Chester Bowl Improvement Club

What Chester Bowl Improvement Club does

Chester Bowl Improvement Club (CBIC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1980 and incorporated in Minnesota in 1982, headquartered at 1801 East Skyline Parkway in Duluth, Minnesota. The organization operates Chester Bowl Park, a 117-acre City of Duluth park, having taken over daily programming operations in 2008 when the City could no longer fund them. Year-round staff totals approximately five positions (Executive Director Dave Schaeffer, Programs and Operations Director Sam Luoma, Programs Manager Delaney Kreager, Operations Manager Joel Tiburzi, plus an AmeriCorps role), supplemented by 40+ winter seasonal employees (chairlift operators, ski/snowboard instructors) and summer camp staff, with a 13-member Board of Directors chaired by Ryan Streitz.

The organization's core offerings are a winter ski/snowboard program and a summer day camp. Winter operations include season passes, day passes priced at $15 youth/$20 adult (advertised as the cheapest in the country), nearly 1,000 season-long equipment rentals distributed via lottery, free group lessons, Alpine Race Program, Freestyle Fridays, and Girls Shred!. The alpine hill uses a double chairlift with capacity of 960 skiers per hour across 175 feet of drop, and the park includes 3 km of intermediate cross-country trails. Summer camp operates Mondays through Thursdays for ten weeks at Lower Chester and (in 2026) Lester Amity Chalet, with a daily capacity of 125 children ages 6-12. Adjacent programs include Fall Fest (record 11,000 attendees in 2025), a 42nd-annual Music in the Park concert series averaging 580 attendees per week, Warren Miller film screenings, Winter Carnival, and Cadet/Cadet+ teen leadership programs (almost 50 Ski Cadets, 50 Summer Camp Cadets, 29 Cadet+ members).

Revenue is generated through program fees, donations, grants from foundations and healthcare/utilities partners (Essentia Health, Boreal Waters Community Foundation, Minnesota Power Foundation, Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Ski Hut), fundraising events (Skis Suds & Slices, online silent auctions via OneCause/BidPal, Fall Fest gate donations), merchandise sales via a dedicated online store, and Thom Storm Chalet rentals for private events. The technology stack is non-proprietary and consists of standard SaaS tools (WordPress, Mailchimp, UltraCamp, Google Forms, OneCause/BidPal). The organization is currently executing the Growing Up Chester capital campaign for a Thom Storm Chalet expansion and renovation (groundbreaking April 20, 2026; ~$1M total project cost, over 90% funded as of August 2025).

Name

Chester Bowl Improvement Club

Legal name

Chester Bowl Improvement Club

Website

https://chesterbowl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chester Bowl Improvement Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates Chester Bowl Park in Duluth, Minnesota, delivering affordable winter ski/snowboard programming, summer day camp for ages 6-12, and community events funded by fees, donations, grants, and volunteer labor.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Recreation Services

NAICS

Skiing Facilities (713920), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Adventure Multi-Sport Camps & Skills Academies (THAAAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

Keywords

• Nonprofit ski program
• Summer day camp
• Outdoor recreation services
• Alpine ski programs
• Community recreation events

Headquarters

HQ city

Duluth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Season Passes and Day Passes: Chester Bowl generates revenue through sale of season passes and day passes for alpine skiing and snowboarding. Day passes are priced at $15 for youth (18 and under) and $20 for adults (19+), described as the cheapest in the country.
2. Equipment Rentals: Season-long ski and snowboard rental program. Renters receive equipment for the entire season to keep with them, including skis, boots, poles, helmet or snowboard, boots, helmet. Participation requires lottery registration and purchasing a Chester Bowl Season Pass.
3. Summer Day Camp Fees: Summer camp operates Mondays through Thursdays for 10 weeks with daily capacity of 125 campers. Families can sign up for any number of weeks. Camp locations include Lower Chester and Lester Amity Chalet.
4. Chalet Rental: The Thom Storm Chalet is rented out to local organizations and families for their events.
5. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Chester Bowl branded merchandise including hooded sweatshirts ($45), handcrafted mugs ($20), steel pint glasses ($10), buffs, and other items.
6. Fundraising Events: Annual fundraising includes Skis, Suds & Slices (pizza, wine, and beer tasting with silent auction), online silent auctions, and Warren Miller film screenings. All proceeds support the scholarship fund.
7. Donations and Grants: Chester Bowl receives donations from individuals and businesses, as well as grants from organizations like Essentia Health, Boreal Waters Community Foundation, Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, and Minnesota Power Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Chester Bowl Improvement Club operates the year-round recreation program at Chester Bowl Park in Duluth, Minnesota, providing affordable alpine skiing and snowboarding via season and day passes plus a season-long equipment rental lottery, free group lessons, and a children's summer day camp. The nonprofit also generates revenue through Fall Fest, a Music in the Park concert series, fundraising events such as Skis Suds & Slices and the Warren Miller film screening, merchandise sales, and rentals of the Thom Storm Chalet, while subsidizing access through a scholarship program funded by donations and grants.

Product overview

Chester Bowl Improvement Club operates Chester Bowl Park in Duluth, Minnesota as a nonprofit organization offering year-round recreational programs. The core offerings include a winter ski and snowboard program featuring affordable day passes ($15 for youth, $20 for adults), season passes, and full-season equipment rentals with free group lessons. Summer programming centers on a day camp for children ages 6-12 with capacity for 125 campers daily. Additional seasonal programs include Fall Fest (annual festival attracting 11,000+ visitors), Music in the Park concert series, and various fundraising events including a Warren Miller film screening and silent auction. The organization also manages chalet rental services and an online merchandise store. A major facility expansion and renovation project for the Thom Storm Chalet is currently underway with construction planned for 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Winter Ski and Snowboard Program Year-round alpine ski and snowboard program offering season passes and day passes ($15 youth / $20 adult) at a double-chairlift hill, including free group lessons, Freestyle Fridays, Girls Shred sessions, and an Alpine Race Program for families, youth, and adult participants in the Duluth area.
• Summer Day Camp Outdoor day camp for children ages 6-12 operating Mondays through Thursdays for 10 weeks during summer, with a daily capacity of 125 campers at Lower Chester and Lester Amity Chalet sites; activities include arts and crafts, games, nature exploration, and outdoor play for Duluth-area families.
• Season Equipment Rental Program Lottery-based seasonal rental program providing full sets of alpine or snowboard equipment (skis, boots, poles, helmet or snowboard, boots, helmet) for the entire winter season, serving nearly 1,000 participants each year in conjunction with a Chester Bowl Season Pass.
• Thom Storm Chalet Rental Rental of the Thom Storm Chalet facility at Chester Bowl Park for private events, meetings, and celebrations by local organizations and families.
• Online Merchandise Store Direct-to-consumer online storefront selling Chester Bowl branded apparel and goods including hooded sweatshirts ($45), handcrafted mugs ($20), steel pint glasses ($10), buffs ($10), and T-shirts, with free shipping within Duluth.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• City of Duluth Parks and Recreation DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChester Bowl operates as a City of Duluth park. The City is responsible for maintenance of grounds and facilities while Chester Bowl operates all programming. Chester Bowl was a key stakeholder in the Chester Park Mini-Master Plan passed in November 2014.
• Partner Ski Areas (Spirit Mountain, Giants Ridge, Mont du Lac, Mount Ski Gull, Whitecap Resort, Mount Ashwabay)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeason pass holders receive free or reduced-cost day access to seven additional ski areas. These partners view Chester Bowl as a feeder program bringing next generation of skiers to their slopes.
• LHB ArchitectsstrategicTechnology or IntegrationProvided architectural services free of charge for Thom Storm Chalet expansion and renovation design.
• Blue Cross Blue ShieldstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Winter Carnival event at Chester Bowl. Chester Bowl parent John Derbis organized sponsorship.
• Duluth-Superior Alpine ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUses Chester Bowl for dryland training.
• Duluth Cross Country Ski Club (DXC)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates Lester Amity Chalet facility; allowed Chester Bowl to use it for summer camp in 2026 while Thom Storm Chalet is under renovation.
• Mayor Roger ReinertminorOthersCity of Duluth Mayor who publicly supported and addressed media about the Chalet renovation project.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Giants Ridge: Minnesota ski resort listed as a Chester Bowl partner ski area offering pass holders reciprocal access. Comparable as a regional alpine ski facility in the Upper Midwest serving youth and family skiing markets.
• Mount Ski Gull: Minnesota ski area and explicit Chester Bowl partner ski area offering pass holders reciprocal access. Comparable as a small, community-oriented alpine ski operation in the region.
• Welch Village: Minnesota alpine ski resort serving the Twin Cities market with similar family-friendly programming. Comparable as a regional downhill ski operation with youth instruction and seasonal pass programs.
• Spirit Mountain: Regional alpine ski resort in Duluth, MN, directly comparable as the primary larger ski operation in the same market and an explicit partner ski area offering Chester Bowl pass holders reciprocal access. Operates downhill skiing and snowboarding with a similar winter recreation focus.
• Mont du Lac Recreation Area: Minnesota ski area listed as a Chester Bowl partner offering reciprocal pass access. Comparable regional alpine ski operation serving similar family and youth markets in the Upper Midwest.
• Buck Hill: Minnesota ski area with a strong youth racing and instructional program. Comparable as a regional alpine ski hill emphasizing beginner-to-intermediate terrain, lessons, and youth development - similar value proposition to Chester Bowl at a smaller commercial scale.
• Trollhaugen Ski Area: Wisconsin ski area comparable in size and family/youth programming focus. Comparable as a regional, family-oriented alpine ski hill with lessons, race programs, and youth seasonal programming.

Regional players

• Hartley Nature Center: Duluth-based nonprofit focused on outdoor education and youth programming. Comparable as a regional nonprofit delivering nature-based and outdoor experiential programming to youth and families in the same local market.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of Duluth: Community recreation nonprofit serving the same Duluth market with youth programming, summer camps, and family recreation. Comparable as a broader community-based youth development and recreation organization operating as a 501(c)(3) with similar mission-aligned programming.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland: Regional youth development nonprofit serving Duluth-area youth with after-school, summer, and recreation programs. Comparable as a community-based nonprofit delivering youth development programming with scholarship support in the same geographic market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chester-bowl-improvement-club

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Chester Bowl Improvement Club