Camp Onaway

What Camp Onaway does

Camp Onaway is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit residential summer camp founded in 1911 and operating on Newfound Lake in Hebron, New Hampshire, with a year-round administrative office in Glenside, Pennsylvania. It serves approximately 90 girls ages 9-15 per summer through a flagship 7-week session (rising 5th-10th graders) at $11,800 tuition, plus a 3-week Wendies introductory session for rising 4th graders at $6,800, a 3.5-week OWLE wilderness leadership program for rising 11th graders, and an Aides counselor-training program for 17-18 year olds. Programming is intentionally technology-free and centered on outdoor activities (swimming, sailing, canoeing, hiking, rock climbing), arts (dance, drama, ceramics, woodworking, crafts), and cabin-based community living across roughly 90 on-site buildings.

The organization operates on a hybrid revenue model in which camper tuition covers approximately 75% of operating costs, with the remaining 25% funded by annual donations (The Onaway Fund), endowment draws at roughly 4% annually, and a recently completed WIDE AWAKE Capital Campaign that raised $4.38 million in December 2022 against a $4.25 million goal. Approximately 30% of campers receive need-based financial aid. Year-round staff includes the Director (Barrie Pendergast), Office Manager (Beth Beckman), Director of Advancement (Meredith Funston), and Property Manager (Dave Finnell, joined 2023); seasonal staffing adds 24+ counselors plus 6-9 aides.

Camp Onaway distributes its program entirely through direct enrollment via its website and CampBrain registration system, supplemented by annual in-person open house gatherings in seven US geographies and community-led referrals through its active alumnae network. Governance rests with a 20-member Board of Trustees, 13 of whom are alumnae. The camp also maintains a 40+ year relationship with The Circle Program, an affiliated nonprofit serving at-risk New Hampshire girls.

Name

Camp Onaway

Legal name

Onaway Camp Trust

Website

https://camponaway.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Camp Onaway is a nonprofit residential summer camp founded in 1911 serving approximately 90 girls ages 9-15 per summer with a technology-free, 7-week program of outdoor activities, arts, and leadership development on Newfound Lake in New Hampshire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Summer Camp Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO), Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus) (THAMAJAJ), Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA)

Keywords

• Summer camp programs
• Residential youth camp
• Girls leadership development
• Wilderness outdoor education
• Nonprofit camp education

Headquarters

HQ city

Glenside

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. Camper Tuition: Primary revenue source from tuition payments by camper families. Full 7-week session tuition is $11,800; 3-week Wendies sessions are $6,800 each. Tuition covers approximately 75% of operational costs.
2. The Onaway Fund (Annual Giving): Annual fund donations from alumnae, parents, and friends. Supports camp operations, scholarships, staff salaries and training, program activities, and facility maintenance. Camper tuition covers only ~75% of costs; remainder supplemented by donations.
3. Onaway Endowment: Endowment funds invested with approximately 4% drawn annually for operations. Endowment provides secure foundation, annual income, and safety net for unexpected challenges. Gifts can be unrestricted or restricted for specific purposes like scholarships.
4. WIDE AWAKE Capital Campaign: Capital campaign raising funds for infrastructure revitalization and endowment growth. Exceeded $4.38 million goal of $4.25 million target.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Camp Onaway operates a traditional residential summer camp for girls ages 9-15 on Newfound Lake in Hebron, New Hampshire. The flagship offering is a 7-week session featuring swimming, sailing, tennis, dance, drama, arts and crafts, ceramics, and woodworking in a technology-free environment. Additional paid programs include the 3-week Wendies session for rising 4th graders, the 3.5-week OWLE wilderness leadership program for rising 11th graders, and a counselor-training Aides program.

Product overview

Camp Onaway is a traditional residential summer camp for girls offering multiple program sessions: a full 7-week session for rising 5th-10th graders ages 9-15 (the flagship program), a 3-week Wendies session for rising 4th graders, and a 3.5-week OWLE wilderness leadership program for rising 11th graders. The camp also runs an Aides counselor-training program and a comprehensive trips program. Programs include instruction in swimming, tennis, sailing, dance, drama, arts and crafts, ceramics, woodworking, and nature activities, all conducted in a technology-free environment on Newfound Lake.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wendies Program: Three-week entry-level Onaway experience for rising 4th graders, designed to introduce younger girls to the Onaway experience before the full seven-week session.
• OWLE (Onaway Wilderness Leadership Experience)

Products and services

• Full 7-Week Session Camp Program

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Circle ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1982Founded in 1982 by Onaway alumnae and trustees as an independent nonprofit serving at-risk New Hampshire girls through combination of summer camp and year-round mentoring. Onaway counselors volunteer at Circle each summer, Onaway provides scholarship opportunities for Circle girls, and Onaway girls support Circle through their Girls of Onaway Fund. Circles girls and Onaway girls also meet for fun activities and correspond during camp.
• Camp PasquaneyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighboring boys camp on Newfound Lake sharing same philosophy of personal growth and development. Families often send brothers to Pasquaney while daughters attend Onaway. Both camps share the same calendar for coordinated drop-off and pickup.
• Camp MowglisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighboring boys camp located up the road from Onaway, also on Newfound Lake. Offers unplugged authentic summer experience for boys ages 7-15. Shares same calendar as Onaway and Pasquaney for sibling convenience.
• Speare Memorial HospitalminorOthersLocal hospital located nine miles from camp, serving as emergency medical facility for campers and staff.
• Local Pediatrician's OfficeminorOthersSame-day visits available for camper health needs through partnership with local pediatric practice.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Camp Pinecliffe: Long-established girls-only residential camp in Harrison, ME serving similar ages (8-15) with a full-season traditional program. Directly comparable on customer segment, traditional program philosophy, and premium pricing tier.
• Camp Towanda: Traditional residential summer camp in Honesdale, PA offering full-season programs in a similar Northeast lakeside setting. Directly comparable as a long-established, premium-priced sleepaway camp with strong alumnae network and similar tuition model.
• Camp Romaca: All-girls residential summer camp in Hohenwald, TN serving ages 6-16 with traditional multi-week programs. Comparable as a long-established girls-only sleepaway camp with strong alumnae community and similar program breadth (sports, arts, waterfront).
• Camp Mowglis: Traditional boys residential camp on Newfound Lake, NH for ages 7-15. Comparable as a neighboring camp on the same lake with shared unplugged philosophy and coordinated family calendar for siblings of Onaway campers.
• Camp Kenwood and Camp Chipinaw: Sister traditional brother-sister residential camps in Harrison, ME offering multi-week sessions. Highly comparable to Onaway on session length, traditional programming, premium pricing, and deep alumnae community in the same Northeast summer-camp category.
• Camp Timber Tops: Girls-only residential summer camp in Greentown, PA offering full 7-week sessions. Highly comparable to Camp Onaway in age range, session length, traditional girls-only format, and Northeast premium positioning.
• Camp Androscoggin: Traditional residential summer camp in Wayne, ME for boys, comparable to Onaway through shared New England lakeside tradition, multi-week session structure, and similar premium-tier tuition and alumnae network model.
• Camp Laurel: Traditional co-ed residential summer camp in Mount Vernon, ME for ages 7-15. Comparable on lakeside Maine setting, multi-week session format, broad activity offering, and premium Northeast positioning.
• Camp Pasquaney: Boys residential camp on Newfound Lake, NH explicitly partnered with Onaway via shared calendar and sibling-family referrals. Directly comparable as a sister camp on the same lake with shared tradition, philosophy, and families.

Broad incumbents

• Camp Ramah in New England: Larger Jewish residential summer camp network with a comparable New England full-session overnight program. Comparable as a well-resourced traditional sleepaway camp with multi-week sessions and similar tuition tier, though differentiated by religious mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/OnawayNewHampshire
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-onaway

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Onaway