Wilderness Works

What Wilderness Works does

Wilderness Works is a privately held 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1997 and headquartered at 644 Memorial Drive SE in Atlanta, Georgia. The organization provides outdoor experiential education, year-round enrichment, and character development programs for at-risk and economically disadvantaged children in Atlanta, prioritizing homeless youth (40% of participants) and low-income families. Its service is delivered through a proprietary graduated program pyramid of five tiers (Day Camp, City Camp, Summer Camp, Core Camp, Field Camp) for children ages 8–18, with City Camp offering 20-hour weekend experiences (meals, overnight stay, field trips) for up to fifty elementary-aged children and Field Camp providing advanced National Park/Forest expeditions where teens plan and execute multi-day treks.

Core 'technology' is the nature-based experiential education methodology itself — a non-digital, in-person service architecture reliant on a curated partner network of summer camps (Camp High Harbour/YMCA, Camp Twin Lakes, Camp Glisson, Camp Grace, Camp Evergreen, Camp Bob-Kanuga, Mountain Wisdom Camp, NOLS, Camp Chewonki, Big Wild Adventures) for residential experiences and on institutional referral partners (Atlanta Public Schools, Atlanta Mission, Salvation Army, Nicholas House, City of Refuge, Genesis Innovation Academy) for participant identification and funneling. Delivery channels are direct (own staff at Atlanta HQ) and reseller-style (partner camp facilities in Georgia, North Carolina, Wyoming, Maine, Washington, and Colorado).

Wilderness Works is funded entirely by tax-deductible individual donations (via website portal), foundation grants (notably LuluMa Foundation funding staff positions and Pierce Family Foundation funding VR experiences), corporate sponsorships (Delta Airlines, Stone Summit, Healing Hearts and Horses), civic contributions (Fulton County Commission), and church/civic organization support. All programs are provided free of charge to participants. The organization employs ~6 core staff (including Founder/ED Bill Mickler) plus a Board of Directors, holds a Candid Gold Transparency rating, and was featured on NBC's Today Show (Al Roker's 'Lend A Hand,' 2008) and in the 2018 documentary 'That's Wild.'

Name

Wilderness Works

Legal name

Wilderness Works

Website

https://wildernessworks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wilderness Works is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1997 that delivers outdoor experiential education through a five-tier program pyramid (Day Camp to Field Camp) for at-risk and homeless Atlanta children ages 8–18, funded entirely by donations, foundation grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs (THAAAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA), Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA), Outdoor Recreation & Adventure Programs (Trips, Climbing, Rentals) (EDALAIAG)

Keywords

• Youth outdoor education
• Summer camp programs
• Experiential youth development
• Nonprofit youth services
• At-risk youth programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

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. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the nonprofit mission of providing outdoor experiences to at-risk children. The organization operates as a federally registered 501(c)(3) non-profit.
2. Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations such as the LuluMa Foundation and Pierce Family Foundation that support staff positions and program opportunities for underserved campers.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Support from corporate donors, civic organizations, and churches that fund summer camp sessions and program operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wilderness Works provides graduated outdoor experiential education programs through a five-tier Program Pyramid (Day Camp, City Camp, Summer Camp, Core Camp, and Field Camp) for at-risk and economically disadvantaged children ages 8-18 in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Programs are delivered at no cost to participants and progressively introduce youth to more advanced outdoor experiences, culminating in extended wilderness expeditions.

Product overview

Wilderness Works operates a graduated pyramid of five youth development programs serving children ages 8-18. The programs build upon each other: Day Camp provides entry-level weekend enrichment experiences; City Camp offers elementary-aged children twenty-hour weekend experiences with meals and field trips; Summer Camp delivers week-long residential camp experiences at partner camps; Core Camp provides selective monthly overnight camps for middle-schoolers with gender-based programming; and Field Camp offers advanced teens high-adventure expeditions in National Parks where they plan and execute multi-day treks. The organization serves at-risk and economically disadvantaged Atlanta children, prioritizing homeless youth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Day Camp
• City Camp
• Summer Camp
• Core Camp
• Field Camp

Quantifiable outcome

• Children participating in Wilderness Works programming show improved school attendance, better grades, and improved classroom behavior
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Atlanta Mission (My Sister's House)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWilderness Works serves Atlanta families transitioning into stable living situations through Atlanta Mission's My Sister's House family shelter. Many campers from Atlanta Mission participate in multiple levels of programming for more than ten years.
• Camp High Harbour (YMCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partnership in 2024 sending Wilderness Works campers to YMCA Camp High Harbour's overnight summer camps at Lake Allatoona and Lake Burton. Camps focus on forging friendships, strengthening confidence, building character, and creating lasting memories.
• The Salvation ArmycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSalvation Army partners with Wilderness Works to provide weekend alternatives for resident families' children and outstanding weeks of summer camp at Camp Grandview. Staff members promote Wilderness Works as a resource for new families.
• Nicholas HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNicholas House provides families struggling with homelessness a path to stability. After eleven years of partnering, Wilderness Works continues providing positive alternatives for resident families and children. Many Nicholas House campers grow to become counselors.
• Genesis Innovation AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA free public charter school in Atlanta, GA with whom Wilderness Works enjoys a working relationship. Genesis teaches subjects emphasizing comprehension, problem-solving, and real-world application through their E5 Core curriculum.
• Camp Twin LakesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor more than 30 years, Camp Twin Lakes has provided a place where kids with serious illnesses, disabilities, and life challenges feel understood. The adaptive programs and facilities support Wilderness Works campers.
• Mountain Wisdom CampminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMountain Wisdom Camp operates a facility in Ellijay, GA focused on personal growth and wilderness adventure. The camp addresses nature deprivation in young people through stress reduction, self-confidence, and connection to the natural world.
• Hands On AtlantaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal Hands On Atlanta partner; Wilderness Works was founded as an HOA partner agency and relied on HOA for volunteer support. Received Social Entrepreneur Award in 2002.
• Camp EvergreencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp at Lake Burton in North Georgia established working relationship with Wilderness Works in 1999 for summer camp weeks serving needy Atlanta children.
• Camp GlissoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFruitful and strong partnership began in 2013 with outstanding Camp Glisson in Dahlonega, Georgia, allowing needy Atlanta children to experience high-quality camp programming.
• Camp Bob - Kanuga ConferencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration began in 2006 with Camp Bob at Kanuga Conferences in Hendersonville, North Carolina for weeks of summer camp for at-risk children.
• Camp GraceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership began in 2007 sending children to Camp Grace in Roberta, Georgia for summer camp with horseback riding and swimming lessons.
• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership sending Wilderness Works first group on a 30-day NOLS expedition in the Wind River Range out of Lander, Wyoming for leadership training.
• City of RefugeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership established in 2010 with City of Refuge founder Bruce Deel, allowing children aided by COR to participate in Wilderness Works programs.
• Atlanta Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnerships with Atlanta Public Schools including Ed S. Cook, Dunbar, John Hope, Parkside Elementary, and Hope-Hill Elementary schools, with teachers and principals leveraging Wilderness Works programming for better student responsiveness.
• Fulton County CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFulton County government partnership supporting Wilderness Works programs.
• Delta Airlines / Delta Flight MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelta Airlines provides tours of their Boeing 747 and Delta Flight Museum for Wilderness Works campers, expanding dreams of children who rarely leave their zip code.
• Stone Summit Climbing GymminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtlanta climbing facility provides special rates for Wilderness Works Core Camp girls to experience indoor climbing with specialized climbing gear.
• Healing Hearts and HorsesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLake Oconee organization that rescues horses scheduled for euthanasia and provides horseback riding experiences for Wilderness Works campers, many of whom have never seen a live horse.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Outdoor Outreach: San Diego-based nonprofit that uses outdoor experiences (rock climbing, hiking, snowboarding) to empower at-risk and underserved youth, mirroring Wilderness Works' mission of combining nature-based adventure with youth development for vulnerable populations.
• Camp Twin Lakes: Georgia-based nonprofit camp network serving children with serious illnesses, disabilities, and other life challenges — directly comparable as Wilderness Works' residential summer partner and as a mission-aligned provider of camp experiences to underserved kids.
• Camp Fire: National youth development organization offering outdoor and camp-based programs to kids and teens nationwide, including underserved populations — comparable to Wilderness Works in using outdoor experiences as a vehicle for youth development and character building.
• City Kids Wilderness Project: DC-based nonprofit providing wilderness adventure programming for underserved DC youth, with a year-round model and a graduated structure similar to Wilderness Works' program pyramid for kids from low-income communities.
• The Fresh Air Fund: NYC nonprofit that hosts underserved city children with volunteer families in suburban and rural settings each summer, sharing Wilderness Works' mission of providing nature access and enrichment experiences to economically disadvantaged urban children.

Broad incumbents

• Girl Scouts of the USA: National youth organization delivering outdoor, adventure, and leadership programming to girls nationwide, including underserved communities. Overlaps with Wilderness Works on year-round outdoor enrichment for young women but operates at vastly greater scale.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Largest national youth-services network serving at-risk youth through after-school and summer programming. Wilderness Works serves an overlapping population but with a narrower, nature-based specialization rather than the broad clubhouse model.
• YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta: Operator of Camp High Harbour, Wilderness Works' overnight summer camp partner, and a broad youth-development provider offering outdoor, sports, and enrichment programs to Atlanta youth including underserved populations.

Emerging players

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth mentoring nonprofit serving at-risk children with adult mentor relationships — comparable to Wilderness Works in target population and emphasis on long-term adult relationships, though delivered through one-on-one mentoring rather than outdoor adventure programming.
• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): Premier outdoor education provider running wilderness expeditions including the 30-day Wind River Range program Wilderness Works sends teens on. NOLS is a direct programmatic partner and a comparable provider of outdoor leadership experiences for youth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wilderness-works

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Wilderness Works