Ridge Haven

What Ridge Haven does

Ridge Haven is a privately held Christian camp, conference, and retreat center founded in 1971 and operating two physical campuses in Brevard, North Carolina and Walker, Iowa. The organization runs 11 week-long, Gospel-centered summer camps serving youth ages 8 to 18 across age tiers (Junior, Junior High, Senior High), plus specialized programs such as Service Project Camp and Great Adventure Camp, and year-round offerings including Winter Camp, Winter Retreats, the Keenagers Conference for seniors, Family Camp, and customized group retreats. Core products revolve around faith-based programming bundled with cabin accommodations, meals, outdoor recreation (lake activities, climbing tower, ropes courses, hiking, archery), and a technology-free environment, supported by a philosophy rooted in Colossians.

The business model combines fee-for-service program revenue (camp registrations, retreat bookings priced per camper or per group) with ongoing donation-based fundraising, currently anchored by an $8M capital campaign that is 87% funded to support facility expansion including pool improvements at the Cono campus. Go-to-market is event-driven and community-led: marketing flows through the ridgehaven.org website, Instagram, and church network referrals (primarily Presbyterian Church in America), with registration managed through the Campwise third-party platform and direct phone/email outreach for group bookings. The organization also operates The Explorer's Project, a gap year and ministry internship program that extends seasonal staffing into a year-round pipeline, and hosts Camp Braveheart under a decade-plus partnership for bereaved youth.

Technology infrastructure is intentionally light: Campwise handles registration and payments, the website runs on Squarespace, and Instagram serves as the primary social channel. There is no evidence of AI/ML capability, proprietary software development, or app-based delivery. The operating model depends on a hybrid workforce of approximately 20 year-round staff plus large seasonal cohorts of high school and college student counselors and Camp Summer Interns, led by Executive Director Cameron Anderson and a team that includes Cono Director Wallace Anderson, Administrative Coordinator Hannah Hodge, and Maintenance Director Joe Owen. Customer concentration is low by design — the ministry serves individual families, church youth groups, and seniors spread across two regional catchments rather than enterprise accounts.

Name

Ridge Haven

Legal name

Ridge Haven

Website

https://ridgehaven.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Ridge Haven is a privately held Christian camp, conference, and retreat center operating two campuses in Brevard, NC and Walker, IA. It runs 11 week-long summer camps for youth ages 8-18 plus year-round retreats, winter programs, family camps, and senior conferences under a Gospel-centered ministry model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Camp & Retreat Center

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), All Other Traveler Accommodation (721199)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps) (THAGAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conference Retreat Hotels (THAGALAG), Mountain & Wilderness Lodges (THAAAHAE)

Keywords

• Christian camp services
• Retreat center programs
• Youth ministry camps
• Summer camp programs
• Outdoor adventure camps

Headquarters

HQ city

Brevard

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Registration Fees: Week-long camp programs for kids ages 8-18, with various age groups (Junior, Junior High, Senior High). Registration fees vary by program and include cabin accommodations, meals, activities, and spiritual programming.
2. Retreat and Conference Services: Retreat services for groups of all sizes with tailored programming. Includes accommodations, meals, activities, and facilitation services.
3. Winter Camp and Retreat Programs: Winter programs including Winter Camp (December 28 - January 1) and Winter Retreat weekends (January and February).
4. Service Project Camp: Budget-friendly camp option for youth groups combining service projects (3-4 hours daily) with regular camp activities.
5. Capital Campaign Donations: Currently conducting an $8M capital campaign, having raised 87% towards the goal. Funds support new facilities and construction including pool improvements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ridge Haven is a Christian camp, conference, and retreat center operating two campuses (Brevard, NC and Walker, IA). It delivers week-long Gospel-centered summer camps for youth ages 8-18, winter camps, customized group retreats, family camps, and senior conferences, with on-site accommodations, meals, spiritual programming, and outdoor recreation including lake activities, climbing, ropes courses, and archery.

Product overview

Ridge Haven is a Christian Camp, Conference, and Retreat Center operating two campuses in Brevard, NC and Walker, IA. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of programs including week-long summer camps for various age groups (Junior Camp for rising 3rd-6th graders, Junior High Camp, Senior High Camp), specialized camps (Service Project Camp, Great Adventure Camp, Family Camp), winter programs (Winter Camp, Winter Retreat), and year-round retreat services for groups of all sizes. The core portfolio is complemented by The Explorer's Project gap year/internship program, volunteer nursing opportunities, and the Camp Braveheart partnership. The organization primarily serves youth groups, families, and church congregations seeking Christ-centered outdoor ministry experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Camp Braveheart: A Christ-centered ministry partnership designed to meet the unique emotional and spiritual needs of youth who are walking the journey of grief after the death of a loved one.
• The Explorer's Project

Products and services

• Junior Camp Week-long summer camp for rising 3rd-6th graders providing a safe and loving environment with fun games, gospel teaching, and relationship building with counselors.
• Junior High Camp Summer camp for rising 6th-9th graders featuring biblical teaching, worship, music, speakers, games, ropes courses, climbing, and hiking for personal growth.
• Senior High Camp Summer camp for rising 9th-12th graders combining fun and serious biblical learning with worship, speakers, activities, and outdoor challenges.
• Service Project Camp Budget-friendly camp where Junior and Senior Highers work on landscaping projects 3-4 hours daily while enjoying regular camp activities and spiritual growth.
• Great Adventure Camp Outdoor-focused camp week for 6th-12th graders featuring open-air cabins, tent camping, hiking, archery, bouldering, climbing, and lake activities.
• Summer Retreat Youth group-focused retreat combining all summer camp activities with worship, games, and fun alongside church groups.
• Family Camp Family-oriented camp experience featuring fun-filled activities, games, and Christ-centered teaching for families of all sizes and ages.
• Winter Camp Full week camp experience from December 28 - January 1 featuring activities, games, teaching, worship, and a New Year's Eve celebration.
• Winter Retreat Winter weekend retreat for youth groups featuring summer camp favorites, games, hiking, campfire activities, and devotional worship times.
• Keenagers Conference Conference designed specifically for older adults (keenagers) with retreat services and accommodations tailored to senior groups.
• Cono Camps Camp and retreat programs at Ridge Haven's second campus located in Walker, Iowa, offering summer camps and year-round retreat services.
• Retreat Services Customized retreat services for groups of all sizes and ages, tailored to specific interests and preferences with meals, games, and activities.
• Camp Braveheart Partnership with Camp Braveheart ministry serving children who are walking through grief after the death of a loved one.
• The Explorer's Project Gap year program and ministry internship offering paid opportunity to serve on summer staff and continue year-round, combining camp ministry with leadership development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87% of $8M capital campaign raised through community generosity

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

One partnership is on record.

• Camp BraveheartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRidge Haven hosts Camp Braveheart, a Christ-centered ministry designed to meet the unique emotional and spiritual needs of youth who are walking the journey of grief after the death of a loved one. Ridge Haven has partnered with Braveheart for over a decade to serve children going through loss.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Covenant Point Bible Camp: Reformed/PCA-affiliated summer camp in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan — directly comparable in denominational alignment (PCA/Covenant network) and Christian youth camp programming.
• Sandy Cove Ministries: Non-denominational Christian conference center on the Chesapeake Bay offering retreats, summer camps, and conferences — directly comparable in faith-based hospitality and multi-segment programming to Ridge Haven.
• Montreat Conference Center: Presbyterian-affiliated conference and retreat center in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC, directly comparable for its retreat/conference programming and denominational (Presbyterian) alignment with Ridge Haven.
• Forest Springs Camp & Conference Center: Christian summer camp and retreat center in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, comparable for offering week-long youth camps, retreats, and outdoor adventure activities to faith-based groups.
• Camp Ridgecrest / Crestridge: Young Life's flagship residential summer camps for youth in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, directly comparable to Ridge Haven in terms of faith-based youth programming, mountain camp setting, and week-long residential camp model.
• Ridgecrest Conference Center (LifeWay): Southern Baptist-affiliated conference center in the NC mountains, comparable in providing group retreats, summer camps, and conference services to faith-based groups across the Southeast.
• Kanuga Conferences & Camps: Episcopal camp and conference center in the Western NC mountains offering youth summer camps, retreats, and conferences — operates in the same region as Ridge Haven's Brevard campus with a comparable faith-based ministry model.
• Camp Willow Run: PCA-affiliated summer camp in North Carolina offering week-long residential Christian camps for youth — directly comparable in denomination, region, and camp programming model.
• Camp Westminster / Cono Christian Camp: Reformed/Christian camp and retreat center with an Iowa campus — Ridge Haven's Cono campus in Walker, IA serves a similar Midwestern Christian camp market and demographic.

Broad incumbents

• Young Life: National youth ministry organization operating a network of camps, clubs, and retreat experiences — broader incumbent serving the same Christian youth development space as Ridge Haven at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/p/DCqURCiuhtp
• Facebookfacebook.com/ridgehaven
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ridge-haven

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 Ridge Haven