LUTHERWOOD CAMP AND RETREAT CENTER

What LUTHERWOOD CAMP AND RETREAT CENTER does

Lutherwood Camp and Retreat Center is a non-profit, faith-based outdoor ministry founded in 1947 and operating on a 105-acre lakefront property on Lake Samish in Bellingham, Washington. It serves approximately 1,000 people annually across Western Washington through three primary program tracks: summer youth camps (Traditional Camp, First Camp, H2O, Day Camp, Family Camp, Leaders-in-Training, Lake Samish Music Camp), year-round retreats and outdoor education for schools and church groups, and facility rentals to external groups. Core infrastructure includes 164 beds across lodges and six cabins (each sleeping 20), 20 serviced campsites, a low- and high-ropes challenge course, lakefront watercraft (kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, paddle boats), archery, catered food services, and a dining hall.

The organization is sponsored by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), with member church networks driving referrals and a Shepherd's Rest program offering free two-night stays to rostered ministry workers. Its business model blends earned revenue (program fees, facility and campsite rentals, food services, activity fees, exclusive-use bookings at $6,500 per weekend or $3,250 per day) with charitable contributions (donations, qualified charitable distributions, appreciated stock, an Amazon wishlist, and an annual fundraising Gala that raised $35,000 in 2025 with a $45,000 target for 2026). Pricing is uniformly unit-based and pay-as-you-go across every revenue stream, with a heavy reliance on community-led go-to-market through church networks, school partnerships, email newsletters, and word-of-mouth within the regional faith community. Lutherwood operates with a lean leadership team — Executive Director Kevin Beebe, Facilities Lead Tristan, and Program Director Ashleigh Ellsworth-Keller — and is governed by a working Board of Directors.

Name

LUTHERWOOD CAMP AND RETREAT CENTER

Legal name

Lutherwood Camp & Retreat Center

Website

https://camplutherwood.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lutherwood Camp and Retreat Center is a non-profit, faith-based outdoor ministry on a 105-acre Lake Samish property in Bellingham, WA, serving roughly 1,000 people annually in Western Washington with summer youth camps, year-round retreats, school outdoor education, and facility rentals for ELCA and LCMS-affiliated groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Camp and Retreat Center Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Eco-Camps & Sustainable Camping Retreats (THAGAOAE), Conference Retreat Hotels (THAGALAG), Wellness Retreat Centers (Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness) (THAGAMAB)

Keywords

• Summer camp programs
• Outdoor education programs
• Retreat center facilities
• Faith-based camping
• Youth group retreats

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellingham

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. Facility and Lodging Rentals: Rental income from lodges (Lakeview Lodge, Spirit Lodge), cabins, bungalows, campsites, and gathering spaces for external groups, churches, schools, and organizations.
2. Exclusive Use Rentals: Weekend exclusive use at $6,500 (Friday 3pm to Sunday noon) or daily at $3,250, including 164 beds, 20 campsites, dining hall, and amenities.
3. Campsite Rentals: Serviced campsites with electricity and water at $42 per night per site, including access to public washrooms and showers.
4. Activity Rentals: Boat rentals at $10/hour per boat, archery at $15/hour per person, lifeguard services at $60/hour, and low ropes challenge course access.
5. Food Services: Catered meals for groups: breakfast $11/person, lunch $13/person, dinner $17/person (minimum 5 people).
6. Summer Camp and Retreat Programs: Registration fees for summer camp sessions, elementary retreats (March 2026: $70 youth, $50 adults), and year-round program registrations.
7. Annual Fundraising Gala: Gala event with ticket sales ($85 single, $320 half-table, $600 full-table) and donation appeals. Raised $35,000 in 2025, targeting $45,000 in 2026.
8. Donations and Charitable Giving: Donations via mail, qualified charitable distribution from retirement accounts, appreciated stock, estate giving, and Thrivent Choice Dollars designations.
9. Volunteer Program Support: In-kind donations through Amazon wishlist, sponsor-a-building program, and volunteer work days that reduce operational costs.
10. Shepherd's Rest (Ministry Worker Retreat): Free two-night stays for professional ministry workers in ELCA and LCMS denominations, with optional donations accepted.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lutherwood Camp and Retreat Center is a non-profit Lutheran-affiliated camp operating on a 105-acre lakefront property on Lake Samish in Bellingham, WA. It runs summer youth camp programs (overnight and day), year-round retreat programs, environmental outdoor education for schools, and rents its lodging, campsites, challenge course, boats, archery, and food services to churches, schools, families, and community groups. It also operates the Shepherd's Rest program providing free stays to professional ministry workers and hosts an annual fundraising gala.

Product overview

Lutherwood Camp & Retreat Center operates as a multi-program facility offering summer youth camps, year-round retreat programs, outdoor education for schools, and facility rentals. The core offerings include Summer Camp Programs (Traditional Camp, H2O Camp, Day Camp, Family Camp, Leaders-in-Training), Year-Round Programs (Elementary Retreat, Outdoor Education), and Facility Rentals (lodging, campsites, exclusive use). Add-on services include Challenge Course activities, boat rentals, archery, food services, and lifeguard staffing. The center also hosts annual events including the Fundraising Gala and Get In Rhythm Workshop. Shepherd's Rest provides free stays for ministry workers. Programs serve approximately 1,000 guests annually from Western Washington across summer and off-season periods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Camp Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves approximately 1,000 people annually in Western Washington
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Peace Lutheran Church - West SeattleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCongregation sponsored Lakeview Lodge upgrades in Spring 2025 through the Sponsor-a-Building program, demonstrating congregational support and involvement in camp facility maintenance.
• ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)coreOthersPrimary sponsoring denomination. Member churches promote Lutherwood programs and ministry workers access the Shepherd's Rest program.
• LCMS (Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod)coreOthersSecondary sponsoring denomination. Ministry workers from LCMS also access the Shepherd's Rest program for professional ministry workers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CAMP EDGEWOOD: Faith-based camp in Bellingham, WA area offering summer camp, retreat, and outdoor education programs to schools and churches in the same regional market as Lutherwood.
• Lutherhaven Ministries: Lutheran (ELCA) camp and retreat center on Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho, providing summer camp, school outdoor education, and church retreat programs in a similar faith-based camp format.
• Camp Lutherwood Oregon: Lutheran outdoor ministry in Oregon affiliated with ELCA offering summer camp, retreat, and outdoor education programs in a directly analogous faith-based camp operating model.
• Miracle Ranch: Faith-based camp and retreat center in Port Orchard, WA operated by CRC, providing overnight summer camps, challenge courses, and group rentals comparable to Lutherwood's offerings.
• Warm Beach Camp & Conference Center: Large Christian camp and conference center in Stanwood, WA offering year-round lodging, retreat programming, and outdoor activities on a similar scale. Directly comparable as a Pacific Northwest faith-based camp serving churches, schools, and families.

Broad incumbents

• Kanuga Conferences: Episcopal retreat and conference center in North Carolina providing lodging, summer camps, outdoor education, and conference services in a denominationally-affiliated camp model similar to Lutherwood.
• Mount Hermon Christian Camps & Conference Center: Large California-based Christian camp and conference center offering lodging, summer camp, and year-round retreat programming at a much larger scale, representing a broader-incumbent faith-based camp operator.

Regional players

• Tall Timber Ranch: Christian camp and retreat center in the Cascade Mountains of WA, offering group lodging, outdoor programming, and summer camps similar to Lutherwood's Pacific Northwest faith-based model.
• Aldersgate Retreat Center: Methodist-affiliated retreat center on the Olympic Peninsula in WA, offering year-round lodging, outdoor education, and faith-based programming for churches and schools in the same regional market.

Emerging players

• YMCA Camp Orkila: Long-running camp on Orcas Island, WA serving schools and families with overnight and day camp programs, environmental education, and challenge course offerings in the Pacific Northwest.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lutherwood-camp-and-retreat-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 LUTHERWOOD CAMP AND RETREAT CENTER