McGaw YMCA Camp Echo

What McGaw YMCA Camp Echo does

McGaw YMCA Camp Echo operates a residential youth summer camp on a 500-acre site in Fremont, Michigan, serving more than 1,500 campers annually under continuous operation since 1924. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a branch of McGaw YMCA, headquartered in Evanston, Illinois. Programs span Traditional Camp for grades 3–8, teen leadership and wilderness programs for grades 9–11, multi-week Adventure Trips (including itineraries to the Upper Peninsula, Pacific Cascades, Isle Royale, and Georgian Bay), Family Camp weekends, and Echo Corps, a year-round community-service program launched in 2023 that allows participants to earn service hours. The camp is accredited by the American Camp Association and licensed by the State of Michigan.

Operations run on a seasonal labor model: a small year-round staff led by Executive Director Bernard Rocca is supplemented by a large seasonal counselor cohort each summer. Technology infrastructure is minimal and third-party; the camp uses the CampInTouch registration platform rather than any internally developed system, and merchandise is sold through a prepaid Trading Post card ($65) with an online ecommerce channel at campechotradingpost.com. There is no proprietary AI/ML or custom platform layer.

The revenue model combines program tuition, merchandise sales, optional chartered bus transportation, and philanthropic giving. Youth program fees are structured as a three-tier sliding scale (Tier A $1,335–$3,950, Tier B $1,665–$4,350, Tier C $1,830–$4,530 across session lengths), explicitly designed for financial accessibility. The organization awards more than 200 need-based scholarships annually at 15–90% of program cost. The Major Gift Initiative (2017–2023) raised over $3M for facility upgrades, and the 2024 centennial was used as an additional fundraising activation point.

Name

McGaw YMCA Camp Echo

Legal name

McGaw YMCA

Website

https://ymcacampecho.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Residential YMCA summer camp on a 500-acre site in Fremont, Michigan, serving 1,500+ campers annually through traditional, teen, adventure, family, and Echo Corps service programs as a 501(c)(3) branch of McGaw YMCA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Summer Camps

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), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO), Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA)

Keywords

• Residential summer camps
• Youth outdoor education
• Wilderness adventure trips
• Family camp retreats
• Teen leadership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Evanston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Youth Camp Program Fees: One-time session fees for youth camp programs ranging from $1,335 to $4,530 per program depending on duration and type. Fees include chartered bus service, meals, lodging, and activities.
2. Family Camp Program Fees: Per-person fees for 4-day, 3-night family camps ranging from $185-$420 depending on age (adults 8+ pay full price, 3-7 pay half, under 3 free). Cabin minimums apply based on size.
3. Trading Post Sales: Camp store sells snacks, camp apparel ($5-$40), ice cream, candy, and essentials. $65 prepaid charge added to youth camp fees. Family camp purchases charged at end of stay.
4. Donations and Fee Assistance: Donations support sliding-scale fee assistance program. More than 200 scholarships awarded annually, with assistance ranging from 15% to 90% of program fees.
5. Horseback Riding Lessons: Additional fee for horseback riding lessons beyond the equestrian experience included in camp fee. Requires separate registration beginning mid-March.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

McGaw YMCA Camp Echo is a 100-year-old residential summer camp on a 500-acre property on Long Ryerson Lake near Fremont, Michigan. It sells overnight camp programs for youth entering grades 3-8 (Traditional Camp), progressive teen wilderness and leadership programs for grades 9-11, multi-day backpacking/paddling adventure trips for grades 7-12, four-day family cabin retreats, and a year-round Echo Corps service leadership program. Programs include lodging, meals, activities, and chartered bus transportation from Evanston, Illinois.

Product overview

McGaw YMCA Camp Echo is a residential YMCA summer camp offering a portfolio of progressive programs across five core areas: (1) Traditional Camp for youth entering grades 3-8 with cabin-based living and over 20 included activities; (2) Teen Programs encompassing Voyagers wilderness camps, a three-tier Teen Leadership pathway (Explorers, LIT, CIT), and Teen Week; (3) Adventure Trips for grades 7-12 ranging from introductory Trailblazers I/II backpacking and paddling excursions to advanced expeditions (Minnesota Canoe, Porcupine Mountains, Isle Royale, Georgian Bay Sea Kayaking, Cascades); (4) Family Camp with 4-day, 3-night cabin-stay sessions; and (5) Echo Corps, a year-round service leadership program. Supporting services include the Trading Post (camp store with both on-site and online commerce), prepaid Trading Post accounts, sliding-scale fee assistance scholarships, and chartered bus transportation from Evanston, IL. Programs are priced on a three-tier sliding scale (A/B/C) and include a mandatory $65 Trading Post prepaid charge per youth camp program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Traditional Camp: Overnight camp for youth entering grades 3-8 with activities like archery, swimming, arts and crafts, and outdoor adventures.
• Teen Programs
• Adventure Trips
• Family Camp
• Echo Corps

Products and services

• Traditional Camp Overnight residential camp for youth entering grades 3-8, offering progressive skill-building activities such as archery, swimming, kayaking, horseback riding, arts & crafts, and team sports. Campers live in cabin groups with daily choice activities. Available in one-week and two-week sessions from June through mid-August.
• Teen Wilderness Programs (Voyagers) Wilderness immersion programs for teens entering grades 9-11, with two tracks: Voyagers at Outpost (yurt-based living with two-night wilderness overnight) and Voyagers at Birches (rustic site with backcountry canoe trip on the Pine River). Focuses on wilderness skills, self-reliance, teamwork, and outdoor cooking.
• Teen Leadership Programs (Explorers, LIT, CIT) Three-tier leadership pathway for teens entering grades 9-11: Explorers (transition from Traditional Camp to leadership), Leaders In Training (LIT, specialized curriculum on identity and community building), and Counselors In Training (CIT, hands-on cabin and activity shadowing). LIT is strongly recommended for CIT participants.
• Teen Week at Main Camp One-week introduction camp for teens entering grades 9-11 following the Traditional Camp schedule with teen-specific activities including high-ropes, on-site overnights, and teen evening programs.
• Trailblazers I & II Adventure Trips Introductory adventure programs for campers entering grades 7-9. Trailblazers I (grades 7-8) combines one week at camp with a 3-night backpacking or paddling excursion in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Trailblazers II (grades 8-9) is a 5-night backcountry trek along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
• Minnesota Canoe Adventure Trip Eight-day paddling and portaging expedition through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (Minnesota-Canada border) for campers entering grade 9. Includes paddling through over 1,000 lakes and streams with waterfall, rock cliff, and wildlife scenery.
• Porcupine Mountains Backpacking Trip Eight-day backpacking adventure in Michigan's Upper Peninsula Porcupine Mountains for campers entering grade 9. Approximately 6-8 miles of hiking per day through Lake Superior coastline, waterfalls, and forested terrain.
• Isle Royale Backpacking Trip Two-week backpacking adventure through Isle Royale National Park for campers entering grades 10-11. Eight days of backcountry hiking (6-10 miles/day) with exceptional wildlife encounters and Lake Superior vistas. Prior backpacking experience recommended.
• Georgian Bay Sea Kayaking Trip Seven-day sea kayaking expedition in Georgian Bay (Ontario, Canada) for campers entering grades 10-12. Includes professional paddling instruction at White Squall Paddling Center and a week of kayaking through crystal blue waters with island camping. Passport required.
• Cascades Backpacking Trip Two-week advanced backpacking excursion in North Cascades National Park, Washington for campers entering grades 11-12. Approximately 7 days of mountain hiking up to 13 miles/day through snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and evergreen forests, with steep terrain. Registration fee includes flights from Chicago.
• Family Camp Four-day, three-night family camps offering cabins and traditional camp activities (swimming, archery, paddle sports, arts & crafts) plus community programming (campfires, talent shows, carnivals). Available in multiple sessions from May through September with per-person pricing. Families stay in 4-bed, 8-bed, or 12-bed cabins.
• Echo Corps Year-round service leadership program for current 9th-11th graders and Camp Echo counselors. Meets every other week at McGaw YMCA in Evanston for evening gatherings, includes a Saturday service project in Evanston and a weekend service trip to Camp Echo. Participants can earn up to 15 service hours. Open to all — no prior camp experience required.
• Trading Post (Camp Store) On-site camp store offering snacks, ice cream, candy, Camp Echo apparel ($5-$40), and camp gear. A $65 prepaid Trading Post charge is automatically added at youth camp registration. Family camp purchases are charged at end of stay. The Trading Post also operates an online store at campechotradingpost.com for apparel and souvenirs shipped throughout the U.S. Strict nut-free policy.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 200 scholarships awarded annually with assistance ranging from 15% to 90% of program fees
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Camp Pinewood: YMCA-affiliated residential summer camp in Twin Lake, Michigan offering multi-activity traditional and teen programs. Highly comparable as a Michigan-based YMCA overnight camp serving similar grades with parallel programming.
• Camp Geneva: Christian residential summer camp in Holland, Michigan providing traditional and family camp experiences on a multi-hundred-acre lakeside property. Comparable in geography, multi-generational history, and family/youth programming mix.
• Camp Timber-lee: Wisconsin-based Christian camp and retreat center offering residential summer camps, family camps, and adventure trips on a large wooded property. Comparable in scale, programming breadth, and Midwest overnight camp model.
• Camp Miniwanca: American Youth Foundation residential camp in Shelby, Michigan with multi-activity traditional, teen leadership, and adventure trip programming. Highly comparable in mission, geography, and progressive camper-to-staff pathway.
• YMCA Camp Storer: Michigan YMCA residential summer camp in St. Louis, MI with traditional, teen, and family programs. Directly comparable as a Michigan-based YMCA overnight camp serving similar age groups and families.
• Camp Beckwith: YMCA-affiliated residential camp in Fairhope, Alabama offering traditional and family camp programming. Comparable in YMCA affiliation, multi-activity programming, and family camp format.

Regional players

• Camp Tosebo: Residential summer camp in Oregon offering traditional and adventure programming on a lakeside property. Comparable in multi-activity residential camp model, though operating in a different region of the U.S.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of the USA: National federation that oversees YMCA branches and affiliated camps including Camp Echo's parent McGaw YMCA. Relevant as the broader umbrella organization governing Camp Echo's brand, accreditation, and donor ecosystem.

Others

• American Camp Association: National accrediting body for organized camps in the U.S. Camp Echo holds ACA accreditation, making ACA a key ecosystem/compliance partner rather than a competitor.
• Camp InTouch: Third-party online registration and communication platform used by Camp Echo for camper enrollment, forms, payments, and family communication. Functions as an enabling technology vendor rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/McGawYMCACampEcho
• Facebookfacebook.com/YMCACampEcho
• Instagraminstagram.com/mcgawyampecho

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 McGaw YMCA Camp Echo