Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See

What Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See does

Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See is a non-profit, ACA-accredited overnight summer camp founded in 1946, operating on a 110-acre property along Rock Creek in Manteno, Illinois, roughly one hour south of Chicago. The organization runs multi-session summer programs for youth ages 7-17, including Try Camp, Youth Camp, Extreme Camp, Outdoor Adventure Camp, Counselor In Training (CIT), and a Family Camp Weekend, with on-site amenities including three zip-lines crossing Rock Creek, archery, creative arts facilities, theatre and music programming, and 240 bunk spaces across open fields and wooded areas.

The camp functions as a hybrid operating business. Its primary product is the overnight camp experience, sold through direct-to-consumer registration on the UltraCamp third-party platform, with an explicitly electronics-free philosophy that distinguishes the brand. The secondary product line is venue rental: the property is marketed to corporate retreats, school and youth groups, family reunions, Scout troops, music festivals, sporting events, and weddings, with the wedding package priced at a $6,000 base (200-guest dining hall capacity, setup and portering services included). The technology footprint is minimal by design — UltraCamp for administration, plus active Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube profiles and a 252-subscriber blog email list for demand generation.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across camper registration fees, quote-based rental packages, wedding venue fees, an on-site trading post for snacks and merchandise, branded apparel sales, and donor-supported fundraising including an annual Drawdown. Customer acquisition is heavily word-of-mouth driven, reinforced by multi-generational camper families, a documented alumni network, and 80 years of operating history. The organization is governed by a 2026 Board of Directors and operates with a stated 1-10 employee range, suggesting a lean core staff supplemented by seasonal counselors, volunteers, and interns.

Name

Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See

Legal name

Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See

Website

https://campshaw.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Non-profit overnight summer camp in Manteno, Illinois, founded in 1946, serving youth ages 7-17 through ACA-accredited camp programs and renting its 110-acre, 240-bunk facility for weddings, corporate retreats, school groups, and family reunions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Summer Camp and Outdoor Recreation Services

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 industries

Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus) (THAMAJAJ), Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

Keywords

• Overnight summer camps
• Youth camp programs
• Outdoor education
• Retreat venue rentals
• Wedding venue hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Manteno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Registration: Campers pay registration fees to attend overnight summer camp sessions including Try Camp, Youth Camp, Extreme Camp, Outdoor Adventure Camp, and Counselor in Training programs. Registration is managed through the UltraCamp platform with sessions for Summer 2026 now open.
2. Rental Group Fees: The camp generates revenue by renting its facilities to external groups including corporate retreats, family reunions, weddings/receptions, Scout groups, school groups, music festivals, frisbee tournaments, and birthday parties. Pricing is quote-based and customized per group needs.
3. Trading Post Sales: The camp operates a trading post offering snacks, drinks, and merchandise to campers during their stay. Parents can add funds to camper accounts for purchases.
4. Wedding Venue Rental: The camp offers wedding and reception venue rental with a base cost of $6,000, including use of upper camp grounds, dining hall (seating up to 200 guests), pavilion, setup/rehearsal time, and portering services. Additional costs apply for exclusive grounds use, cabin accommodations, and tent camping.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See operates an ACA-accredited, non-profit overnight summer camp for youth ages 7-17, delivering multi-session programming (Try Camp, Youth Camp, Extreme Camp, Outdoor Adventure Camp, Counselor in Training) on a 110-acre property along Rock Creek in Manteno, Illinois. The organization also rents its facilities to external groups for corporate retreats, family reunions, weddings, school and youth group outdoor education, scout retreats, and sporting events.

Product overview

Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See is an ACA-accredited, non-profit overnight summer camp and rental facility offering multiple camp programs including Try Camp, Youth Camp, Extreme Camp, Outdoor Adventure Camp, Counselor In Training (CIT) programs, and Family Camp Weekend. The camp also provides venue rental services for corporate retreats, weddings, family reunions, and group events, along with outdoor education programs for schools and youth groups. Additional offerings include internship programs, a trading post for snacks and merchandise, and camp clothing apparel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Camp Programs Overnight summer camp for youth ages 7-17 offering multiple session types: Try Camp (first-time campers), Youth Camp, Extreme Camp, Outdoor Adventure Camp, and Counselor In Training 1 & 2 leadership programs. Activities include zip-lining across Rock Creek, archery, arts and crafts, theatre, music, swimming, and nature exploration. Registration for Summer 2026 sessions is currently open via the UltraCamp platform.
• Family Camp Weekend
• Venue Rentals for Rental Groups Rental of Camp Shaw's 110-acre facility with 240 bunk spaces for corporate retreats, family reunions, sporting events, band camps, running camps, church groups, youth clubs, frisbee tournaments, scout retreats, music festivals, and birthday parties. Pricing is quote-based and customized per group needs, with optional programming in sports, swimming, survivor skills, team-building, archery, cooking, arts and crafts, and nature.
• Wedding Venue Rentals Outdoor wedding ceremony and reception venue rental featuring upper camp grounds, dining hall seating up to 200 guests, upper camp pavilion, two dressing rooms, campfire option, 8 hours of day-before setup/rehearsal access, 8AM-10PM wedding-day access, 8 hours of next-day takedown time, and up to 5 hours of portering services. Base package priced at $6,000 with additional costs for exclusive grounds use, cabin accommodations, and tent camping.
• Outdoor Education Programs Outdoor environmental education programs on the camp's 110-acre natural setting for school and youth groups, offering customizable experiential learning in team building, shelter building, nature education, environmental sustainability, and traditional camp activities tailored to each group's objectives.
• Summer Internship Programs Summer internship tracks enabling staff to complete academic requirements, including Barn & Garden, Nature, and Office Assistant internship positions at Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See.
• Trading Post
• Camp Shaw Apparel Online Store Online retail store offering Camp Shaw-branded clothing apparel featuring the camp's new logo in connection with the 80th anniversary, with orders shipping after store closure on September 1.

Quantifiable outcome

• Youth develop independence, social skills, and confidence through camp experiences
• +1 more outcomes

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

One partnership is on record.

• The Event HelperminorOthersThe Event Helper provides insurance services available to rental groups hosting events at Camp Shaw. The camp recommends groups contact The Event Helper if they need to obtain insurance for their event.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Kampgrounds of America (KOA): Largest network of privately owned campgrounds in North America with thousands of franchise locations. Operates in the broader outdoor accommodation/camping space, though primarily RV and tent campgrounds rather than structured youth programming — serves as a regional benchmark for campground operations.

Broad incumbents

• Camp Fire: National youth development organization operating summer camps and outdoor programs across multiple states. Compares to Camp Shaw in mission, ACA-aligned programming, and structured overnight camp offerings for youth.
• REI Co-op: Outdoor retail cooperative that runs youth outdoor programs and experiences (REI Co-op Experiences). Represents a broader incumbent competing for outdoor-program family dollars through retail-driven experiences, complementing but not directly replicating Camp Shaw's traditional overnight model.
• Scouting America: National youth organization that operates summer camps and outdoor programs serving millions of youth annually. Overlaps with Camp Shaw in outdoor adventure programming and youth development mission, though as part of a much broader portfolio.
• Girl Scouts of the USA: National organization operating resident camps across the country offering multi-activity outdoor programming for youth. Directly comparable in structured overnight programming and youth development mission, with comparable rental/event hosting.
• YMCA of the USA: National organization operating hundreds of overnight and day summer camps across the country. While broader and larger, YMCA camps directly compete for the same family segment and serve as the largest incumbent in the youth overnight camp space.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth organization providing after-school and summer programming including camp experiences. Adjacent incumbent competing for the same family summer budgets and offering comparable youth development outcomes.

Direct peers

• Camp Manito-wish YMCA: Traditional overnight summer camp in Wisconsin with multi-activity youth programming and outdoor adventure focus. Comparable to Camp Shaw in scale, ACA-aligned standards, and youth development mission.
• Camp Tecumseh: Traditional overnight summer camp in Indiana offering multi-activity youth programming on a large natural property with similar ACA-style operations. Closely comparable to Camp Shaw in model, mission, scale, and family-oriented outdoor programming.

Emerging players

• Outward Bound USA: Non-profit outdoor education organization offering wilderness and expedition-based programs for youth and adults. While focused on expeditions rather than traditional overnight camp, it competes for the same families seeking outdoor adventure experiences and premium pricing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/CampShaw
• Facebookfacebook.com/campshaw
• Instagraminstagram.com/camp_shaw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-shaw-waw-nas-see

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Shaw-Waw-Nas-See