Texas Baptist Encampment At Palacios, Texas

What Texas Baptist Encampment At Palacios, Texas does

Texas Baptist Encampment (TBE) is a private non-profit Christian camp and retreat organization founded in 1902 and headquartered at 100 First Street, Palacios, Texas, on the shores of Tres Palacios Bay on the Gulf Coast of Southeast Texas. It self-identifies as the oldest camp west of the Mississippi River and operates year-round, offering programmed summer camps (Girls Expedition Camp, Boys Adventure Camp, Kamp Khaos for preteens, and Onecamp for youth), adult retreats (May by the Bay), and rental facilities for church-organized weekend retreats, conferences, banquets, banquets, and special events. The organization serves primarily Baptist and other church-affiliated groups, with the customer base routed through regional Baptist associations and state/national Baptist conventions (Texas Baptists BGCT, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, Southern Baptist Convention).

TBE's core "products" are its physical campus and its programmed summer camp portfolio. The campus comprises an 800-seat Tabernacle, a 350-seat Thibodeaux Conference Center, multiple lodges (San Felipe, Guadalupe, Gulf Coast North/South, Colorado, Galveston), hotel rooms (Bayview with 18 rooms, Seascape with 14 rooms), a 500-seat dining hall, and recreation amenities including softball, volleyball, basketball, soccer, Gaga Ball, swimming pool, and boating pier; aggregate capacity supports groups of 2 to 800. Technology infrastructure is minimal and entirely third-party: a church website built on mychurchwebsite.net, online registration forms, and integrations with AccuWeather, Bible Gateway, GivingTuesday, and Google Maps. There is no proprietary software platform, no mobile app, no API, and no disclosed data assets.

The business model combines (1) per-camper registration fees ($185-$199 per person for summer programs, plus non-refundable $50 deposits and $20 late fees), (2) facility rental income for hosted retreats and conferences on unit/booking basis, (3) day event fees (e.g., $20 all-inclusive for May by the Bay), and (4) charitable contributions via one-time and recurring donations (weekly, monthly, quarterly, biannual, annual). Go-to-market is community-led: affiliated Baptist associations and conventions drive referrals, supplemented by direct bookings via phone, email, and online registration forms. Year-round permanent staff is limited to an Executive Director (Rob Kessler, since 2003) and a Camp Hostess & Reservations Coordinator (Jeannie Stahlecker, since 1999), supported by cooks, housekeepers, groundskeepers, and seasonal summer staff (primarily high school and college-age youth from Texas). The organization experienced severe pandemic disruption in 2020 (80% annual income loss, 95% summer income loss) and is in gradual recovery, with 2023 summer camps fully booked.

Name

Texas Baptist Encampment At Palacios, Texas

Legal name

Texas Baptist Encampment

Website

https://texasbaptistencampment.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1902

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Texas Baptist Encampment is a non-profit Christian camp and retreat center founded in 1902 in Palacios, Texas, serving Baptist church groups and denominations with programmed summer camps, adult retreats, and year-round facility rentals for groups of 2 to 800.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Camp and Retreat Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus) (THAMAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps) (THAGAOAG), Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

Keywords

• Christian camp retreats
• Summer camp programs
• Conference facility rental
• Religious retreat center
• Youth camp ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Palacios

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Registration Fees: Revenue from camper registration fees for programmed summer camps including Girls Expedition Camp ($199/person), Boys Adventure Camp ($185/person regular, $195 late), Kamp Khaos ($195/person), and OneCamp. Non-refundable deposits of $50/person required.
2. Retreat and Conference Facility Rental: Year-round facility rental for weekend retreats, conferences, banquets, church gatherings, and special events. Groups of 2 to 800 can be accommodated with lodges, hotel rooms, conference spaces, recreation amenities, and food service.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization accepts one-time financial gifts, monthly or yearly recurring donations, and church budget giving. Emergency fundraising campaigns have been conducted following pandemic-related financial losses.
4. Day Event Fees: May by the Bay adult retreat operates as a one-day event with all-inclusive cost of $20 per person. Additional revenue from optional hotel room and RV park overnight stays.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Texas Baptist Encampment operates a Christian camp and retreat center providing programmed summer camps for youth (Girls Expedition Camp, Boys Adventure Camp, Kamp Khaos, OneCamp), adult retreats (May by the Bay), and year-round facility rentals for church groups, conferences, and events. The camp offers lodging, dining, conference, and recreation amenities accommodating groups of 2 to 800 guests on a Gulf Coast waterfront campus.

Product overview

Texas Baptist Encampment offers a unified facilities-and-program portfolio centered on religious camp ministry and retreat services. The core offering consists of programmed summer camps for youth (Girls Expedition Camp, Boys Adventure Camp, Kamp Khaos, Onecamp) and adult retreats (May by the Bay), supported by rentable facilities including lodges, conference spaces, dining hall, and recreation amenities accommodating up to 800 guests. The portfolio also includes add-on services such as Child Protection Training certification, an online donations platform, and a member directory. Facilities may be rented for independent church groups to host their own events, and the camp has operated since 1902 as the oldest camp west of the Mississippi River.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Camps Program Programmed summer camp offerings including Girls Expedition Camp, Boys Adventure Camp, Kamp Khaos (Preteens), and OneCamp (Youth) for various age groups from 1st-12th grade, featuring worship, Bible study, missions study, music, recreation, and water activities.
• Retreats and Conference Services Year-round facility rentals for weekend retreats, conferences, banquets, church gatherings, and special events accommodating groups from 2 to 800 people, with available lodging, conference spaces, recreation amenities, and food service.
• Facilities and Campus Rental Diverse array of facilities including worship buildings (Tabernacle seating 800, Thibodeaux Conference Center seating 350), lodges (San Felipe, Guadalupe, Gulf Coast South/North, Colorado, Galveston), hotel rooms (Bayview 18 rooms, Seascape 14 rooms), dining hall (seating 500), and recreation amenities (softball, volleyball, basketball, soccer, Gaga Ball, swimming pool, boating pier).
• Girls Expedition Camp 4-day summer camp for girls in 1st-12th grades featuring worship, Bible study, missions, crafts, music, recreation, and fellowship with age-differentiated tracks and staffer application program for high school students.
• Boys Adventure Camp Week-long summer camp for boys and Royal Ambassadors in 1st-12th grades offering worship, Bible study, archery, riflery, leathercraft, boating, and recreation with tracks for Lads (1st-3rd), Crusaders (4th-6th), and Challengers (7th-12th).
• Kamp Khaos (Preteens) Monday-Thursday preteen camp for boys and girls who have completed 3rd-6th grade featuring worship, Bible study, track time activities, music, recreation, water activities, and fellowship.
• OneCamp (Youth) Monday-through-Friday week of summer camp for young men and ladies in 7th-12th grades with heavily focused biblical training, worship services, Bible study, missions study, music, recreation, water activities, and fellowship.
• May by the Bay (Adult Retreat) One-day adult retreat featuring worship, music, preaching, food, and fellowship designed for area church groups to drive in and return home the same day, with optional overnight hotel/RV stays available.
• Child Protection Training Mandatory certification program for adult sponsors attending camp, featuring training videos, manual, test, and certificate of completion valid for 2 years covering definitions of abuse, signs and symptoms, reporting procedures, and youth camp safety protocols.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving as the oldest camp west of the Mississippi River since 1902
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Colorado Baptist AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated association providing referrals and support for camp programming and church group bookings
• Galveston Baptist AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated association providing referrals and support for camp programming and church group bookings
• Gonzales Baptist AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated association providing referrals and support for camp programming and church group bookings
• Guadalupe Baptist AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated association providing referrals and support for camp programming and church group bookings
• Gulf Coast Baptist AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated association providing referrals and support for camp programming and church group bookings
• San Felipe Baptist AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated association providing referrals and support for camp programming and church group bookings
• Christian Camp & Conference Association (CCCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization membership providing industry visibility, standards, and networking within the Christian camp and conference industry
• Southern Baptist Camping AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Southern Baptist camping organization membership for industry standards and best practices sharing
• Texas Baptist Camping AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level camping association membership providing networking, standards, and referrals within Texas Baptist camping network
• Southern Baptist ConventionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDenominational affiliation providing broader network support and alignment with Southern Baptist ministry standards
• Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState convention affiliation providing Texas Baptist network referrals and ministry alignment
• Texas Baptists (BGCT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaptist General Convention of Texas affiliation providing state-wide Baptist network referrals and support
• Campers on Mission of TexasminorOthersVolunteer organization that may provide support for camp operations and ministry programs
• RVICS (Roving Volunteers in Christ's Service)minorOthersVolunteer Christian service organization that may assist with camp maintenance and projects
• SOWER Ministry (Servants on Wheels Ever Ready)minorOthersVolunteer ministry providing service support for Christian camps and organizations
• Texas Baptist MenminorOthersTexas Baptist men's volunteer organization that may provide volunteer support and resources
• Volunteer Christian BuildersminorOthersVolunteer organization providing construction and maintenance assistance for Christian facilities
• First Baptist Church of PalaciosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal affiliated church providing community connection and support

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Kanakuk Kamps: Kanakuk is a large, established Christian summer camp network offering multi-week youth programs with broader scale and geographic reach than TBE, but overlapping in faith-based youth programming.

Direct peers

• Pine Cove: Pine Cove operates Christian summer camps and family camps across multiple Texas locations with similar faith-based programming, youth ministry focus, and church-group GTM motion.
• T Bar M Camps & Retreats: T Bar M is a Texas-based Christian camp and retreat center offering programmed summer camps and group retreats with comparable faith-based programming and waterfront facilities.
• Highland Lakes Camp & Conference Center: Highland Lakes is a Texas-based Christian camp and conference center offering summer camps, retreats, and conferences with comparable denomination-agnostic Christian programming.
• Ridgecrest Conference Center: LifeWay Ridgecrest is a Christian conference and camp center combining programmed summer camps with year-round retreat/conference hosting, directly mirroring TBE's dual programming model.
• Camp Eagle: Camp Eagle operates Christian adventure camps in Texas Hill Country with waterfront facilities, youth programming, and adventure-based activities similar to TBE's offerings.
• Carolina Creek Christian Camps: Carolina Creek operates faith-based summer camps in Texas with programming, age-tiered tracks, and church-group distribution similar to TBE's youth camp offerings.
• Latham Springs Camp & Retreat Center: Latham Springs is a Texas Baptist camp and retreat center similar to TBE in denominational affiliation, geography, programming, and church-group customer base.
• Mo Ranch: Mo Ranch is a Presbyterian-affiliated camp and conference center in Texas offering similar retreat, conference, and summer programming to TBE's faith-based camp portfolio.

Emerging players

• CentriKid Camps: CentriKid provides LifeWay's summer camp programming for church groups, with overlapping youth ministry focus and church-based GTM motion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/texas-baptist-encampment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Texas Baptist Encampment At Palacios, Texas