Facility & Operations Management Services

For Nonprofit Camp & Retreat Owners

Who We Are and What We Do.

We’re here to help camp and retreat centers thrive.

With our unique industry experience, we have helped nonprofit camps and retreat centers run efficiently since 1970.

We can help you optimize your facility.

Check out our Expert Tips.

We offer customized services to nonprofit property owners of camp & retreat centers.

We offer a full range of services, including staffing, on-site management, accounting, marketing, and everything in between.

Who You Are.

Passionate about your beliefs.

You became involved because you wanted to help others.

Over time, the original intention has shifted, taking away from the purpose of owning a facility.

You know things can be better.

An executive, board member, or site director of a nonprofit camp or retreat center.

You work at, or volunteer your time to support the mission of the organization, but the actual running of the facility consumes your time.

Two Options for the Services You Need.

Choose our full-service option.

This includes all of the items listed.

Choose our consulting option.

Select the topics you need most.

Contact us to get started today.

  • At UCCR, we will bring in an on-site professional to oversee all aspects of running your facility smoothly and efficiently.

    From the basics of meeting groups who are staying, to overseeing a major renovation, we’ve got you covered.

    Working with new and existing staff, UCCR will make sure that all staff receive the proper training required by local, state, and federal agencies, along with all pertinent UCCR trainings, thus ensuring your facility will remain safe for all guests to enjoy.

    • Daily Operations
      Working with on-site staff to make sure all aspects of daily operations run smoothly.

    • Food service
      We take care of full-service professional food service, from ordering supplies to serving wholesome, nutritious, and delicious meals. We manage food costs and menus right down to every detail.

    • Landscape and Groundskeeping
      We ensure your camp or retreat center always looks great through our commitment to stewardship of your facility and care for the local natural fauna.

    • Compliance
      We work with all state and local officials on your behalf to make sure all aspects of your facility meet or exceed the requirements needed to run a successful and safe camp, conference, or retreat center. We also work closely with ACA to make sure the highest standards are being met.

    • Maintenance
      Our on-site professional will keep your site in top shape, including every aspect of what your facility offers. We offer a range of services, including painting, tree and pool maintenance, renovations, new building construction, and water treatment. Whatever your property needs to be maintained efficiently, we bring our years of experience.

    • Staff Management
      We will work closely with new and existing staff to ensure all UCCR/OSHA trainings and certifications are met and in place, keeping your facility running safely and smoothly.

    • Accounting
      Our on-site professionals work closely with our core UCCR accounting staff to keep track of revenue and expenditures. We work with all vendors to make sure costs are at their best.

    • Caring for Groups
      Our on-site professionals work with all guests to make sure their needs are met or exceeded. From the welcome speech to the last guest leaving, we will make sure each guest feels safe and very welcome.

  • Regulations Compliance is our specialty.

    Our approach to making relationships with regulators keeps your property a step ahead of new compliance requirements, which helps with budgeting, facility management, and keeping staff and guests safe.

    Some of the agencies UCCR continually works with are:

    • Fire Department Services

    • Law Enforcement

    • OSHA

    • American Camp Association

    • Environmental Health

    • ECT

    We consider it our pleasure to handle regulation compliance on your behalf and work with any agencies required to meet your goals.

  • Our Web of Life Field (WOLF) School offers pre-planned K-12 grade residential outdoor school programs, specially designed programs, and field trips planned specifically for schools, classes, youth, or family groups.

    We also provide environmental education consultations for your organization.

    WOLF School will deliver, or help you design, the best hands-on outdoor education experience possible.

    We offer three options to get to know us and see how we can help you with environmental education:

    • Residential Outdoor Science School and Leadership Retreats
      You are invited to join us at one of our natural outdoor school campuses in Northern California for a 2-5 day academic program specializing in redwood ecology, ocean conservation, leadership development, or your choice of topics, so you can learn firsthand about WOLF School.

    • Field Trips 
      We can either visit your school or design a trip to a nearby park, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a California State Park, or other locations of your choice, and deliver a program that maximizes science and team building.

    • Environmental Education Consulting
      We will meet with you to help you move your ideas forward.

      • Want a nature trail built on your school site?

      • Looking for help with sustainability ideas for your student green team or class?

      • Want help getting your nonprofit on board with including environmental education as part of your mission?

    Our experienced leadership staff will listen, suggest, and help you turn your ideas into reality. 

  • As experienced stewards of others’ properties, we know how to take care of your facility. Here are just some of the ways in which UCCR makes sure your facilities are running smoothly.

    • Structures
      We take pride in making sure all the buildings on your property are inspected and well-managed. Some of the items we cover that often need continual maintenance:

      • Interiors

      • Exteriors

      • Roofs

      • HVAC Systems

      • Kitchens

      • Plumbing

      • Electrical

      • Septic

      • Water Systems

    • Environmental Effects
      We provide expertise on the following conditions that affect your facility.

      • Severe Weather

      • Hazardous Trees

      • Vector Control

      • Landscaping & Grounds

      • Proper Water drainage/diversion

      • Defensible space

    • Trails & Roadway
      We make sure all trails and roadways are maintained for safety, and we clear roadways and offer regular trail maintenance.

    • Safety
      Safety is a top priority, and ensuring that your facility is safe for guests is what we do!

  • At UCCR, we maintain the responsibility for project management services.

    Our on-site professionals assess, discern, decide, and execute projects all while working within the budget.

    Together with the facilities property owners, we collaborate to develop solutions that enhance and manage projects on your property.

    Some examples are:

    • Repairs & Replacements
      Everyday items on-site that do not require certified contractors, such as:

      • Kitchen Equipment

      • Dishwashers

      • Plumbing

      • Electrical

      • Paint/Stain

      • Carpentry

      • Flooring

      • Vehicles

      • Grounds-keeping Equipment

    • Contractor Management
      We provide oversight on larger projects that may require the hiring of contractors, such as:

      • New Builds

      • Major Renovations to Buildings

      • Major Renovations to Utilities

  • As stewards of your property, UCCR has experience with timber harvesting and working towards non-native species eradication, restoring riparian habitats, and fire clearance.

    We collaborate with local natural resource agencies to obtain grants and work projects that benefit the property and the environment.

    We are happy to meet with you to discuss what you’re looking for.

  • UCCR finance and accounting will handle all your needs, from accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, reconciliation, and reporting.

    • Financial Reporting
      Prepare/run quarterly financial reports for balance sheet and income statement.

    • Revenue and Expenditure
      Detailed breakdown by general ledger account for all revenues and expenditures as requested.

    • Payroll
      All employees are set up/reconciled/paid via Paycom (including withholding all applicable taxes, IRAs, pensions, etc.).

    • Reconciliation
      All transactions are entered into the ERP system (Oracle NetSuite) and reconciled on a monthly basis to bank account(s).

    • Accounts Receivable
      Automated Accounts Receivable processing,  including running aging reports and seamlessly sending out invoices for past due balances.

    • Follow-up
      Following up with customers to ensure collections are received in a timely manner.

    • Accounts Payable
      Accounts Payable processing including bill entry and bill payments, vendors are paid either via e-check, paper check or via ACH.

    • Filings
      Sales tax calculations and monthly/quarterly filings are submitted in accordance with GAAP and filed by set state/county deadlines.

    • Liability
      All property and general liability and tax filings are submitted / paid for in a timely manner.

    • Exemptions
      Financial information provided for the owners of the property to file their annual welfare exemptions.

    • Pay Taxes for Property Owners
      When applicable, all property taxes get paid on behalf of owner groups.

    • Recruitment Planning and Implementation
      Develop job opening advertising campaigns. Establish candidate screening protocols.

    • Background Checks
      Initiate criminal background checks for potential new hires. Conduct recurring background checks per internal policy standards.

    • Staff On-Boarding
      Facilitate online new hire onboarding including internal personnel policy delivery, offer letter generation, and Form I-9 management. 

    • Staff Development
      Manage annual staff performance program including wage change recommendations. Advise leadership on staff promotion opportunities.

    • Benefits and Retirement Plan Administration
      Conduct annual benefits open enrollment for employee health insurance plans; facilitate eligible new employee enrollment and COBRA processing through online benefits portal. Facilitate staff retirement plan online enrollment and annual reporting requirements.

    • Payroll Administration
      Conduct bi-weekly payroll including garnishment, benefit and retirement plan transactions.

    • Staff Off-Boarding
      Advise leadership on staff separations, offboarding documentation and final pay processing.

    • Employment Law Regulatory Compliance
      Determine and distribute federal and local regulatory documentation. Deliver required staff training, including harassment prevention.

    • OSHA and Workers’ Compensation Reporting
      Track and record OSHA incidents. Partner with site leadership and workers compensation insurance carrier on active claims. 

  • UCCR Marketing will conduct a marketing analysis to identify effective promotional strategies and develop a plan to connect your facility with potential customers.

    We offer strategic planning, marketing plans, and branding insights to develop and maintain a clear and consistent message. Take a look at some of the marketing offerings we will use to market your facility.

    • Strategic Planning
      We perform a marketing analysis and look at ways to promote and plan the best strategies to connect you with future customers.

    • Branding
      We incorporate your branding with ours to create a consistent and marketable look to reach a diverse group of customers

    • Website
      Your facility will be given a prominent position on our website with a multi-page description, photo gallery, blog, contact, pricing, and details.

    • Google Ads
      We work with our Google Grant Partner to run up to $10K in Google Ads per month for our customers.

    • Blogs
      We create SEO-optimized articles and blogs, linking them to our Google Ads to attract customers to our website's content and inquiry forms, which are directed to our Reservations team.

    • Social Media Marketing

      We collaborate with our property owners to promote content on social media and manage engagement by being responsive to messages and comments.

    • Online directories
      We list your facility on several online directories, increasing your facility's online exposure and searchability.

    • Chamber of Commerce Networking
      We network with local area businesses to promote your facility to interested parties through the Chamber of Commerce in the area of your facility.

    • Print Media
      We design brochures, rack cards, and other printed materials to use for marketing when needed, though our primary focus is on digital marketing:

    • Email Newsletters
      We send engaging content to our email lists and will include your customer lists in our promotions and specials. 

  • We take care of all aspects of the reservations process from initial customer contact to receiving signed contracts, deposits, and insurance documents.

    • Customer Contact
      When our Reservations Team receives contacts through website inquiries and/or our toll-free phone number, we reach out promptly to make a connection with the new or returning customer.

    • Matching Groups to Sites
      We inquire as to the needs, group size, and program requirements as well as desired location and match the group with one of our camp, conference, and retreat centers.

    • Rates
      We go over the rates for sites with the customer, including a break-down of meals & lodging fees.

    • Availability
      The Reservations Team oversees the master calendar for all sites to provide availabile dates to customers.

    • Contracts/Use Agreements
      We write full contracts for each group utilizing our sites. The Use Agreements include all relevant information about the group’s stay including lodging, food service, special information, and rates.

    • Deposits
      We work with customers on payment options for all deposits.

    • Insurance Requirements
      We provide examples to customers of insurance certificates and receive them in a timely manner before any event. We provide an option for event insurance for those groups that do not have their own liability coverage.

    • Terms & Conditions
      We provide UCCR’s Terms & Conditions to each customer.

    • Follow Up on Needed Documents & Deposits
      We follow up with each customer to insure all pertinent documents are received before any scheduled event.

    • Customer Care
      We follow up with customers post-event regarding their stay at one of our sites.

    • Re-Booking
      We re-book customers for future stays following their event.

We manage camp and retreat centers across the USA to achieve a financially balanced position.

  • Your Challenge

    Having to focus on facility operations disrupts the original intent of purchasing a facility.

    At the time, purchasing a camp or retreat center was done to further the mission of your nonprofit by running your program.

    Yet, managing a facility, tending to infrastructure, hosting groups, dealing with regulations and inspections, and overseeing staff, takes an overwhelming amount of time.

    The undertaking is ongoing.

  • We Understand

    We absolutely understand how difficult camp and retreat facilities are to operate.

    In this industry, having a refined system to calculate what to charge guests and track how each dollar is spent can be the difference between success and continued challenges.

     The amount of effort and hard work it takes to reach a break-even budget or better, is a lot.

    Trying to run a financially sustainable facility can sometimes seem unachievable.

    Until now.

  • The Solution

    Our mission is to help camp and retreat centers flourish.

    And, this is what we aim to do.

    By sharing our keys to success we will assist your organization by offering our cumulative expertise from our experienced staff.

    With decades of involvement in the camp, and retreat center industry, we can save you time, money, and resources.

    Return to the joy of running programs.

Are We a Good Fit?

Are you seeking new resources to help run the facility more effectively?

Are you looking for ways to be financially sustainable?

Are you motivated to bring in more income?

Overview of Benefits & Advantages When Partnering Your Nonprofit with UCCR.

Next Steps

  • Free Self-Asssessement Survey

    Are you an executive, board member, or site director seeking expert guidance?

    Let these six questions be your guide to help you decide if you need assistance.

  • Read Our Expert Tips

    We share numerous trade secrets in our library of articles in the Expert Tips section. We add new articles routinely.

    Find the topic that most interests you.

  • Schedule a Discovery Call

    Are you ready to talk to one of our experts?

    Schedule a time to ask specific questions and get answers backed by over 50 years of experience.

UCCR Powering a Nationwide Network of Camp & Retreat Centers.

Let your vision come to life when retreat leaders and camp and retreat centers work in harmony.

Transformation isn’t just possible—it’s sustainable.

Testimonials

  • "We needed to broaden our audience, thanks to camp & retreat expertise, we found our a perfect match."

    – Neil Topliffe, Crystal Conference Center

  • "We needed new management techniques; our expectations have been more than met!"

    – Bill McKinney, President Christian Camp Meeting Association

  • "We would not have made it through the pandemic years without this assistance."

    – Frank Scudero, Regional Steward Christian Church of Northern California-Nevada