Forest Glen Camps

What Forest Glen Camps does

Forest Glen Camps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian youth camp and retreat center located in Huntsville, Texas, operating on 286 acres across two campuses (North Shore and Lakeside) with combined capacity for over 600 overnight guests. Founded in 1965 and rebranded under the Forest Glen name in 1984, the organization serves more than 30,000 campers annually through a portfolio of programs that includes Day Camp, the newly launched Ignite Camp (Grades 3-5 and 6-8), Family Camp, Family Fun Fest, Outdoor Education, and the Lakeside Retreat Center.

The business model is event-driven and community-led, monetizing primarily through per-head camper fees ($155/week Day Camp; $299-$599 Ignite Camp; $5-$10 Family Fun Fest admission) and off-season retreat bookings at the Lakeside Retreat Center for corporate, school, and faith-based groups. A 2025 fiber optic infrastructure upgrade and a new Emergency Command succession protocol indicate investment in operational capacity and governance. Distribution is largely regional and faith-network-driven, with church and school group bookings serving as the core go-to-market channel and a Gap Year Program functioning as a talent pipeline.

The strategic posture is one of steady programmatic expansion within a defined regional footprint, evidenced by the upcoming Ignite Camp launch, tiered/BYOC pricing options targeting price-sensitive church groups, and physical infrastructure modernization rather than geographic or M&A-driven growth. No AI, software platform, or proprietary technology components are part of the offering; competitive advantage derives from physical asset scale, brand tenure, and recurring community relationships rather than from technology differentiation.

Name

Forest Glen Camps

Legal name

Forest Glen Camps

Website

https://forestglen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Camp and Retreat Center

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAMAJAJ

Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus)

Travel & Hospitality/Vacation Rentals & Short-Term Stays/Campgrounds, Glamping & RV Parks

SECONDARYTHAGAOAI

Group Camping & Scout Camps

Travel & Hospitality/Lodging & Accommodation/Camping & Glamping Facilities

SECONDARYTHAAAHAE

Mountain & Wilderness Lodges

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Nature Lodges & Eco-Resorts

Keywords

• Christian youth camps
• Outdoor education programs
• Retreat facilities
• Group retreats
• Family camp programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Huntsville

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Camp and Program Fees: Revenue generated from overnight camps (Ignite Camp), day camps, family camps, and outdoor education programs. Fees vary by program type, duration, and whether counselor support is included.
2. Retreat Facility Rental: Revenue from hosting retreat groups at North Shore and Lakeside campuses. Groups book facilities for corporate retreats, church retreats, and other organizational events.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, Forest Glen relies heavily on donor generosity. The organization is an ECFA member and accepts financial contributions, volunteer time, and prayers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Forest Glen Camps operates a Christ-centered camp and retreat center on two campuses (North Shore and Lakeside) spanning 286 acres in the Piney Woods of East Texas. It delivers seasonal youth day camps, the Ignite overnight camp for teens (grades 6-12), family programs, outdoor education field trips for schools, and rental of retreat facilities for church groups, schools, and corporate groups. Revenue comes from program/registration fees, facility rentals, and donations as a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

Product overview

Forest Glen Camps operates as a Christian camp and retreat center offering multiple interconnected programs across two physical campuses (North Shore and Lakeside) in the Piney Woods of East Texas. The core offerings include seasonal day camps and overnight camps (Ignite Camp for teens), family programs (Family Camp and Family Fun Fest), and outdoor education for schools. The organization provides retreat facilities and venues for church groups, schools, and corporate events, along with employment programs for summer staff, year-round employees, and a gap year internship. All programs integrate outdoor recreation activities (zip-lining, canoeing, rock climbing, archery) with faith-based programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Day Camp A week-long day camp program featuring outdoor activities such as canoeing, zip-lining, and Bible-based learning for children.
• Ignite Camp An overnight camp for teens in grades 6-12 offering high-energy adventure activities, worship, and Biblically grounded teaching for spiritual growth.
• Family Camp An all-inclusive family weekend retreat featuring meals, lodging, and activities including climbing, zip-lining, tomahawk throwing, and fishing.
• Family Fun Fest An afternoon family event offering unlimited access to camp activities including ziplines, rock wall, canoes, paddleboards, pool, and archery for $5 per person.
• Outdoor Education An educational field trip program for school groups featuring hands-on learning in zoology, conservation, and ecosystem studies aligned with science curriculum.
• North Shore Retreat Center The original Forest Glen retreat campus with scenic lakeside views, climate-controlled cabins, meeting halls (Eternity Hall, Town Hall), and facilities for groups of 30-384 people.
• Lakeside Retreat Center A secluded retreat center featuring spacious lodges with lake-view balconies, meeting spaces, recreation pavilion, pool, and dining hall for groups of 50-300 people.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,500 retreatants and campers served in a single summer season
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sky Ranch: Sky Ranch is a Texas-based Christian camp and retreat organization operating multiple camp locations, serving churches, families, and youth groups with overnight camps and retreat facilities. It directly competes with Forest Glen in the East Texas and broader Texas Christian camp market.
• Pine Cove: Pine Cove is one of the largest Christian camp networks in the U.S. with multiple Texas locations, offering overnight and day camps for youth and families. It is the closest direct competitor to Forest Glen in the Christ-centered camp segment and overlaps substantially in target customer base and programming.
• Camp Eagle: Camp Eagle is a Christ-centered residential summer camp and retreat center in Texas offering youth camps and group retreats. It operates a comparable facility-based retreat model serving church groups and families in the same regional market.
• Camp Zephyr: Camp Zephyr is a Texas-based Christian camp offering overnight and day camp programming for children and youth. It serves a similar Christ-centered family and church-group customer base in the same regional market as Forest Glen.
• Heart of Texas Camp: Heart of Texas Camp is a Christian camp and retreat center in central Texas offering summer camps and group retreats. It overlaps directly with Forest Glen in faith-based programming and group retreat offerings for church and school customers.
• Lumen Christi Retreat Center: Lumen Christi is a Catholic retreat center offering group retreats, youth programs, and family camps. It is comparable to Forest Glen as a faith-based retreat center with multi-segment programming for church groups, schools, and families.
• Carolina Creek Christian Camps: Carolina Creek is a Christ-centered summer camp and retreat center in Texas serving youth, families, and church groups with overnight camps and retreat facilities. It competes directly with Forest Glen in the Texas Christian camp market with similar programming and target segments.

Regional players

• Camp Cedar Crest: Camp Cedar Crest is a Christian summer camp and retreat center in Southern California offering youth camps and group retreats. It shares Forest Glen's faith-based, facility-centric camp and retreat model but serves a different regional market.

Broad incumbents

• WinShape Retreat: WinShape Retreat is the retreat and conference arm of the WinShape Foundation, offering Christian retreats and camps at facilities in Georgia and beyond. It is a larger incumbent in the faith-based camp and retreat segment with comparable retreat programming and church-group focus.
• Kanakuk Kamps: Kanakuk is a larger, established Christian youth camp network based in Branson, Missouri, operating multiple camp locations across the U.S. While not in Texas, it is a broader incumbent in the Christ-centered overnight camp category with similar programming and target market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/forestglencamps
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forest-glen-camp-and-retreat-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Forest Glen Camps