Wilderness Trek Christian Camp

What Wilderness Trek Christian Camp does

Wilderness Trek Christian Camp (WTCC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit faith-based outdoor ministry founded in 1975 in Abilene, Texas, and now headquartered at the Glorieta Adventure Camps basecamp in New Mexico with seasonal operations in Colorado and Utah. Its core product is a set of 5-6 day guided backpacking trips priced at $105 per person per day for youth, college, and group participants (ages 14+) in the Sangre de Cristo and Pecos Wilderness areas, with a Family Adventures tier at $200 per person per day for ages 8+ and an optional Pack and Paddle rafting add-on at $80 per person. The organization runs on roughly 50 seasonal staff supported by 3+ year-round employees and relies on a proprietary spiritual curriculum (Adventure Journals, devotionals, prayer guides, an annual journal, and the award-winning "Riding the Shadow" documentary) as a content moat layered onto federally permitted wilderness operations.

Revenue is generated through four streams: participant trip fees (partially or fully subsidized by donations), donations and charitable contributions (including grants such as OutdoorFund), targeted capital campaigns (notably the "Reach New Heights" campaign funding the September 2025 acquisition of Wilderness Expeditions, Colorado's largest outfitter), and ancillary shuttle services from Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Denver, and Colorado Springs airports. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via The Flybook online booking system supplemented by phone and email inquiries, with church referrals, youth ministry networks, and word-of-mouth as the primary demand-generation channels. WTCC maintains Charity Navigator Four-Star and GuideStar Platinum transparency ratings, and operates under multiple federal land permits across Carson, Santa Fe, and San Isabel National Forests, Great Sand Dunes National Park, and BLM lands in multiple states, which together with its nearly 50-year brand form the principal barriers to replication.

Name

Wilderness Trek Christian Camp

Legal name

Wilderness Trek Christian Camp

Website

https://wildernesstrek.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wilderness Trek Christian Camp is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit outdoor ministry that runs 5-6 day faith-based guided backpacking trips for youth groups, church ministries, families, and college groups in New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah, funded through participant fees, donations, and capital campaigns.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-based Outdoor Adventure Ministry

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds (721211)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Hiking, Trekking & Mountain Guiding (THAJABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs (THAAAOAG), Eco-Adventure Multi-Day Expeditions (Trekking, Hut-to-Hut, Pack Trips) (THAAAEAJ), Guided Tours & Interpretive Services (Ranger-Led, Naturalist, Cultural Interpretation) (THAAAGAB), Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps) (THAGAOAG), Wilderness & Backcountry Lodges (Remote/Off-Grid) (THAGAIAB)

Keywords

• Christian backpacking trips
• Faith-based outdoor ministry
• Youth group retreats
• Wilderness adventure programs
• Family outdoor adventures

Headquarters

HQ city

Glorieta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Participant Trip Fees: Primary revenue stream from backpacking trip fees charged per person per day. All participant fees are partially or fully subsidized through donations to maintain affordability.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Nonprofit funding from individual donors, foundations, and partners including OutdoorFund. Donation-supported financial aid program aims to give away 20% of trip spaces to those in need.
3. Capital Campaign Donations: Special fundraising campaigns such as the 'Reach New Heights' campaign supporting Colorado expansion through Wilderness Expeditions acquisition.
4. Shuttle Services: Optional airport shuttle services provided for additional fees: $400 round trip for Albuquerque/Santa Fe airports, higher rates for Denver/Colorado Springs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wilderness Trek Christian Camp operates guided Christian backpacking and outdoor adventure trips lasting 5-6 days in New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah, serving youth groups, families, college groups, and teams. The organization combines wilderness guiding with proprietary spiritual formation curriculum, providing all gear, meals, permits, and devotionals. Revenue is supplemented by donations supporting a financial aid program reserving 20% of trip spaces for those in need.

Product overview

Wilderness Trek Christian Camp is a nonprofit ministry offering faith-based wilderness adventure experiences. The core product is the Group Treks program—5-6 day guided backpacking trips in Colorado and Northern New Mexico—which includes distinct programs: Backpacking – Colorado, Backpacking – Northern New Mexico, Pack and Paddle (backpacking combined with rafting), and Family Adventures. The organization also offers ancillary spiritual growth resources including the 'Riding the Shadow' documentary, Bible studies (21 Day Study Guide 'God Is'), prayer guides, and annual discipleship journals. Support services include a Financial Aid Program (providing up to 20% of spaces to those in need), summer guide staff positions with training, and a Trip Essentials Resource Hub with downloadable handbooks and guides.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Backpacking – Colorado 5-6 day backpacking trips based out of Westcliffe, CO with access to the Sangre de Christo mountains. Cost is $105 per person per day for groups ages 14+. Operates June 7 to August 7, 2026. Designed for youth groups, church groups, college groups, families, and teams seeking a faith-based backcountry experience.
• Backpacking – Northern New Mexico Backpacking trips in the Pecos Wilderness outside Santa Fe with 12,000ft+ peaks, pristine lakes, and solitude. Cost is $105 per person per day for ages 14+ or high school students. Based at the Glorieta, NM basecamp.
• Family Adventures Family outdoor adventure trips including backpacking, climbing, hiking, or rafting in New Mexico, Colorado, or Utah. Ages 8+, group size 4-13 people, 5 & 6 day packages starting at $200 per person per day for a minimum of 4 people. Includes guide, gear, meals, and activity planning.
• Pack and Paddle Add-on whitewater rafting experience on the Rio Chama that can be combined with Colorado or New Mexico backpacking trips. Additional $80 per person for half-day raft trip; Rio Chama overnight options available.
• Airport Shuttle Services Optional round-trip shuttle service to/from Albuquerque (ABQ, $400), Santa Fe (SAF, $150), Denver (DEN, $1,000), and Colorado Springs (COS, $500) airports. Provided by Wilderness Trek staff.
• Financial Aid Program Need-based financial assistance program offering up to 20% of summer trip spaces to youth and groups who cannot afford to attend. Includes individual and group scholarship applications supported by donations.
• Trip Essentials Resource Hub Online resource center providing student handbooks, leader guides, family adventure handbooks, packing lists, and whitewater rafting information sheets for trip preparation.
• Summer Guide Staff Positions Seasonal employment opportunities for wilderness guides leading backpacking trips, including a two-week training program covering wilderness first aid, backcountry skills, safety, and spiritual curriculum leadership.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60,000 people transformed through wilderness ministry experiences since 1976
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wilderness ExpeditionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Acquisition of Colorado's largest outfitter Wilderness Expeditions announced September 2025 as part of 'Reach New Heights' campaign. Wilderness Expeditions was a long-time partner in outdoor ministry. This expansion will allow over 1,000 additional youth annually into Colorado mountains.
• Glorieta Adventure CampscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2018In October 2018, Glorieta Adventure Camps gifted their wilderness department (Glorieta Wilderness) to Wilderness Trek, including all equipment, staff, and programs. Wilderness Trek leased the Glorieta Wilderness buildings for use as a long-term basecamp. Partnership doubled operational footprint and provided qualified staff, equipment, and established programs. Also connects to Camp Eagle family of camps.
• Camp Eagle Family of CampsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnected through Glorieta Adventure Camps partnership; part of the larger camp ecosystem including multiple camps under shared ownership
• Abilene Christian University (ACU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ACU's professional education division; ACU logo displayed as partner organization
• US Forest Service (Multiple Permits)coreOthersFederal land use permits for wilderness operations including Carson National Forest, Santa Fe National Forest, San Isabel National Forest, Great Sand Dunes National Park, BLM Taos, BLM Moab, BLM Northwash

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Royal Family Kids: Faith-based nonprofit running camps and outdoor experiences for foster children and at-risk youth. Overlaps with Wilderness Trek's financial aid and at-risk youth segments, with a similar donor-subsidized operating model.
• Kanakuk Kamps: Well-known Christian residential summer camp network serving youth groups with multi-week adventure programming. Comparable faith-based mission, youth market, and multi-week residential adventure format.
• Pine Cove Camps: One of the largest Christian summer camp networks in the U.S., offering multi-day residential programs for youth groups and families across multiple locations. Highly comparable faith-based, multi-site, youth-focused nonprofit camp operator.
• Young Life: Faith-based youth ministry organization that runs outdoor camp programs and wilderness experiences for teenagers. Most directly comparable given shared evangelical Christian mission, youth group focus, multi-day residential outdoor programming, and donor-funded nonprofit model.
• Glorieta Adventure Camps: Partner organization that donated its wilderness department to Wilderness Trek in 2018. Operates Christian adventure camps in New Mexico and remains a sibling ministry in the Camp Eagle family, sharing mission, geography, and customer base.
• Camp Eagle (TX): Part of the same Camp Eagle family connected to Wilderness Trek via the Glorieta partnership. Runs Christian adventure summer camps with backcountry and high-adventure programming for youth groups.
• CentriKid Camps: LifeWay's network of Christian overnight camps for church youth groups operating across multiple states. Direct competitor for the same church youth group customer segment and comparable multi-day residential format.

Emerging players

• ARCC (Adventures Cross-Country): Operator of teen adventure summer programs including backpacking and wilderness trips in the western U.S. Comparable outdoor adventure product and teen market, but secular rather than faith-based in mission.

Broad incumbents

• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): Large established nonprofit wilderness education provider offering multi-week backpacking and expedition programs. Comparable backcountry guiding, federal land use, and wilderness curriculum, though secular and with a more technical educational focus.

Others

• Compassion International: Large faith-based nonprofit focused on child sponsorship and youth ministry globally. Not a direct competitor, but Executive Director Rich Van Eaton spent 14 years there, making it a relevant organizational and donor-network reference point.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/wildernesstrek
• Facebookfacebook.com/WildernessTrekNEW
• Instagraminstagram.com/wilderness_trek
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wilderness-trek-christian-camp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Wilderness Trek Christian Camp