Camp Carl

What Camp Carl does

Camp Carl is a Christian camp and retreat center founded in 1964 in Ravenna, Ohio, operating as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 92-3590264) on a 315-acre property originally established by The Chapel in Akron. The organization serves children, youth, families, young adults, and church/school groups primarily in the Northeast Ohio region, offering overnight and day summer camps (Elementary through High School grades, plus Equine Camp), the Delta Leadership Residency for ages 18-24, a portfolio of programmed retreats (Ladies, Men's, Father & Son, Mother & Daughter, Next Gen, Frost Fest, Spiritual Grandparenting), year-round guest group hosting, and an online merchandise store. Approximately 20% of campers receive scholarship support.

The underlying technology stack is built on third-party platforms: Circuitree powers registration, staff applications, and store transactions, while Bunk1 powers the Camp Carl mobile app available on iOS and Android with photo galleries, facial recognition for camper identification, Bunk Notes parent-to-camper messaging, and social sharing. There is no proprietary technology IP, and no API or SDK is exposed publicly.

Revenue is generated across five streams: summer camp fees (one-time program pricing with a $75 early bird discount), Delta Leadership Residency tuition (subscription-style, $13,500 Masters, $7,000 Residents, capped at 12 students per cohort), year-round retreat and guest group hosting (unit pricing, e.g., ~$115/person for Men's Retreat), donations including a Circle of Support monthly giving program at $55-$95/month, and merchandise sales. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via website (campcarl.life) and phone, supplemented by a strong Northeast Ohio church referral network and academic partnerships with seven universities for Delta Residency college credit pathways. In 2024 the organization hosted 2,800+ summer campers with hundreds of seasonal staff, supported by a year-round leadership team of 25+ full-time employees and a Board of Directors with an active $5.1M Fan the Flame capital campaign underway.

Name

Camp Carl

Legal name

Camp Carl LTD

Website

https://campcarl.life

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Camp Carl is a 501(c)(3) Christian camp and retreat center in Ravenna, Ohio, founded in 1964, serving Northeast Ohio families, youth, young adults, and church groups with summer camps, the Delta Leadership Residency for ages 18-24, and year-round retreat programming on a 315-acre property.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Camp & Retreat Center

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)

Keywords

• Summer camp programs
• Christian retreat hosting
• Youth leadership development
• Church group retreats
• Equestrian camp activities

Headquarters

HQ city

Ravenna

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, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Fees: Revenue from overnight camps, day camps, and specialty camps (equine, leadership) for various age groups from entering 1st grade through high school. Pricing varies by program length and type.
2. Delta Leadership Residency Program: 12-month residency program for adults ages 18-24 with tuition fees. Masters program tuition $13,500, Residents $7,000, Interns vary. Includes stipend payments to students.
3. Guest Groups and Retreat Hosting: Year-round retreat hosting for church groups, youth groups, corporate ministries, and school organizations. Revenue from facility rentals and programmed retreat packages.
4. Donations and Charitable Giving: 501(c)(3) nonprofit relying on donor support for scholarships, summer staff funding, and capital campaigns. Circle of Support monthly giving program at $55 or $95/month levels.
5. Camp Store and Merchandise: Online store selling Camp Carl merchandise and items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Camp Carl operates a year-round Christian camp and retreat center on a 315-acre property in Ravenna, Ohio, offering overnight summer camps for Elementary through High School students, day camps, equestrian programs, leadership development camps (Crew, Wrangler In Training), year-round retreat hosting for church/youth/corporate groups, programmed retreat events, and the 12-month Delta Leadership Residency for young adults ages 18-24. It also sells branded merchandise through an online store.

Product overview

Camp Carl is a Christian camp and retreat center offering a portfolio of faith-based programs centered around pointing people to Christ since 1964. The core product portfolio includes Summer Camps (overnight camps for Elementary, Middle School, and High School students, plus Day Camp and Equine Camp), Guest Groups & Retreats (year-round facilities for customized and programmed retreats), and specialized Leadership Programs (Delta Leadership Residency - a 12-month program for adults 18-24, plus the Crew and Wrangler In Training programs for high school students). Supporting offerings include a Mobile App powered by Bunk1 for photo sharing and parent communication, an online Store for merchandise, and various programmed retreat events throughout the year. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with facilities accommodating overnight campers, day visitors, and retreat groups on its 315-acre property in Ravenna, Ohio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Delta Leadership Residency: A 12-month leadership development residency program for adults ages 18-24, designed to launch Christian leaders with confidence and direction through academic partnerships with Anchor Christian University.

Products and services

• Summer Overnight Camps Week-long overnight camp programs for Elementary (entering grades 3-6), Middle School (grades 6-8), High School (grades 9-12), and Equine Camp (grades 5-12). Each program includes activities, daily worship, and Christ-centered spiritual development.
• Day Camp Daytime camp program for children entering grades 1-4 who are not yet ready for overnight camp. Includes daily activities and supervision during daytime hours.
• Delta Leadership Residency 12-month leadership development residency for young adults ages 18-24 featuring intentional spiritual development, hands-on ministry experience, and deep discipleship. Three tracks: Residents ($7,000), Interns (variable), and Masters ($13,500 with up to 18 transferable college credits through ACU and partner institutions). Cohorts capped at 12 students.
• Crew Leadership Program Christ-centered leadership camp program for high school students entering grades 9-12, focused on serving and growing in community. Includes 6 days/5 nights with leadership skills development, teamwork, worship sessions, and discipleship activities. $600 two-week discount price; 15 meals included.
• Wrangler In Training (WIT) Leadership program for high school students interested in working with horses at Camp Carl. Provides training in horse care, barn maintenance, and trail ride leadership under the direction of the Ranch Director.
• Guest Groups & Retreat Hosting Year-round retreat facilities and programming for youth groups, adult retreats, corporate groups, and family gatherings. Includes customized retreats (self-planned by group) and Camp Carl Programmed Retreats with provided band, speaker, and activities. Day Retreat options available Monday-Friday for groups under 75.
• Programmed Retreat Events All-inclusive scheduled retreats including Ladies Retreat (September), Father's & Son Retreat, Mother & Daughter Retreat, Next Gen Retreat (ages 18-29), Frost Fest Youth Retreat, Men's Retreat (approximately $115/person all-inclusive weekend), and Spiritual Grandparenting Event. Includes activities, Bible teaching, meals, and worship.
• Camp Carl Online Store Online retail store selling Camp Carl merchandise, apparel, and memorabilia for campers, families, alumni, and supporters.

Quantifiable outcome

• 425 campers attended first summer (1964) growing to 2,800+ campers in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Anchor Christian University (ACU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner for the Delta Leadership Residency program. Built with ACU to provide up to 18 college credits that transfer across different colleges. Students can enroll for additional cost of $150 per credit hour.
• Liberty UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for Delta Leadership Residency. Listed as one of several universities for college credit pathways.
• Clarks Summit UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for Delta Leadership Residency. Listed as one of several universities for college credit pathways.
• Southeastern UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for Delta Leadership Residency. Listed as one of several universities for college credit pathways.
• Cedarville UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for Delta Leadership Residency. Listed as one of several universities for college credit pathways.
• Lancaster Bible CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for Delta Leadership Residency. Listed as one of several universities for college credit pathways.
• Cavern UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for Delta Leadership Residency. Listed as one of several universities for college credit pathways.
• Local Churches (Northeast Ohio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong network of Northeast Ohio churches including Christ Community Chapel, Community Life Church, Cuyahoga Valley Church, Grace Church, Parkside Church, and many others. Churches refer campers and book group retreats.
• Bunk1coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner powering the Camp Carl mobile app. Provides photo galleries, camp updates, Bunk Notes messaging, facial recognition for photos, and parent communication platform.
• Wheaton CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDave Burnham researched Wheaton College's camp Honey Rock when developing the vision for Camp Carl ministry.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Royal Family Kids: A national network of Christian summer camps serving children in foster care. Comparable faith-based camp programming but with distinct mission focus and distributed camp model versus single-property operations.
• Young Life: A national evangelical youth ministry operating multiple camps and retreat properties across the U.S. Comparable faith-based youth development model but operates nationally with much larger scale and broader programmatic scope.

Direct peers

• Kanuga: An Episcopal retreat and conference center in North Carolina offering summer youth camps and year-round guest group programming. Comparable church-affiliated camp and retreat hosting model at larger scale.
• Trout Lake Camps: A Christian summer camp in Wisconsin with multi-activity programming for K-12 and leadership development tracks. Comparable activity breadth, age segmentation, and faith-based enrichment positioning.
• Timber-lee: A Christian camp and retreat center in Wisconsin offering summer camps, leadership development programs, and year-round retreat hosting. Comparable year-round facility utilization and multi-audience programming model.
• Camp Berea: A non-denominational Christian camp in New Hampshire offering overnight summer camps and year-round retreat hosting. Directly comparable faith-based camp and retreat center operating model.
• Cran-Hill Ranch: A Christian family camp in Michigan with equestrian programming, summer camps, and year-round retreat hosting. Closely comparable equestrian asset base and faith-based family programming.
• Lake Ann Camp: A Christian summer camp in Lake Ann, Michigan offering multi-activity overnight and day camps for K-12 plus leadership programming. Directly comparable multi-activity enrichment camp model serving a similar Midwest demographic.
• Sandy Cove Ministries: A Chesapeake Bay-area Christian conference center and camp offering summer youth camps plus year-round retreat hosting for churches and families. Highly comparable mix of summer camps, retreat hosting, and faith-based programming.
• Cedar Lakes Ministries: A Christian retreat center and summer camp in West Virginia hosting youth camps, church retreats, and family programming. Directly comparable year-round retreat hosting plus summer camp operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@campcarllife?si=UgTJgX3hUqkqjxo9
• Facebookfacebook.com/campcarllifeofficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/campcarllife
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/campcarl

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Camp Carl