WILDERNESS TORAH
Wilderness Torah is a Bay Area Jewish nonprofit delivering earth-based Jewish education, wilderness rites of passage, and intergenerational community programs from kindergarten through elderhood, serving youth, families, teens, young adults, and adults 55+ across multiple award-winning curricula.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersBerkeley Springs, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What WILDERNESS TORAH does
Wilderness Torah is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 that delivers earth-based Jewish education, rites of passage, and intergenerational community programming primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area. The organization serves Jewish youth, families, teens, young adults, and adults 55+ through a portfolio of programs including B'hootz (grades K-5), B'naiture (grades 6-8, a 14-year-developed coming-of-age curriculum), Shomrim teen leadership, Neshama Quest backpacking journeys, B'mitzvah tutoring, B'dults parent community, From Older to Elder (adults 55+), and High Holy Days services. Program content integrates Hebrew calendar rhythms, Jewish spiritual tradition, wilderness skills, and nature-connection pedagogy into a differentiated curriculum stack that has earned multiple national Jewish-education awards (Lippman Kanfer Prize 2016, Slingshot 50 in 2013, Natalia Twarsky Award 2017, Helen Diller Award 2019).
The business model is a hybrid of program tuition ($1,890-$3,595 per family per year, with sliding scale and scholarships across all programs), B'mitzvah tutoring and ceremony fees (sliding scale $3,600-$6,500), individual donations (approximately 25% of annual budget from hundreds of supporters), and institutional foundation grants from funders including the Jim Joseph Foundation, Lippman Kanfer Foundation, and Covenant Foundation. Distribution is primarily direct-to-family in-person delivery at East Bay parks, wilderness venues, and partner locations, with virtual components for High Holidays and elderhood programming. Marketing is community-led: word-of-mouth, earned media in Jewish publications (JWeekly, JTA, Forward, Tablet Magazine), Instagram, and partnerships with Jewish community organizations (Chochmat HaLev, East Bay JCC, Camp Newman, Urban Adamah, Jewish Federation Bay Area).
In September 2025, Wilderness Torah entered a strategic partnership with Adamah, the largest Jewish environmental organization in North America, to form Adamah SF, a Community Impact Hub. The Hub continues Wilderness Torah's Bay Area programs under local leadership while extending reach through Adamah's national network of retreat centers and impact hubs. Co-Founder Julie Wolk serves as Founding Director of Adamah SF. The organization faced a financial shortfall in 2023 that required an emergency fundraiser to sustain operations, and it operates today with a small core staff of 5 plus mentors under a hybrid in-person and virtual delivery model.
WILDERNESS TORAH firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WILDERNESS TORAH
- Legal name
- Wilderness Torah
- Website
- https://wildernesstorah.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Wilderness Torah is a Bay Area Jewish nonprofit delivering earth-based Jewish education, wilderness rites of passage, and intergenerational community programs from kindergarten through elderhood, serving youth, families, teens, young adults, and adults 55+ across multiple award-winning curricula.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WILDERNESS TORAH industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Jewish Outdoor Education
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Other Schools and Instruction (6116)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)
Keywords
Where WILDERNESS TORAH is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berkeley Springs
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
WILDERNESS TORAH business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Program Tuition: Revenue from youth and family programs including B'hootz, B'naiture, Shomrim, and Neshama Quest. Tuition ranges from $1,890 to $3,595 annually depending on program.
- Individual Donations: 25% of annual budget comes from hundreds of individual supporters who contribute donations.
- B'mitzvah Tutoring: Sliding scale enrollment fees ($3,600-$6,500) for B'mitzvah tutoring and ceremony services, with additional tutoring hour bundles.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | B'hootz Shorashim (Grades K-3) |
| Subscription | Annual | B'hootz Etzim (Grades 4-5) |
| Subscription | Annual | B'naiture (Grades 6-8) |
| Subscription | Annual | Shomrim Teen Leadership (Grades 8-12) |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Neshama Quest Teen/Young Adult |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | B'mitzvah Tutoring Program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
WILDERNESS TORAH product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wilderness Torah delivers earth-based Jewish education programs that integrate nature immersion with Jewish spiritual practice. Offerings span age-segmented cohorts from elementary school through adulthood, including year-round youth programs, teen leadership tracks, young adult journeys, adult learning, holiday observances, and lifecycle ceremonies such as B'mitzvah preparation.
Product overview
Wilderness Torah is a Jewish nonprofit organization offering earth-based Judaism education through multiple interconnected programs. The portfolio includes B'hootz (grades K-5 nature-based youth program), B'naiture (award-winning two-year coming-of-age program for grades 6-8), Shomrim (teen leadership program grades 8-12), Neshama Quest (teen and young adult backpacking adventures), B'mitzvah (Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutoring), B'dults (parent community), From Older to Elder (elderhood rite-of-passage), High Holidays services, and Earth-Based Teachings content. Programs are offered primarily in the Bay Area with virtual options and serve youth from kindergarten through elderhood across an intergenerational, pluralistic community.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- B'naiture: Award-winning two-year wilderness coming-of-age program for grades 6-8 integrating nature connection and Jewish lifecycle wisdom.
- B'hootz
- Shomrim
- Neshama Quest
- Neshama Quest (Young Adults)
- From Older to Elder
Products and services
- B'hootz Earth-based Jewish education program for children in grades K-5, combining outdoor nature experiences with Jewish learning and ritual practice.
Quantifiable outcome
- 500+ children served through B'hootz program since 2010
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use WILDERNESS TORAH
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
WILDERNESS TORAH technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
WILDERNESS TORAH partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- AdamahflagshipWilderness Torah has joined forces with Adamah, the largest Jewish environmental organization in North America, to create Adamah SF, a Community Impact Hub. This integration enables continuation of Wilderness Torah's programs while expanding through Adamah's national network including retreat centers in Connecticut and Baltimore, and Community Impact Hubs in Los Angeles, New York, Detroit, Atlanta, and Baltimore. The Founding Director of Adamah SF is Halley Bass.
- Chochmat HaLevcoreOngoing partnership for High Holy Days programming. Wilderness Torah collaborates with Chochmat HaLev in Berkeley for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and community gatherings. Services available in-person and virtually via Zoom.
- East Bay JCCcoreJewish environmental education integrated across the JCC's curriculum for all ages. Described as an exciting partnership model replicable both locally and nationally.
- Camp NewmancoreHosting Adamah's 'ReTreat Yourself' free retreat for Jewish communal professionals in April 2026. Exploring deeper programmatic partnership including hosting Wilderness Torah and Adamah SF experiences.
- Jewish Federation Bay AreaminorJoining Adamah's Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition as a local anchor, leader, and partner mobilizing Jewish climate action across the Bay Area.
- Urban AdamahcoreContinuing longstanding partnership on youth and community programming. Urban Adamah is a separate East Bay organization based in Berkeley that shares roots in the JOFEE movement.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WILDERNESS TORAH competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
WILDERNESS TORAH social profiles
Digital presenceWILDERNESS TORAH financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WILDERNESS TORAH leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
WILDERNESS TORAH funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WILDERNESS TORAH M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WILDERNESS TORAH
What does WILDERNESS TORAH do?
Wilderness Torah delivers earth-based Jewish education programs that integrate nature immersion with Jewish spiritual practice. Offerings span age-segmented cohorts from elementary school through adulthood, including year-round youth programs, teen leadership tracks, young adult journeys, adult learning, holiday observances, and lifecycle ceremonies such as B'mitzvah preparation.
Is WILDERNESS TORAH a public or private company?
WILDERNESS TORAH is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was WILDERNESS TORAH founded?
WILDERNESS TORAH was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is WILDERNESS TORAH based?
WILDERNESS TORAH is headquartered in Berkeley Springs, United States, in the North America region.
How does WILDERNESS TORAH make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Program Tuition is the primary driver. The others are individual Donations and B'mitzvah Tutoring.
Does WILDERNESS TORAH have an API?
No public API is recorded for WILDERNESS TORAH.
What industry is WILDERNESS TORAH in?
WILDERNESS TORAH's product category is Jewish Outdoor Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAJAD, Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis), with a secondary code of THAAAOAA, Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning). Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 8200.