Mountain Roots, Inc.

What Mountain Roots, Inc. does

Mountain Roots, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit outdoor education organization headquartered in Cedar Mountain, North Carolina, delivering standards-aligned, place-based environmental education to K-12 students and youth across Western North Carolina. Founded in 2009, the organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs: Outdoor Education (in-school half-day schoolyard sessions at $12/student, full-day field trips at $30-$35/student, and weekly "specials" classes at $300-$350/day across Transylvania, Henderson, and Buncombe County Schools), a 7-week summer Mountain Roots Day Camp for ages 4-10 (Preschool Camp $159-$179, Full Day Camp $289-$319, Forest Camp $289-$309, Ramblers Backpacking Camp $399), the Roots Crew counselor-in-training program ($50/week) for rising 7th-9th graders, the Branching Out after-school teen nature series, and Community Outreach Programs including retreats and workshops. Programs are delivered at Brevard College, FernLeaf Community Charter Wilderness Campus in Fletcher, and within Pisgah National Forest.\n\nThe organization runs on a hybrid revenue model combining fee-for-service school contracts, family-paid camp tuition with sibling/multi-week/early-bird discounts and need-based scholarships, individual donations processed through PayPal Fundraiser, an annual fundraising drive ($10,000 stated goal for 2026), and event income from the Bear Country 5k/10k (hosted by Oskar Blues Brewery and organized by Kick It Events) and an annual Golf Fundraiser. Year-round staff includes ~13 personnel led by Executive Director and Co-Founder Ali Lien, supported by a Board of Directors. Go-to-market combines a sales-led motion targeting school administrators with a direct-to-consumer motion for camps via the Jumbula online registration portal and a community-led motion anchored in teacher referrals, social media (Instagram @mountain_roots_nc, Facebook mountainrootsinc), an email newsletter, blog content, and PR features (HCPS Spotlight, Vaya Health WNC Thrive). Technology footprint is deliberately lightweight: no proprietary platform, no API, no app, and no AI components — operations depend on Jumbula, PayPal, Google Forms, WordPress, and standard email/social channels.

Name

Mountain Roots, Inc.

Legal name

Mountain Roots, Inc.

Website

https://mountainroots.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mountain Roots is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers standards-aligned outdoor education programs and a 7-week summer day camp to K-12 students and families across Western North Carolina counties (Transylvania, Henderson, Buncombe), supported by school district contracts, camp tuition, donations, and community events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Education Services

NAICS

RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

Keywords

• Outdoor education
• Summer day camps
• Experiential learning
• Environmental education
• Nature-based programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Gunnison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program fees (Outdoor Education): Fees charged to schools and school districts for outdoor education programs, including half-day schoolyard programming ($12/student), full-day field trips ($30-$35/student), and weekly specials ($300-$350/day). These fees cover instruction, materials, and program delivery.
2. Camp registration fees: Tuition-based day camp programs for families. Pricing varies by camp type: Preschool Camp $159-$179, Full Day Camp $289-$319, Forest Camp $289-$309, Ramblers Backpacking $399, Roots Crew $50/week. Discounts for siblings and multi-week enrollment.
3. Individual donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting scholarship funds and program expansion. Processed via PayPal Fundraiser. The organization aims to raise $10,000 annually through fundraising drives to support scholarships.
4. Fundraising events: Annual Golf Fundraiser (September 18, 2026) and Bear Country 5k & 10k run events generate funds for outdoor learning and youth programs.
5. Corporate sponsorships: Local business sponsors for events such as the Bear Country 5k & 10k (e.g., Oskar Blues Brewery as event host). Sponsorships support event costs and benefit Mountain Roots programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Mountain Roots is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit outdoor education organization in Western North Carolina that delivers nature-based programming for K-12 schools and a summer day camp for children ages 4-10. The organization also runs sub-camps including Preschool Camp, Full Day Camp, Forest Camp, and Ramblers Backpacking Camp, along with Roots Crew leadership development, Branching Out teen nature connection programs, community outreach, and retreats/workshops.

Product overview

Mountain Roots is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit outdoor education organization offering experiential learning programs across Western North Carolina. The organization operates as a unified portfolio of interconnected programs including Outdoor Education Programs (standards-aligned K-8 curriculum delivery during school hours), Mountain Roots Day Camp (7-week summer program with multiple camp types), Roots Crew (middle school leadership development), Branching Out (teen after-school programming), and Community Outreach Programs (year-round partnerships with schools and community groups). The core offerings span Preschool Camp, Full Day Camp, Forest Camp, and Ramblers Backpacking Camp, all unified by the mission of connecting students to nature, themselves, and their communities through hands-on outdoor learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Outdoor Education Programs
• Day Camp
• Preschool Camp
• Full Day Camp
• Forest Camp
• Ramblers Backpacking Camp
• Roots Crew
• Branching Out
• Community Outreach Programs
• Retreats and Workshops

Quantifiable outcome

• Children who participate in outdoor learning activities exhibit improved academic performance and engagement, increased creativity and problem-solving, better mental and physical health, environmental awareness, and increased confidence and resilience
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Oskar Blues BreweryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 November 2025Oskar Blues Brewery in Brevard, NC served as the host venue for the 2025 Bear Country 5k & 10k event benefiting Mountain Roots. The brewery provided the start and finish line location, adding a community-focused atmosphere to the event.
• Kick It EventsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Kick It Events organized the Bear Country 5k & 10k race event on November 15, 2025, with proceeds benefiting Mountain Roots. This is an ongoing annual event partnership.
• Vaya HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVaya Health supports Mountain Roots' after-school and summer programs through the WNC Thrive initiative, helping connect youth across Western North Carolina with hands-on outdoor learning and wellness opportunities. Mountain Roots is featured on Vaya Health's WNC Thrive page.
• Henderson County Public Schools (HCPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMountain Roots provides comprehensive outdoor education for 5th graders in Henderson County, including 4 half-day on-site programs and 2 full-day field trips per student annually. Programs are aligned with local 5th grade curriculum covering ecosystems, weather, forces and motion, and scientific inquiry.
• Buncombe County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMountain Roots provides outdoor education programming for students in Buncombe County Schools. Photo credits and testimonials indicate ongoing partnership for experiential learning.
• Transylvania County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMountain Roots has served Transylvania County Schools for 16 years with outdoor education programs. Teachers provide testimonials praising the program's impact on student engagement and environmental learning.
• Brevard CollegeminorOthersBrevard College campus (1 Brevard College Dr, Brevard, NC) hosts Mountain Roots Day Camp for Sessions 1-3 (June 15-July 3, 2026) during the first three weeks of the summer camp season.
• FernLeaf Community Charter SchoolminorOthersFernLeaf Community Charter Wilderness Campus (249 Old Hendersonville Rd, Fletcher, NC) hosts Mountain Roots Day Camp for Sessions 5-7 (July 13-31, 2026) during the final three weeks of the summer camp season.
• Pisgah National ForestminorOthersPisgah National Forest serves as the location for Forest Camp (July 7-10, 2026, ages 6-11) and Ramblers Backpacking Camp (July 7-10, 2026, ages 12-14), with base camp at a group campsite near the Pisgah Forest Visitor Center.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Camp Pinnacle: Co-ed traditional summer camp near Hendersonville, NC for ages 6-16. Direct competitor for summer camp enrollments from the same regional family base; comparable programming length and mountain-North Carolina setting.
• Green River Preserve: A nature-immersion summer camp in Cedar Mountain, NC (same region as Mountain Roots) focused on outdoor education, wilderness skills, and place-based learning for children ages 6-17. Highly comparable in mission, regional setting, and program philosophy.
• Falling Creek Camp: Established boys' summer camp in Tuxedo, NC offering multi-week overnight programming for elementary and middle schoolers. Comparable Western NC summer camp operator with overlapping age range (Mountain Roots serves ages 4-12); differs by being residential and traditional rather than nature-immersion focus.
• Camp Merrie-Woode: Traditional girls' summer camp in Sapphire, NC serving ages 6-17. Western NC competitor to Mountain Roots' camp programs with shared appeal to families in the same region; notable brand history Mountain Roots must compete against.
• Western North Carolina Nature Center (WNC Nature Center): Asheville-based nature education center employing Mountain Roots staff alumnus Carlton Burke (formerly Curator of Exhibits for 25 years). Comparable as a Western NC nature-education provider serving schools and families, though operates from a fixed facility.
• Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont: Regional council serving Western NC with summer resident camps, outdoor badges, and after-school programming for girls. Comparable as a youth outdoor education and camp provider in the same geography with similar age cohorts and standards-aligned offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Appalachian Mountain Club: Regional outdoor education and recreation nonprofit serving the Appalachian corridor, offering schools and families outdoor programming, leadership training, and wilderness experiences. Comparable model at a much larger scale across the Eastern U.S.
• The North Carolina Arboretum: Asheville-based public institution offering K-12 environmental education programming tied to Western NC ecosystems. Comparable in standards-aligned environmental curriculum delivery and regional audience, though operates as a much larger public-facing institution.
• YMCA of Western North Carolina: Operates Camp Watia and other youth outdoor programs throughout Western NC, with summer day and overnight camps plus school-age programming. Overlaps with Mountain Roots on summer camp and youth outdoor education offerings in the same geography.

Emerging players

• Catalina Island Marine Institute / CIMI (Guided Discoveries): California-based residential outdoor education and summer camp programs for K-12 students focused on hands-on science in a natural setting. Comparable as a place-based, standards-tied outdoor education operation with overnight summer programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mountainrootsinc
• Instagraminstagram.com/mountain_roots_nc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mountain-roots-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Mountain Roots, Inc.