Camp Penn

What Camp Penn does

Camp Penn is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian summer camp and retreat ministry operated by the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church, headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. It runs three properties — Camp Penn (Waynesboro, PA), Wesley Forest (Weikert, PA, 440 acres), and Sky Lake — delivering week-long overnight summer camps, day camps, travel adventure camps, and year-round retreat facilities. Its core customers are children and youth ages 6-18, families seeking intergenerational experiences, individuals with special needs (ages 9-40), and church groups booking retreats; 852 camper lives were impacted in 2024 alongside 77 retreat guest groups.

The underlying technology is light and operational rather than digital: camp management runs on the CampBrain online registration platform, child protection is delivered through MinistrySafe background checks and Safe Sanctuaries training, and the physical infrastructure includes swimming pools, archery ranges, an 18-element ropes course, an 8-mile hiking trail network, a 7-acre recreational lake, and indoor/outdoor chapels. Research partnerships (Sacred Playgrounds' Effective Camp Project, with data from over 30,000 campers across 100 Christian camps) provide program-level evidence of impact.

The business model blends fee-for-service registration (summer camp fees of $50-$1,500 depending on tier; retreat facility rentals with customized pricing) with tax-deductible donations ($90,688 raised in 2024) and a scholarship/campership program (~$29,000 issued to 126 campers in 2025). Marketing is community-led through the United Methodist Church network, supplemented by direct-to-consumer online registration, social media, local church promotional materials, and an annual fundraising gala. The ministry is undergoing a five-year Expansion Project (Phase One launched January 2026) consolidating resources from legacy Mount Asbury and Greene Hills sites into facility upgrades across both primary properties.

Name

Camp Penn

Legal name

Susquehanna Conference Camp & Retreat Ministry

Website

https://suscrm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Camp Penn is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian summer camp and retreat ministry of the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church, operating three Pennsylvania properties delivering week-long overnight camps, day camps, travel adventures, and year-round retreats for children, youth, families, and church groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Summer Camp and Retreat Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), All Other Traveler Accommodation (721199)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mountain & Wilderness Lodges (THAAAHAE), Cabin & Cottage Campgrounds (THAGAOAD)

Keywords

• Christian summer camps
• Retreat facility rentals
• Youth outdoor programs
• Church group retreats
• Special needs camps

Headquarters

HQ city

Waynesboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Summer Camp Registration Fees: Fees charged for week-long and mini-camp summer programs. Prices range from $50 (day camps) to $1,500 (travel adventures). Covers food, lodging, activities, and program supplies.
2. Retreat Facility Rentals: Groups book retreat facilities at Camp Penn and Wesley Forest. Customized pricing based on group size and services needed. Includes lodging, meals, and meeting spaces.
3. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations to 501(c)(3) organization supporting scholarship funds, expansion projects, and general operations. 2024 saw $90,688 in donations and gifts.
4. Camp Store and Concessions: Camp stores sell merchandise (t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats) at check-in/check-out. Canteens and snack shacks offer consumables during camp sessions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Camp Penn operates Christian summer camp programs for children and youth ages 6-18, including day camps, mini camps, week-long overnight camps, travel adventure camps, and special needs inclusion programs, at its South Central Pennsylvania facility adjacent to the Appalachian Trail and Michaux State Forest. The ministry also rents seasonal retreat facilities at Camp Penn (mid-April through late October) and year-round at Wes Forest for church groups, families, weddings, and organizational events. Pricing ranges from $50 for day camps to $1,500 for travel adventures, and registration occurs through CampBrain or paper forms.

Product overview

Susquehanna Conference Camp & Retreat Ministry operates as a unified ministry offering Christian summer camps and year-round retreat experiences at two primary locations: Camp Penn in Waynesboro, PA and Wesley Forest in Weikert, PA. The core offerings include week-long overnight summer camps for children, youth, and special needs campers; seasonal retreat facilities accommodating groups of various sizes; day camps for local families; and travel adventure camps to destinations like Alaska and the Everglades. Supporting programs include scholarship funding through the campership program, intergenerational family camps, and the Effective Camp Project research initiative. The ministry utilizes CampBrain Registration for online enrollment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Camp Programs at Camp Penn
• Summer Camp Programs at Wesley Forest
• Retreat Facilities at Camp Penn

Quantifiable outcome

• 852 camper lives impacted in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Reel ExpectationsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Delaware-based non-profit collaboration for Fishing Adventure camp week at Wesley Forest. Provides expertise in fishing activities, local fishing hole trips, stream life education, and angling skill development for youth fishing enthusiasts.
• Wilderness VoyageursminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Reputable outfitter providing whitewater rafting equipment and services for Adrenaline H12 High Adventure camp trip to Ohiopyle, PA in Laurel Highlands.
• Camp Mount LutherminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Local Presbyterian camp serving as lodging base for SR High Whitewater Rafting Adventure camp week. Registration handled through Camp Mount Luther's summer camp program.
• KrislundminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Presbyterian camp in Pennsylvania providing Sunday night lodging for Adrenaline H12 High Adventure camp participants during whitewater rafting week.
• Sacred PlaygroundscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Research partnership with Sacred Playgrounds for the Effective Camp Project. Study assesses impact of summer camp experience on campers ages 11-18 through questionnaires at camp start, end, and follow-up. Data helps improve camp programs and demonstrates lasting impacts of Christian summer camp experience. Previous research collected data from over 30,000 campers and 12,000 parents at 100 Christian camps.
• MinistrySafecoreTechnology or IntegrationSponsored by insurance company to provide consistent training and background check tracking for all staff and volunteers. Part of Safe Sanctuaries policy requiring Safe Sanctuaries training for church staff and children/youth volunteers every five years.
• Calvary United Methodist ChurchminorOthersHost venue for Annual Fundraising Gala on September 12, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. in Harrisburg, PA.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Jumonville: Southwestern Pennsylvania Presbyterian camp and retreat center serving families, youth groups, and church congregations with summer camps and year-round retreats — directly comparable in scope, geography, and Christian outdoor ministry positioning.
• Camp Mount Luther: Pennsylvania-based Christian summer camp and retreat center (Presbyterian) that is already a channel partner for Camp Penn's whitewater rafting adventure week; competes directly for the same regional church-going family demographic with similar week-long overnight, mini-camp, and retreat offerings.
• Lutherlyn: Western Pennsylvania Lutheran summer camp and year-round retreat center with overnight camps, adventure activities, and retreat rentals serving faith-based families and church groups in overlapping Pennsylvania geography.
• Pine Valley Camp & Retreat Center: Reformed Church in America camp and retreat center in Pennsylvania offering summer youth camps, family camps, and retreat facility rentals — directly comparable Christian outdoor ministry model serving the same regional market.
• Wesley Woods Center: Western Pennsylvania Conference (UMC) camp and retreat center where Camp Penn's director previously served; offers comparable summer camps, family programs, and retreat hosting for UMC church groups in the same broader Pennsylvania market.
• Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center: Direct sister camp also operated by the Susquehanna Conference Camp & Retreat Ministry in Pennsylvania, offering overnight summer camps and year-round retreat facilities under the same UMC umbrella with overlapping program formats and target families.
• Camp Aldersgate: United Methodist camp and retreat center with residential summer programs and special-needs inclusion — comparable faith-based programming, retreat hosting, and family demographic to Camp Penn's Wesley Forest operations.
• Krislund Camp & Retreat Center: Pennsylvania Presbyterian camp and retreat center already partnering with Camp Penn (lodging for Adrenaline H12); offers comparable summer youth camps, family programming, and retreat services to the same regional Christian family audience.

Broad incumbents

• Lake Junaluska: Major United Methodist conference center and retreat in North Carolina with significantly larger scale; while not a direct summer-camp competitor, it anchors the broader UMC camp and retreat ecosystem and competes for UMC family and conference-group retreat bookings.

Others

• Christian Camp and Conference Association (CCCA): Industry association for Christian camps and retreat centers; provides networking, training, and standards referenced by Camp Penn, serving as the broader ecosystem/peer network rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/camppenn
• Instagraminstagram.com/wesleyforestcamp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wesley-forest-camp-and-retreat

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Penn