligned, donation-supported model, multi-site camp operations, and focus on accessibility for under-served families make it a directly comparable charitable outdoor recreation operator.
• Scouts Canada: Scouts Canada operates a network of camps and outdoor adventure properties across Canada offering subsidized youth programming, camping, and outdoor education. It is comparable as a charitable, donation-supported operator of multi-activity outdoor camps focused on youth development and accessibility.
• Camp Trillium: Camp Trillium is a registered charity operating residential summer camps and year-round recreational programs for children and families with serious illnesses in Ontario. It is directly comparable as a mission-driven charitable camp operator offering subsidized programs, family respite, and community-funded recreation on a natural site.
• Base de plein air de Sainte-Foy: Base de plein air de Sainte-Foy is a Quebec outdoor recreation base offering chalet rentals, group accommodations, and year-round outdoor activities. It is directly comparable as a similar Quebec outdoor recreation center with rental accommodations, school programs, and family-oriented activities in a single multi-use natural site.

Broad incumbents

• Sépaq: Sépaq is the Quebec government network that operates national parks with campgrounds, cabins, and outdoor activities across the province. While it is a much larger public-sector operator, it is directly comparable because it provides accommodation, camping, and nature-based recreation on protected natural sites in Quebec, including on biosphere reserves.
• Camping Québec: Camping Québec is the provincial association representing private campground operators in Quebec. It is comparable as a comparable industry body and competitive set for campgrounds with cabins, glamping units, and family-oriented amenities in Quebec.
• KOA: Kampgrounds of America (KOA) is the largest North American campground franchise system, with properties offering tent/RV sites, cabins/deluxe cabins, and family-oriented amenities. It is comparable as a benchmark for multi-tier accommodation and amenity-led campground operations, though it operates at vastly larger scale and for-profit.

Regional players

• Éco-Nature (Parc-nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies): Éco-Nature operates the Parc-nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies, a nature park on the shores of the Rivière des Prairies in the Montreal region. It is comparable as a regional non-profit operator managing a nature park with interpretive trails, outdoor activities, and school programs, though it is positioned in a different regional market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3bLMXYX0eSSgNZE_6uur0w
• Facebookfacebook.com/pleinairvillejoie
• Instagraminstagram.com/pleinairvillejoie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plein-air-ville-joie

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Plein Air Ville-Joie