The Wayfinder Experience

What The Wayfinder Experience does

The Wayfinder Experience (legal entity Wayfinder Adventures, INC) is a New York-based nonprofit organization founded in 2001 that designs and delivers Live Action Roleplay (LARP) programs for youth and adults. Operationally, it runs overnight camps at Holmes Camp, day camps at additional sites, year-round youth and adult programs, and free community events such as Writing Workshops at the Stone Ridge Library. The core "technology" is a proprietary experiential methodology in which staff — trained in improvisational theater, story writing, and cooperative stage combat — facilitate cooperative play, storytelling, and costume-based character roleplay in fantastical settings, framed as youth development and personal empowerment.

The business model combines three revenue streams: camp and program registration fees (sold via the CampBrain self-serve registration platform), donations channeled through the Zeffy-powered Hero Fund scholarship program, and merchandise sales through a Threadless storefront. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; overnight camps are currently sold out with a waitlist. The organization supplements these streams with a documentary film used for brand and fundraising purposes, and distributes content through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, a Zeffy newsletter, and a thematic blog.

The company serves a dual customer base: a primary segment of youth and families seeking immersive, community-accepting experiential programming with scholarship access via the Hero Fund, and a secondary adult segment seeking LARP community experiences. Geographically it operates regionally in the Northeast United States from a Kingston, NY headquarters (61 O'Neil Street) with 23 employees. Ownership is independent nonprofit; there is no parent company, no disclosed institutional backing, and no disclosed M&A activity.

Name

The Wayfinder Experience

Legal name

Wayfinder Adventures, INC

Website

https://wayfinderexperience.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Wayfinder Experience is a Kingston, NY nonprofit founded in 2001 that runs Live Action Roleplay (LARP) camps and year-round programs for youth and adults, funded through registration fees, the Hero Fund scholarship donations, and merchandise sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Experiential Education and Summer Camps

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Live action roleplay
• Youth summer camps
• Experiential education programs
• Cooperative storytelling workshops
• Nonprofit youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Camp and Program Fees: Registration fees for camps including overnight camps and day camps for youth and adults
2. Donations and Financial Support: Hero Fund scholarship program accepting donations to support kids and teens in financial need who want to attend camp
3. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling merchandise through Threadless platform

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Wayfinder Experience operates immersive Live Action Roleplay (LARP) programs centered on cooperative play and storytelling, delivered through overnight camps at Holmes Camp, day camps, dedicated adult programs, and youth day events. Programs are led by staff specifically trained in improvisational theater, story writing, and cooperative stage combat. The nonprofit supplements its core programs with the Hero Fund scholarship for youth in financial need and a documentary about its community impact.

Product overview

The Wayfinder Experience operates a unified LARP (Live Action Roleplay) program portfolio centered on youth development through cooperative play and storytelling. The core offerings include overnight camps and day camps (with overnight camps located at Holmes Camp), complemented by separate Adult Programs and Youth Programs tracks. The organization supports accessibility via the Hero Fund scholarship program and extends its reach through a documentary. All programs share a common approach using improvisational theater, story writing, and cooperative stage combat training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Camps Immersive Live Action Roleplay (LARP) camp programs for youth, including overnight camps at Holmes Camp and day camps, featuring cooperative play, storytelling, costumes, and character roleplay in fantastical settings, led by staff trained in improvisational theater, story writing, and cooperative stage combat.
• Youth Programs Day events and programs introducing young people to Live Action Roleplay through cooperative play, storytelling, and age-appropriate activities, designed for children and teens seeking creative expression and community.
• Adult Programs LARP experiences designed for adult participants engaging in cooperative storytelling, improvisational theater, and roleplay activities as part of a community of adult LARP participants.
• Hero Fund Scholarship Scholarship program providing financial assistance to kids and teens in financial need, enabling their participation in Wayfinder camp programs they could not otherwise afford.
• Wayfinder Documentary Documentary film showcasing the organization's mission, community impact, and LARP experiences for youth, available on the organization's documentary page.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Stone Ridge LibraryminorOthersFree library events partnership. Stone Ridge Library hosts Writing Workshops from 4-5pm on Wednesdays.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Alliance LARP: LARP organization running multi-day live-action roleplay campaigns with immersive theatrical and combat elements. Comparable LARP methodology and cooperative storytelling framework; runs events primarily in the Northeast US.
• SAGA LARP: Live action roleplay organization operating fantasy LARP events with immersive storytelling and theatrical combat. Closely aligned LARP methodology, organized around weekend events rather than overnight camps.
• Bicolline: Large-scale LARP village in Quebec hosting immersive roleplay events with theatrical combat and community storytelling. Closely aligned immersive theatrical roleplay mission, though at materially larger scale and with adult-focused programming.
• Amtgard International: International LARP organization with US chapters running live-action roleplay events using foam weapons and theatrical combat. Most direct methodological comparable to Wayfinder's LARP approach, though organized through volunteer chapters rather than a single-site camp model.
• NERO LARP: Northeast Roleplaying Organization running live-action roleplay events in the Northeast US using theatrical combat and cooperative storytelling. Closest geographic peer with overlapping LARP methodology, structured around recurring weekend events rather than camps.

Emerging players

• Imagination Stage: Children's theater and performing arts education organization offering classes, camps, and productions for youth in the DC metro area. Comparable mission of youth development through creative expression and theatrical training.
• iTheatrics: Theatrical licensing and education company developing musical theater programs for schools and youth organizations. Comparable focus on youth theatrical training and immersive creative programming, though delivered through licensed curriculum rather than in-person camps.
• Camp Broadway: Theater summer camp for youth in New York City offering performing arts immersion including acting, dance, and singing. Comparable as a youth enrichment performing arts camp serving similar family demographics, though focused on musical theater rather than LARP.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WayfinderAdventuresInc
• Instagraminstagram.com/wayfinderadventuresinc
• TikToktiktok.com/@wayfinder_adventures
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-wayfinder-experience

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 The Wayfinder Experience