Roger Camp

What Roger Camp does

Camp Roger is a private non-profit Christian camp ministry operating two campuses in Michigan — Camp Roger in Rockford (8356 Belding Road NE) and Camp Scottie in Howard City (8181 Newcosta Avenue) — covering 285+ combined acres. Founded in the early 1900s, the organization delivers traditional summer camp programming (overnight camp for grades 1–9, day camp for grades K–5, wilderness trips for grades 8–12) alongside year-round outdoor education for schools, homeschool families, and individual students. The organization reports serving 14,000+ participants annually across its summer and outdoor education programs, with approximately $350,000 in financial aid disbursed each year.

The organization's technology stack is utilitarian and consumer-facing: CampBrain-powered online registration with self-serve payment plans, Waldo Photos integration for daily photo and weekly video updates to parents, and a Choose-Your-Own flexible pricing system that allows families to self-select a fee tier without documentation. It maintains a volunteer-staffed social enterprise — The Acorn Resale Shop — whose proceeds fund the Acorn financial aid program. Revenue is generated across five streams: summer camp registration fees, outdoor education program fees, facility rentals, resale shop proceeds, and donations/fundraising (including the annual Start the Fire event). Distribution is direct-to-consumer through online self-serve registration and direct field sales for school groups and facility rentals, supplemented by free bus transportation for day camp across Grand Rapids-area communities. The organization employs approximately 20–25 year-round staff and hires seasonal summer staff, governed by a Board of Directors currently led by Chairperson Paul Lanning amid an active executive director search following Doug Vanderwell's 24-year tenure.

Name

Roger Camp

Legal name

Camp Roger

Website

https://camproger.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1900

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Camp Roger is a non-profit Christian camp ministry operating two Michigan campuses (Camp Roger and Camp Scottie) that delivers summer camps, year-round outdoor education, facility rentals, and a resale shop, serving 14,000+ participants annually across West Michigan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Summer Camps and Outdoor Education

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Academic Enrichment Camps (General Studies) (EDAMALAB), Eco-Camps & Sustainable Camping Retreats (THAGAOAE)

Keywords

• Summer camp ministry
• Outdoor education programs
• Facility rental services
• Youth wilderness programs
• Faith-based camps

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Registration Fees: Registration fees for day camp, overnight camp, and wilderness trip sessions. Fees vary by session length (4-day, 5-day, 6-day) and program type. Optional camper store account add-ons. Flexible pricing model allows income-based fee selection.
2. Outdoor Education Programs: Field trip fees for school groups, homeschool program fees (monthly sessions), and GO Days (Get Outside Days) for individual students. Environmental education classes, team building activities, and adventure course access.
3. Facility Rentals: Rental fees for retreat groups, school groups, church youth groups, family reunions, and corporate retreats at Camp Roger and Camp Scottie campuses. Year-round availability with limited summer access.
4. Acorn Resale Shop Proceeds: Volunteer-staffed retail store selling donated goods. Proceeds directly benefit Camp Roger's financial aid fund (Acorn Fund), subsidizing camp fees for families with financial need.
5. Donations and Fundraising: Donations to Acorn Fund (financial aid), General Fund (operations), Leadership Investment Grant, Property Acquisition Fund, and Legacy of Oaks endowment program. Annual Start the Fire fundraising event.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Camp Roger operates Christian summer camps (overnight camp for grades 1-9, day camp for grades K-5, and wilderness trips for grades 8-12) and year-round outdoor education programs (field trips, homeschool classes, GO Days) across two Michigan campuses. It also rents its 285+ acre facilities to retreat groups, churches, schools, and corporate clients, and runs the Acorn Resale Shop to fund camp scholarships through the Acorn Fund.

Product overview

Camp Roger is a Christian summer camp and year-round outdoor education ministry operating two campuses: Camp Roger in Rockford, Michigan and Camp Scottie in Howard City, Michigan. The organization offers three core programs: Overnight Camp (4, 5, and 6-day sessions for grades 1-9), Day Camp at Camp Scottie (5-day weekday sessions for grades K-5 with free bus transportation), and Wilderness Trips (Pioneer trips for grades 8-10 and Voyager leadership trips for grades 11-12). The outdoor education division serves over 11,000 students annually through Field Trips, a Homeschool Program (elementary and middle/high school), and GO Days (single-day programs for ages 3-14). Facility Rentals are offered year-round at both campuses for retreats, school groups, and events. The Acorn Resale Shop is a separate social enterprise that funds camp scholarships through donated goods sales. Together, these programs serve over 14,000 participants annually through summer camps, outdoor education, and community partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Acorn Resale Shop: Volunteer-staffed retail store that uses proceeds from donated goods to provide affordable and accessible ways for kids to attend camp

Products and services

• Overnight Camp Traditional overnight camp experiences at Camp Roger in Rockford, Michigan, offering 4-day, 5-day, and 6-day sessions for children entering grades 1-9, featuring classic camp activities, waterfront access to Little Bostwick Lake, and spiritual development programs.
• Day Camp Daytime-only camp sessions at Camp Scottie in Howard City, Michigan, offering 5-day weekday sessions (Monday through Friday) for children entering kindergarten through 5th grade, with classic camp activities including swimming in Lake Gordon, nature crafts, archery, and free bus transportation.
• Wilderness Trips Adventure backcountry camping trips for older campers including Pioneer trips (6-day for grades 8-10) along the Manistee River Trail and Voyager trips (11-day co-ed for grades 11-12) combining Northern Michigan camping with leadership training at Camp Roger.
• Field Trips Outdoor education field trips for school groups offering environmental education classes (60+ curriculum options), team building activities, and adventure course experiences including climbing tower, zip line, high ropes, and low ropes course at the Rockford campus.
• Homeschool Program Monthly outdoor education classes for homeschool students ages 6-16, including Elementary Program (ages 6-12) and Middle/High School Program (ages 11-16) with curriculum covering nature and science, outdoor skills, challenges, and creative design throughout the school year from September to May.
• GO Days One-day outdoor education programs for individual children and students ages 6-14, including GO Days for ages 6-14 and GO Days: Young Explorers for ages 3-5 with adult caregivers, featuring hands-on nature activities, team building, archery, and environmental education.
• Facility Rentals Retreat and rental facilities at both Camp Roger (Rockford) and Camp Scottie (Howard City) campuses, offering venues for school groups, youth groups, Scout weekends, dorm retreats, corporate retreats, family reunions, and weddings with various meeting spaces, lodging options, and outdoor areas.
• The Acorn Resale Shop Volunteer-staffed resale shop in Rockford, Michigan that sells donated goods to fund camp scholarships and financial aid through the Acorn Fund, making summer camp experiences accessible and affordable for children.
• Angel Tree Camping Summer camp scholarship program in partnership with Prison Fellowship/Angel Tree Camping providing scholarships for children of incarcerated parents to attend day camp or overnight camp sessions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14,000+ annual participants through combined summer camp and outdoor education programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Prison Fellowship/Angel Tree CampingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide summer camp scholarships for children of incarcerated parents. Scholarships apply toward day camp or overnight camp session fees. Joint effort to remove barriers for underserved youth to access camp experiences.
• The Potter's House SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational partnership building trust and relationships. Part of community collaboration to increase belonging, diversity, and accessibility at camp.
• Baxter Community CentercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership for belonging and inclusion initiatives. Collaboration to develop and deepen relationships with underserved communities.
• Sibley Elementary SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSchool partnership for outdoor education programming and community collaboration to remove barriers to camp access.
• Urban Family MinistriescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFaith-based community partnership supporting families and increasing access to camp experiences for underserved populations.
• Trinitas Classical SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational partnership providing outdoor education opportunities and community collaboration.
• Cesar E. Chavez Elementary SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSchool partnership increasing accessibility and cultural diversity in camp programming.
• Local Native LeadersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsultation with indigenous tribal leaders who recommended renaming cabins with indigenous names to avoid disrespect. Collaborative effort to increase cultural sensitivity.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Trout Lake Camps: Long-running Christian camp in northern Wisconsin offering overnight and day camp programs plus retreat rentals. Comparable century-style ministry scale and product mix to Camp Roger in a nearby Midwest geography.
• Camp Geneva: Michigan-based Christian family camp and retreat center on Lake Michigan offering summer camps, family retreats, and rental facilities. Direct regional peer with overlapping ministry positioning and customer base.
• Kanakuk Kamps: Large, multi-location Christian summer camp network based in Branson, Missouri serving tens of thousands of campers annually. Demonstrates a scaled template for the same faith-based overnight/wilderness camp model Camp Roger operates.
• Camp Henry: Non-profit Christian camp in Newaygo, Michigan operating summer overnight and day camps as well as retreat rentals and outdoor education. Comparable scale, mission, and product mix to Camp Roger within the same state.
• SpringHill Camps: Michigan-based Christian summer camp organization offering overnight, day, and wilderness trip programming with a similar faith-based ministry positioning. Most directly comparable peer given overlapping geography, programs, and target families in West Michigan.
• Pine Cove: Multi-location Christian summer camp network in Texas and the Southeast serving thousands of campers with overnight, day, and wilderness programs. Closest scale and program analog outside the Midwest.
• WinShape Foundation: Faith-based camp and retreat organization affiliated with Chick-fil-A operating Camp WinShape in Georgia. Similar Christian summer camp program structure, retreat rentals, and donor-funded scholarship model.

Regional players

• YMCA Camp Pendalouan: Michigan YMCA-affiliated overnight camp near Big Rapids offering traditional summer programming. Comparable activity mix and geography but secular/non-faith-based, making it a regional substitute rather than a direct competitor.
• Camp Daggett: Michigan-based summer camp and retreat center on Walloon Lake offering youth camp sessions and year-round retreat rentals. Comparable geographic positioning and rental/product mix, though secular.

Emerging players

• Nature Centers & Outdoor Education Operators (e.g., Blandford Nature Center): Regional Grand Rapids-area nature education providers that compete with Camp Roger's outdoor education / field trip vertical. Different core offering (nature center vs. camp ministry) but overlapping school-customer segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/camproger
• Facebookfacebook.com/CampRoger
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-roger

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Roger Camp