Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center

What Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center does

Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 365-acre campus in Augusta, Michigan, between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, that delivers youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility programming. Its core offerings include summer day and overnight camps for ages 4-17, specialty camps in robotics, horse, and piano, a high school leadership pipeline (LDP, Counselors in Training, Wilderness Trip), and an award-winning Integrated Education school camp program that partners with Michigan school districts for character education and team building. The Austenfeld Recreation Center provides year-round wellness memberships with a six-lane pool, gymnasium, climbing wall, group fitness, personal training, Child Watch, and aquatics programming. The Retreats and Events Center operates six on-site venues for weddings, corporate retreats, conferences, and holiday parties. A Diabetes Prevention Program extends the wellness offering to adults at risk of type 2 diabetes through a statewide Michigan YMCA alliance. The organization also runs year-round camps (Mini Camps, Winter Camp, Women's Wellness Weekend, Family Fun Day) and a new Sherman Lake Scholars program.

The business model blends five revenue streams: recurring membership subscriptions ($64-$111/month tiers), summer camp registration fees with a unique voluntary tiered-pricing model (no income verification required), rental and catering income from retreats and weddings, professional services revenue from school district partnerships, and charitable donations through an annual campaign, planned giving, and event sponsorships. Need-based camperships totaling approximately $180,000 annually subsidize access. The technology stack is standard nonprofit SaaS — CampInTouch for camp registration, ActiveNet for membership billing, and Bloomerang for donation processing — with no proprietary technology layer. Distribution is community-led: direct membership and camp registration, school-partnership referrals for Integrated Education, and direct sales by a dedicated retreats department for events. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Cindy Green and led by CEO Zach Klipsch, with a management team organized by function (camping services, development, member services, retreats, facilities, IE program).

Name

Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center

Legal name

Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center

Website

https://shermanlakeymca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 365-acre camp, recreation, and retreat campus in Augusta, Michigan, serving families, school districts, and event clients through summer camps, wellness memberships, school partnerships, and weddings/retreats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Recreation and Youth Camps

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

Cabin & Cottage Campgrounds (THAGAOAD), Campgrounds & RV Parks (Developed Sites) (THAGAOAA)

Keywords

• Youth summer camps
• Outdoor recreation center
• School camp programs
• Corporate retreat venues
• Wellness memberships

Headquarters

HQ city

Augusta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Recreation Center Memberships: Monthly and annual membership fees for access to fitness facilities, pool, gymnasium, group fitness classes, and recreation amenities. Membership categories include individual adult, teen, and family/household plans with joiner's fees.
2. Summer Camp Programs: Tiered pricing for day camp, overnight camp, and specialty camps (horse, robotics, piano). Revenue from registration fees for 1-2 week sessions. Additional revenue from transportation, camp store, and specialty add-ons.
3. Retreats and Event Center: Rental fees for weddings, corporate retreats, team building events, holiday parties, and conference/meeting space. Includes venue rental, catering/dining services, and activity packages.
4. Integrated Education School Programs: School camping programs for partner school districts. Revenue from school partnerships for character education and team building programs. Financial assistance provided based on need.
5. Donations and Annual Campaign: Charitable donations through annual campaign, planned giving, Heritage Society bequests, and event sponsorships. Supports financial assistance and program scholarships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center operates a 365-acre residential camp and year-round retreat facility in Augusta, Michigan, offering summer day and overnight camps for children and youth, an Integrated Education school camping program, wellness and recreation center memberships, aquatic and group fitness programs, retreat and wedding venue rentals, and a Diabetes Prevention Program. Revenue is generated primarily through camp registration fees, YMCA memberships, event/retreat rentals, school partnership fees, and charitable donations.

Product overview

Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center is a 365-acre residential camp and year-round retreat facility near Augusta, Michigan, offering a diversified portfolio of programs organized under a unified mission around Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility. The core offerings center on Summer Camps (Day Camp for ages 4–13, Overnight Camp for grades 3–10, and Specialty Camps including Robotics, Horse, and Piano programs), a High School Leadership pipeline (Leadership Development Program, Counselors in Training, and Wilderness Trip), and an award-winning Integrated Education school camp program that partners with school districts. The Austenfeld Recreation Center provides year-round wellness membership access including pool, gym, group fitness, and personal training. The Retreats & Events Center serves corporate meetings, team building, weddings, and holiday parties across multiple on-site venues. Additional services include aquatics, Child Watch, birthday party packages, Diabetes Prevention Program, financial assistance/scholarships, and year-round camp events. The organization operates under the YMCA's four core values of Honesty, Caring, Respect, and Responsibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Integrated Education: Award-winning school camp program incorporating character education with school curriculum for overnight school camping experiences.
• Austenfeld Recreation Center
• Sherman Lake Scholars

Products and services

• Summer Day Camp Day camp program for children ages 4-13 offering swimming, paddling, archery, nature appreciation, hiking, arts and crafts, and themed activities. Transportation is available from Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, and Portage.
• Overnight Camp Overnight residential camp for grades 3-10 featuring cabin adventures, canoeing, SUP, high ropes, LARP, swimming, climbing, and evening all-camp activities. Includes specialty tracks such as Two-Week Camp, Horse Camp, LARP Camp, Piano Camp, and Taste of Camp for younger first-time campers.
• Specialty Day Camps (Robotics, Horse, Piano) Specialty day camp programs including Jr. Robotics (LEGO WeDo 2.0, Ozobot), Introduction to Robotics (LEGO Boost, Dash), Robotics 1 (SPIKE Prime), Day Horse Camps, and Gilmore Piano Day Camp with piano lessons and music electives.
• High School Leadership Programs Three high school programs including the Leadership Development Program (LDP) for grades 10-12 with team-building challenges and an off-site canoeing trip to Hocking Hills State Park; the Counselors in Training (CIT) program for grade 12 with child development training; and an entry-level Wilderness Trip on the Manistee River for grades 8-10 focused on backpacking and Leave No Trace principles.
• Integrated Education (School Camp Program) Award-winning school camp program partnering with school districts to deliver character education, teambuilding, leadership development, and academic curriculum through outdoor experiences, including teacher professional development.
• YMCA Membership Subscription fitness and wellness membership offering access to the Austenfeld Recreation Center including pool, gym, fitness equipment, group fitness classes, climbing wall, and member hiking trails. Includes free child watch, two complimentary personal training sessions annually, and guest passes.
• Aquatics Programs Aquatic programming including youth and adult swim lessons across progressive stages (Water Discovery, Acclimation, Movement, Stamina, Stroke Introduction, Development), lap swim, water aerobics, and private swim lessons for ages 6 months to adult.
• Group Fitness Classes Group exercise programming including Les Mills BODYCOMBAT, BODYBALANCE, and BODYPUMP, along with Yoga, Spinning, TRX, Pilates, HIIT, Boxing & Kickboxing, Water Aerobics, Fit Over 50, and other fitness classes.
• Personal Training One-on-one personal training services with fitness assessment, goal-setting, and custom exercise plans. Two sessions are included free with membership; additional packages available.
• Child Watch Free supervised child care service for YMCA members, available for children 12 weeks to 12 years old while parents work out. Maximum 2 hours per day; offered Monday-Saturday mornings and Monday-Thursday evenings.
• Retreats & Events Center Year-round venue rental for conferences, corporate retreats, team building programs, and holiday parties across multiple on-site venues including Kellogg Hall Great Hall (seats 240), Outdoor Chapel (seats 240), The Barn (up to 200 ceremony/80 reception), Wattles Leadership Lodge (seats 75), and Dogwood Site.
• Wedding Services Wedding venue and event planning services at multiple on-site locations including Outdoor Chapel, The Barn, Dogwood Site, Grand Oak Campfire, Kellogg Hall Great Hall and Small Hall, and Wattles Leadership Lodge. Includes dining services.
• Birthday Party Packages Birthday party rental packages including exclusive use of Game Room or Markham Room, pool access, gymnasium access, indoor Gaga Pit, and The Park, with member and non-member pricing tiers.
• Diabetes Prevention Program One-year CDC-based lifestyle program for adults at high risk for type 2 diabetes. Delivered in small groups (in person or online), covering eating habits, physical activity, stress management, and behavior change with trained coaches, as part of a statewide Michigan YMCA initiative.
• Year-Round Camps & Events Non-summer programming including Mini Camps (October, November), Winter Camp (December), Mom & Kids Weekend, Women's Wellness Weekend, Family Fun Day, and seasonal community events throughout the year.
• Financial Assistance & Camp Scholarships Need-based camperships and financial assistance for families, with approximately $180,000 awarded annually for overnight, leadership, day, and family camps. Eligibility based on family income and household size per National Poverty Guidelines.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 20,000 people annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Battle Creek Family YMCAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Founding collaborative partner alongside Kalamazoo County Family YMCA in establishing Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center as an independent YMCA. The unprecedented collaboration created a resource serving Southwest Michigan.
• Kalamazoo County Family YMCAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Founding collaborative partner alongside Battle Creek Family YMCA in establishing Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center as an independent YMCA. The unprecedented collaboration created a resource serving Southwest Michigan.
• KultureCitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization recognized nationally for sensory accessibility. Sherman Lake YMCA is the first YMCA to partner with KultureCity, providing staff training on recognizing sensory needs and handling sensory overload situations. Facility equipped with sensory bags and tools for campers with sensory needs.
• Michigan Tri-ShareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEligible vendor of licensed child care for Tri-Share program. Allows participating employers to help cover day camp costs for employees through the Michigan child care subsidy program.
• The Gilmore Piano CampminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with The Gilmore keyboard festival for piano day camp and overnight camp programs at Sherman Lake. Requires minimum one year of piano lessons for participation.
• Muskegon YMCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner for Diabetes Prevention Program supported by State Alliance of Michigan YMCAs. Sherman Lake participates in this CDC-based lifestyle program serving adults at high risk for type 2 diabetes.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Camp Pinnacle: Independent residential summer camp in North Carolina offering multi-week, specialty, and leadership programming. Comparable as a mission-driven camp operator with diversified specialty programming.
• Camp Timber-lee: Wisconsin-based YMCA-affiliated camp and retreat center operating a multi-program model including summer camps, leadership development, and group retreats. Closely comparable as a regional YMCA outdoor center combining youth camps, retreat rentals, and year-round programming.
• Skyline Ranch & Camp: YMCA-affiliated residential camp in California offering traditional and specialty camp programs alongside retreat services. Comparable as a YMCA summer-camp operator that has layered retreat and group-rental revenue.
• Camp High Harbour: Georgia YMCA resident camp and conference center on Lake Allatoona. Comparable as a YMCA-operated residential camp and retreat venue combining summer camp and corporate/group bookings.
• Camp Henry (Michigan): Michigan-based residential summer camp and retreat facility serving schools, families, and corporate groups. Comparable in geography and the combination of summer camp, school programming, and retreat venue rentals.
• YMCA Camp Duncan: Illinois YMCA overnight and day camp with retreat and conference facilities. Closely matches Sherman Lake's blend of youth camp programming, retreat rentals, and year-round wellness/community programming under the YMCA umbrella.
• YMCA Camp St. Croix: Minnesota YMCA camp offering resident and day camp, retreat, and outdoor education programs on a multi-hundred-acre site. Directly comparable in mission, scale, and the integration of summer camps with retreat and education revenue.

Others

• Kellogg Foundation (W.K. Kellogg): Original land donor to the Sherman Lake site (1925 gift) and longstanding ecosystem partner in Southwest Michigan. Relevant as a peer funder aligned with the YMCA's youth-development mission in the same region.
• American Camp Association: Industry body that accredits Sherman Lake and sets standards across U.S. camps. Comparable as the ecosystem enabler defining accreditation and benchmarking for camp operators.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of the USA: National federation governing the YMCA movement. Sherman Lake operates as an independent affiliate under this umbrella, sharing mission, branding, and national membership reciprocity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ShermanLakeYMCA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sherman-lake-ymca

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center