Camp Blue Diamond

What Camp Blue Diamond does

Camp Blue Diamond Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian camp and retreat center operating on a 238-acre site within Rothrock State Forest in central Pennsylvania (Petersburg, between State College and Altoona). Founded in 1963 with the first full summer of camp in 1966, the organization is accredited by the American Camp Association (meeting over 150 industry standards) and affiliated with the Middle PA District Church of the Brethren (approximately 55 member churches) and American Baptist Churches of Centre Association.

The core offerings fall into three buckets: (1) co-ed residential summer camps for children, youth, and families across roughly 14 program tracks spanning ages 5 through 12th grade (Kiddie Camps through Youth Camp, including specialty tracks such as Cooking, Caving, Creative Arts, Yough Adventure, and Outdoor Living Skills), with a Counselor-in-Training leadership track; (2) year-round facility rentals including the Main Lodge (capacity ~150), four cabins, two picnic pavilions, and a 46-site RV/tent campground; and (3) hosted programming partnerships, most notably Penn State's Shaver's Creek Outdoor School, which runs approximately 12 weeks of environmental education for regional fifth-grade classrooms each academic year.

The organization makes money via a mix of one-time camp registration fees (a three-tier structure introduced in 2023: Standard, Supporter's, Sustainer's, ranging from $85 to $600), facility rental fees (cabins $250/night flat, Main Lodge from $31/night/person, RV sites $27-$37/night, pavilion tiered by group size), Outdoor School fees, donations, and annual fundraising events (Heritage Fair raised over $25K in 2025; Brethren Open Golf Tournament raised over $11K in 2025). Distribution runs through Campwise online registration, direct phone/email sales, and denominational referral channels. Technology stack is minimal — Campwise registration software and standard social/email marketing — with no proprietary platform or AI capability. The organization is led by Executive Director Brian Bert (since 2022, previously Program Director since 2008) and operates with four year-round staff supplemented by seasonal summer counselors and food service workers.

Name

Camp Blue Diamond

Legal name

Camp Blue Diamond Inc.

Website

https://campbluediamond.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Camp Blue Diamond is a 501(c)(3), ACA-accredited Christian camp and retreat center on 238 acres in central Pennsylvania, offering residential summer camps for ages 5-18, family camp, cabin and RV rentals, and hosting Penn State's Shaver's Creek Outdoor School for regional fifth-grade classrooms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Summer Camp and Retreat Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds (721211), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

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

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA), Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps) (THAGAOAG)

Keywords

• Summer camp programs
• Retreat facility rentals
• RV campground sites
• Outdoor environmental education
• Christian youth camps

Headquarters

HQ city

East Petersburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Registrations: Year-round and seasonal camp programs for children, youth, and families including traditional camps, adventure camps, family camps, and specialty camps (cooking, caving, outdoor living skills). Registration fees range from $85 to $600 depending on camp type and pricing tier selected.
2. Facility Rentals: Year-round rental of Main Lodge (accommodates up to 150 people), cabins (Lakeside, Rising Sun, Hemlock, Ouch House), pavilions for picnics, and 46-site RV campground. Rental revenue from church groups, school groups, family reunions, Penn State event travelers.
3. Outdoor School Partnership: Partnership with Penn State's Shaver's Creek Environmental Center provides facilities and foodservice for environmental education programs for fifth-grade classrooms from regional Pennsylvania schools.
4. Donations and Fundraising: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, camp depends on donations, gifts, and bequests. Capital campaigns (Upon This Firm Foundation raised $700,000 plus $52,500 for Reserve for Replacement Fund). Annual Heritage Fair raises funds split between camp and Middle PA District.
5. Event Revenue: Annual events including Heritage Fair festival (raised over $25,000) and Brethren Open Golf Tournament (raised over $11,000) generate revenue through participation fees, sponsorships, food sales, and auctions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Camp Blue Diamond operates a year-round Christian camp and retreat center offering co-ed residential summer camps for children and youth (grades 1-12) with programs including traditional, adventure, specialty (cooking, caving, outdoor living skills, creative arts), family camp, and CIT leadership development. It also rents cabins, RV/tent campsites, picnic pavilions, and a Main Lodge (up to 150 guests) to church, school, family, and nonprofit groups, and hosts Penn State's Shaver's Creek Outdoor School environmental education programs.

Product overview

Camp Blue Diamond is a year-round, ACA-accredited Christian camp and retreat center offering a diverse portfolio of summer camp programs and rental facilities. The core offerings include residential summer camps for various age groups (Kiddie Camps through Youth Camp), specialty camps (Cooking, Caving, Creative Arts, Adventure, Outdoor Living Skills), and family programming. The camp provides rental facilities including cabins (Lakeside, Rising Sun, Hemlock, Ouch House), a 46-site RV/tent campground, picnic pavilions, and a main lodge that can accommodate up to 150 guests. Additional programs include Shaver's Creek Outdoor School for environmental education, Heritage Fair, and the Brethren Open Golf Tournament. The camp operates a tiered pricing model with Standard, Supporter's, and Sustainer's fee options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Camp Programs Co-ed residential, specialty, and family summer camps for children, youth, and adults offering faith-based programming, outdoor activities (swimming, canoeing, climbing tower, zipline, paddleboarding, backpacking, whitewater rafting, caving), and Christian education experiences across multiple age tiers (grades 1-12) and adult family members.
• Family Camp Weekend family retreat with Christ-centered programming, swimming, canoeing, campfires, outdoor worship, Bible study, and intergenerational activities for all ages (held August 21-23). Pricing is per adult and per child with ages 3-11 at child rate, under 3 free, and 12+ at adult rate.
• Cabin Rentals (Lakeside, Rising Sun, Hemlock, Ouch House) Year-round cabin rentals including lakeside beach houses (Lakeside/Rising Sun at $250/night flat rate holding 15 guests), Hemlock cabin ($24/person/night accommodating 16 in 4 bedrooms), and the Ouch House (nurse/guest cabin). Available for church, school, family, and nonprofit groups with discounted rates for member churches and optional linens at $10/person.
• RV and Tent Campground 46-site RV and tent campground with water, electric (30/50 amp), sewage options, dump station, central washhouse, and WiFi hotspot. Tent sites at $27/night or $162/week (water only); RV/trailer at $32/night or $192/week (water and electric); RV with sewage at $37/night or $222/week; annual sites with sewage at $1,700/year. Operates May 15 to October 31. Pet-friendly.
• Picnic Pavilions Two pavilions available for church and family picnics May through September with capacity for up to 160 guests, nearby swimming and canoeing. Tiered pricing: less than 30 guests $85, 30-60 guests $115, 60-90 guests $150, 90-120 guests $200, 120-160 guests $250, and more than 160 guests at $1.55/person. Discounts available for member churches.
• Main Lodge Large group rental facility accommodating up to 150 people with meeting rooms, dining hall, stone fireplace, six bedrooms with 24 beds, and state-inspected kitchen. Pricing starts at $31/night/person for lodging plus meals, with children ages 5-12 at half price and discounted rates for member churches. Suitable for retreats, weddings, conferences, and family gatherings.
• Shaver's Creek Outdoor School Environmental education programming for fifth-grade students from Huntingdon County, Mifflin County, and other Pennsylvania schools, operated in partnership with Penn State's Shaver's Creek Environmental Center. Camp provides facilities and foodservice while Shaver's Creek provides programming and volunteer counselors from Penn State, with approximately 12 weeks of programming annually during fall and spring semesters.
• Recreation Activities On-site recreation including 35-foot climbing tower with zipline ($20/person, minimum 8 people), giant swing, initiatives course ($5/person), gaga pit, ballcourt, swimming, canoeing ($20-40/hr depending on group size), fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and disc golf. Lifeguard fee $20/hour. Available as add-ons to camp programs and facility rentals.
• Heritage Fair Annual joint fundraiser between Camp Blue Diamond and the Middle PA District Church of the Brethren featuring food, activities, auctions, and community engagement. The 2025 Heritage Fair raised over $25,000 split between camp and district ministries.
• Brethren Open Golf Tournament Annual golf tournament fundraiser held at Iron Masters at Roaring Spring, supporting Camp Blue Diamond and Middle PA District ministry. The 2025 tournament raised over $11,000 split between camp and district.

Quantifiable outcome

• Camp Blue Diamond keeps summer camp fees subsidized by approximately 1/3 through church and donor support
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Shaver's Creek Environmental Center (Penn State)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp Blue Diamond hosts Penn State Shaver's Creek Outdoor School programs for fifth-grade classrooms from Huntingdon, Mifflin, and other Pennsylvania schools. Camp provides facilities and foodservice while Shaver's Creek provides programming and volunteer counselors from PSU. Program operates during fall and spring semesters with approximately 12 weeks of programming annually.
• Middle PA District Church of the BrethrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp is a ministry of the 55 congregations of the Middle PA District Church of the Brethren. District churches refer campers, provide financial support, and participate in joint fundraising events including Heritage Fair and Golf Tournament. Camp serves as an outdoor ministry venue for district youth and congregational retreats.
• Church of the Brethren Outdoor Ministries AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp is a member of the Church of the Brethren's Outdoor Ministries Association, providing connection to broader denominational camping network and resources.
• American Baptist Churches of Centre Association (ABCOPAD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecondary denominational affiliation with American Baptist Churches of Pennsylvania and Delaware (Centre Association). Provides additional church referral network and denominational support.
• Centre County Camp CadetminorOthersCamp Blue Diamond hosts the Centre County Camp Cadet program, providing facilities for youth law enforcement training camp.
• State College Friends SchoolminorOthersState College Friends School conducts its own Environmental Education programming at Camp Blue Diamond facilities while camp provides facilities and foodservice.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Camp Swatara: Church of the Brethren-affiliated summer camp located in Bethel, Pennsylvania. Operates year-round retreat and summer camp programming for children and youth with a similar multi-activity model and denominational feeder structure.
• Camp Hebron: Christian summer camp and conference center in Halifax, Pennsylvania offering multi-activity programming, retreat facilities, and family camps with comparable ACA accreditation and faith-based positioning.
• Camp Men-O-Lan: Pennsylvania-based camp rooted in Brethren heritage providing summer camping, retreat, and outdoor ministry programs to children, youth, and families with similar volunteer-driven operations.

Broad incumbents

• KOA (Kampgrounds of America): Largest U.S. franchise system of RV campgrounds and campgrounds. Directly comparable to Camp Blue Diamond's RV/tent campground business, though KOA is a national franchise versus CBD's single-site operation.
• YMCA of the USA: National nonprofit operating day camps, resident camps, and outdoor programs at scale. Overlaps with Camp Blue Diamond on multi-activity youth programming and ACA-accredited summer camp delivery, but at much broader geographic reach.

Emerging players

• Woodloch Pines Resort: Family-focused destination in northeast Pennsylvania offering family resort programming, recreation amenities, and group accommodations. Comparable in family retreat and recreation facility positioning, though not faith-based.

Others

• American Camp Association: Industry association that accredits Camp Blue Diamond and ~1,200 other U.S. camps. Not a competitor but directly relevant as the standard-setting body that confers Camp Blue Diamond's quality positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/campbluediamond
• Instagraminstagram.com/campbluediamond
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-blue-diamond

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Blue Diamond