Lutheran Lakeside Camp Association

What Lutheran Lakeside Camp Association does

Lutheran Lakeside Camp Association is a 501(c)(3) ELCA-affiliated outdoor and retreat ministry founded in 1959 and incorporated in Iowa as an Association of 140 Lutheran churches. It operates a 110-acre property on East Lake Okoboji in Spirit Lake, Iowa, with 3.5 miles of nature trails, waterfront access, 12 rustic cabins, four modern lodging facilities (Jerusalem, Shalom, Chalet, The Lodge), 10 RV sites, and an Event Center with indoor capacity for 200.

The organization generates revenue across five primary streams: camp program fees (overnight, day, family, and specialty camps spanning preschool through high school plus Celebration Camp for adults with varying abilities), lodging rentals ($35-$800/night depending on unit and season), event center and wedding venue rentals ($1,000-$2,000 per event), charitable donations and grants through multiple rails including online giving, Venmo, Thrivent Action Team Cards, stock, and legacy giving, and ancillary event services such as $50 birthday party packages and disc golf (operated in partnership with Deer Valley, LLC). Pricing is per-program or per-night with early-bird discounts; year-round childcare subscriptions (Sprouts, CAMPCare) introduce monthly recurring revenue.

Distribution is entirely direct-to-consumer via the lutheranlakeside.com website, CampBrain-powered registration/donation platforms, phone, email, and on-site sales — no third-party resellers. Customer acquisition relies on the ELCA Lutheran church network across Iowa and surrounding Midwest states, supplemented by Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, a semiannual newsletter, and donor events. The active $3.5M "For Every Season" capital campaign is funding new infrastructure ($1.3M), new cabins ($1.2M-$2.2M), and year-round accessibility upgrades targeting 230 total beds and significant growth in both summer and non-summer attendance.

Name

Lutheran Lakeside Camp Association

Legal name

Lutheran Lakeside Camp Association

Website

https://lutheranlakeside.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lutheran Lakeside Camp Association is an ELCA-affiliated 501(c)(3) operating a 110-acre faith-based camp and retreat ministry on East Lake Okoboji in Spirit Lake, Iowa, serving youth, families, church groups, and wedding parties with overnight camps, lodging, and year-round programming funded by fees, donations, and a $3.5M capital campaign.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Camp and Retreat Ministry Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds (721211), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Marina RV & Waterfront Campgrounds (THAMAJAH), Eco-Camps & Sustainable Camping Retreats (THAGAOAE), Traditional Campgrounds (Tent & Mixed-Use) (THAMAJAB)

Keywords

• Faith-based summer camps
• Outdoor retreat ministry
• Church retreat lodging
• Wedding venue services
• Youth group retreats

Headquarters

HQ city

Spirit Lake

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. Camp Program Fees: Registration fees for summer camps (overnight and day camps), year-round programs (Sprouts, CAMPCare, No-School Adventure Day Camp), family camps, and mission trips. Fees vary by program type and duration.
2. Lodging Rentals: Rental revenue from rustic cabins ($70/night), modern lodging facilities (Jerusalem, Shalom, Chalet, Lodge at $500-$800/night), and RV park sites ($35/night). Modern facilities available year-round; rustic cabins May-October.
3. Event Center Rental: Wedding and event venue rental revenue. April-October weddings $2,000; November-March $1,000. Event Center bookings at $75/hour or $500 for 12-hour period. Limited 1-day event availability during wedding season.
4. Donations & Grants: Charitable contributions from individuals, congregations, and grant-making organizations. EIN 42-1302683. Multiple donation mechanisms including online giving, Venmo, Thrivent Action Team Cards, stock donations, legacy giving, and designated gifts for specific projects.
5. Birthday Party Packages: Basic party package at $50 plus optional add-ons (escape room, archery, rock climbing, zip lining, pool access, waterfront activities). Revenue from recreational activity bookings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lutheran Lakeside Camp Association operates a 110-acre faith-based outdoor and retreat ministry on East Lake Okoboji in Spirit Lake, Iowa. It sells summer and year-round youth camp programs (ages 4-18), group retreat facilitation for churches and organizations, lodging rentals (rustic cabins, modern facilities, RV park), wedding and event venue services through the Lakeside Event Center, birthday party packages, and recreational activities such as disc golf. The organization is funded through program fees, lodging rentals, and charitable donations including a multi-year $3.5 million capital campaign.

Product overview

Lutheran Lakeside Camp Association operates a camp and retreat ministry on 110 acres along East Lake Okoboji in Spirit Lake, Iowa. The organization offers summer overnight and day camp programs for youth (preschool through high school), year-round childcare and day camp services, group retreat facilitation, wedding and event venue rental through the Lakeside Event Center, and various lodging options including rustic cabins, modern retreat facilities, and an RV park. The portfolio includes core camp programming (Summer Camps, Year-Round Camps), hospitality services (Lodging, Weddings, Retreats, Birthday Parties), and fundraising initiatives (Camper Sponsorship, For Every Season Campaign). Activities available include disc golf, swimming, rock climbing, zip lining, archery, and waterfront sports. The organization is an ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) outdoor and retreat ministry established in 1959.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Camp Programs Overnight and day camp programs for youth ages 4-18, including Little Lakers (preschool), Adventure Day Camp (K-6th), Explorer (2nd-4th), Cultivator (4th-6th), TrailBlazer (6th-9th), Leader (10th-12th), Voyager (high school), Family & Friends Camp, and Celebration Camp for adults with varying abilities.
• Year-Round Childcare and Day Camps

Quantifiable outcome

• 350 additional campers per summer after campaign completion
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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.

• Deer Valley, LLCminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Partnership to design and maintain the 18-hole disc golf course on camp property. Deer Valley LLC provides course design expertise; Lutheran Lakeside provides the venue and ongoing operations. Course open to campers and public guests with scoring via Udisc app.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of the USA (camping programs): National nonprofit operating sleepaway camps, family retreats, and outdoor education programming; broader mission and significantly larger footprint, but overlapping family/recreation use case and a comparable registered non-profit operating model.
• Young Life: National faith-based youth organization operating camps and retreat properties across the US; broader scale and denomination-agnostic mission, but directly competes for the same youth-ministry and donor-share wallet.
• Kampgrounds of America (KOA): Largest US franchise network of RV parks and campgrounds including tent/RV sites and cabin lodging; competes directly for the same Okoboji-region family camping and overnight lodging demand that drives Lutheran Lakeside's RV park and cabin revenue.

Direct peers

• Camp Idan-ha: ELCA-affiliated outdoor ministry operating as a summer camp and year-round retreat center with similar programming tracks, lodging, and donor-supported scholarship model.
• Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp: ELCA-affiliated Lutheran outdoor ministry in Colorado offering summer camps and year-round retreats; nearly identical ministry model to Lutheran Lakeside and a prior employer of its Program Manager, providing a directly comparable operating template.
• Kanakuk Kamps: Multi-site Christian summer camp network serving families and youth with overnight programming; comparable as a faith-based camp operator with diversified programming and a large donation/scholarship ecosystem.
• Hume Lake Christian Camps: Large faith-based camp and conference center offering summer camps, year-round retreats, and full-service lodging; comparable in scale of programming, lodging variety, and mission-driven revenue model.
• Sky Ranch: Faith-based outdoor ministry running multiple camp and retreat sites with summer programming, family retreats, and church group accommodations; comparable in mission focus, lodging mix, and demographic reach.
• Park River Bible Camp: Lutheran-affiliated summer camp and retreat center in North Dakota; previously employed Lutheran Lakeside's Camp Director, providing direct comparability on staffing pipelines, programming, and ELCA-aligned ministry operations.
• Briarwood Retreat Center: Christian retreat center offering group hospitality, lodging, and programming; a prior employer of Lutheran Lakeside's Camp Director and structurally aligned on retreat revenue mechanics and church-based sales motion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUyKDZSea7SCdtu-99w2knQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/lutheranlakesidecamp
• Instagraminstagram.com/luthrnlakeside
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lutheran-lakeside-camp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Lutheran Lakeside Camp Association