Cedars Camps
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To give each camper an appreciation of spiritual sense and an abundance of wholesome, joyous activities. We provide summer camp activities for Christian Scientists promoting character building, outdoor education, and spiritual growth as well as teamwork and individual interests. These activities include Bible lesson study, horseback riding, Starvish swimming classes, crafts, archery, canoeing, nature study, sports, ropes courses, zipline, musical theater, waterskiing, cable skiing and family camp. We strive to be able to make camp possible to anyone that needs financial aid. During summer 2025 56% of the campers needed financial aid totaling $655,101.
- Income
- $5.7 million
- Spending
- $4.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 26.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 77%
- Employees
- 165
- Volunteers
- 144
- Highest pay
- $130,950, trustee & executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 95 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 26.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 45 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $1.3 million spent. Salaries for program service go to summer college counselors, seasonal workers and 13 year-round employees that provide care for our heard of horses, activity upkeep and maintaining 1000 acres of property which includes facilities, grounds and equipment. We have a ratio of 1 counselor to every 3 campers. The summer program involves nine weeks of camping, and additional three weeks of pre-camp training for staff, plus fall events that are staffed with counselors. During pre-camp, staff become trained by and in some activity areas certified through the following: USA Archery certified instruction; certified instructors for high ropes and low ropes team building and ziplining; certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) for training staff as riding instructors at various levels; nature instructors; ski boat instruction for staff who are teaching water-skiing and boat driving; certified instruction on our cable ski system. Staff are also trained on cabin management, all facets of working with campers and they study our staff manual and handbook. As a member of the American Camp Association (ACA), we follow the guidelines they provide for staff training.
- $686,790 spent. Cedars Camps has 9 weeks of summer camp activities (June-August) on 1000 acres of land near Lebanon, MO for Christian Scientists. In addition, there are several long weekend programs for adults or other organizations off season. Cedars Camps has 1 and 2 week camping sessions with a total of 410 individual campers and 1046 camper weeks. 132 people attended one week of Family Camp; 115 attended a Memorial Day Weekend Family Camp; 425 people from 3 other organizations came for 3 to 4 days in the fall and spring; 24 campers attended a virtual Cedars program; and 230 people attended a Bible study virtually. Cedars has small class and activity groups with a camper to counselor ratio of 3 to 1. Activities at Cedars include Bible lesson study; horseback riding; Starfish swimming classes; crafts; nature study; sports; ropes courses; zipline; climbing wall; musical theater; kayaking; paddle boarding; log rolling; cable skiing; water skiing; archery. Cedars has specialty programs in soccer; volleyball; horseback riding; waterskiing; aerial arts, as well as having many of these activities available to all campers as a choice of activities. We have a herd of 45 horses that we maintain year round. This includes growing hay and buying grain to feed the horses; maintaining tack; farrier and vet bills; and training the staff through camp-based clinics through the CHA. Trips go to Supe Splash USA, Silver Dollar City, Pomme de Terre where we have our ski school boats and canoe float trips on nearby rivers. Cedars has a Bible Lands Park for further Bible exploration, which is opened in the off season to other denominational church groups.
- $618,763 spent. Maintenance includes upkeep for our program support buildings: 22 cabins with bathrooms, 4 individual residences/homes, 4 staff housing facilities, 3 lodges with kitchens and dining rooms, care facility, sports center and heavy and small equipment. There are 1000 acres of property to maintain including fencing to contain our herd of horses; aquatic center with a Jr. Olympic lap pool and diving well; waterslide; soccer fields; trails for horseback riding; 2 covered arenas (1 large); basketball court; and an outdoor covered chapel. Cedars has 3 maintenance buildings which includes a fire truck garage for camp safety. The facilities support the activities and Cedars purpose/mission. We also have a program for high school campers to work on the grounds crew and in food service, which trains them to see the bigger picture of what it takes to run camp and prepares them for counseling in future years.
- $934,485 spent. LIST OF ALL OTHER ACCUMULATED EXPENSE
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1965.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.