Ketcha Outdoors
Open Space. Open Minds. Open Exploration.
Ketcha Outdoors
EIN: 01-0211784
as of September 2023
as of September 18, 2023
Mission
Our mission is to provide equitable access to outdoor experiences and gear for all, promoting well-being, sustainability and resilient communities.
Ruling year
2014
Executive Director
Ms. Laragh Kavanaugh
Main address
Ketcha Outdoors 336 Black Point Road
Scarborough, ME 04074 USA
EIN
01-0211784
Early childhood education
Environmental education
Camps
Cycling
Youth development
Population served
Children
Preteens
Adolescents
Families
Immigrants and migrants
NTEE code
Youth Development Programs (O50)
Recreational and Sporting Camps (Day, Overnight, etc.) (N20)
IRS subsection
501(c)(3) Public Charity
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Tax forms
Communication
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Traditional Camp
Our co-ed Traditional Day Camp is designed provide fun and growth through a series of exciting experiences in a beautiful setting. We offer a range of activities from climbing on our challenge course to learning about ground cherries in our garden. Campers rotate with their group throughout the many activities we have at Ketcha over the course of the week. We also have "free-time" set aside on our schedules for all camp activities & old camp favorite games like "Gaga".
Our traditional camp age groups are named after animals in our Maine Woods: Cottontails, Woodchucks, Chipmunks, Bobcats and Black Bears. Campers ages 4-14 are grouped appropriately with low camper to staff ratios. Cottontails (Ages 4-5), Woodchucks (Ages 6-7), Chipmunks (Ages 8-9), Bobcates (Ages 10-11), Black Bears (Ages 12-14).
Specialty Camps
Specialty camps are a wonderful way to experience Ketcha! Campers will travel with their group to various program areas over the course of the week and in addition, they will spend specialty program time each day engaged in their camp's theme. Specialty programs will vary and include activities led by our staff, special guest visitors, and field trips. Each specialty camp is tailored and designed around unique interests. Groups are split by age into Mini (5-6yr), Junior (7-9yr), and Senior (10-14yr).
Teen Leadership Programs - Counselor -in-Training and Leader-in-Training Programs
Young adults 14-16 yeas old interested in making a positive impact on children are ideal candidates for our innovative Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program. CITs explore potential career paths involving children and prepare for possible future work as a camp counselor. The CIT program covers leadership development, behavioral training, motivating campers, portfolio development, job application and interview training, ropes course belay, training, and basic First Aid, as well as a chance to have fun and build connections with their group. The first half of the program consists of hands-on-training. During the second half, CITs are placed within groups under the leadership of seasoned counselors to experience being a counselor.
The Leader-in-Training is for young adults who have completed the CIT program at Camp Ketcha or another camp and are interested in continuing to become a leader should continue in our Leadership- In-Training program.
Portland Gear Hub
The Portland Gear Hub powered by Ketcha Outdoors is a full-service outdoor gear store in the East Bayside neighborhood of Portland. The Gear Hub refurbishes and redistributes reliable outdoor gear and bikes in order to increase equitable access to affordable, reliable gear and lower the barrier of entry for those interested in outdoor recreation and/or sustainable transportation. The Gear Hub's staff and volunteers also provide free and low-cost bicycle maintenance classes for youth and adults, and through the Bikes for All Mainers, provide hundreds of refurbished bicycles to individuals and families annually.
Traditional After School Program
We offer daily after school care at Ketcha Outdoors for Scarborough residents. After school students participate in theme das with some examples of activities included: Art and Cooking: seasonal crafts, sewing, making salsa dip, carving pumpkins, and roasting seeds. Farm: Feeding and take care of our goats, ducks, and chickens. Guest Visits: Naturalists-led book making, science experiments, visits from Scarbrough Police Department. Service Learning: Creating a story walk for our trials. Social Emotional Learning: Covering topics like self-awareness, identity , and coping skills in age appropriate settings. STEM: Launching bottle rockets, making lava lamps, and flying drones. Wilderness Explorers: Using our rpoes course, archery, sledding, and hiking. Free Choice Friday!
Farm & Forest Preschool
Ketcha Outdoors offers unique outdoor programming in our nature -based preschool for kids 3-5. Our "outdoor classrooms" include 107 acres of forest, fields, a farm, streams, and a pond. Ketcha is tucked between the seashore and the salt marshes of Scarborough, Maine. September through May our students are active in the outdoors learning while playing, hiking, gardening, and visiting the animals at the farm. Play- based learning is fostered with long blocks of time for our students to immerse in our many natural settings. We provide the freedom and support needed for child-led exploration, exciting discoveries, imagination and creativity, risk-taking, problem-solving, socializing, and relaxing into mindful moments.
We focus on students' interests and curiosities to pursue topics and develop activities following our Ecology ABCs throughout the year.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We share the feedback we received with the people we serve, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
Financial documents
Download audited financialsRevenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2021 info
1.62
Months of cash in 2021 info
5.1
Fringe rate in 2021 info
16%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
Financial data
Ketcha Outdoors
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31
This snapshot of Ketcha Outdoors’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.
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Business model indicators
| Profitability info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation | $137,334 | $76,759 | $78,811 | -$125,575 | $494,158 |
| As % of expenses | 11.0% | 5.4% | 5.3% | -10.3% | 29.3% |
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation | $88,260 | $24,642 | $22,854 | -$179,869 | $486,979 |
| As % of expenses | 6.8% | 1.7% | 1.5% | -14.1% | 28.7% |
| Revenue composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) | $1,396,313 | $1,536,886 | $1,590,561 | $1,144,635 | $2,183,311 |
| Total revenue, % change over prior year | 2.0% | 10.1% | 3.5% | -28.0% | 90.7% |
| Program services revenue | 85.7% | 86.0% | 70.8% | 47.2% | 49.3% |
| Membership dues | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.8% | 0.4% |
| Investment income | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Government grants | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| All other grants and contributions | 10.0% | 8.7% | 12.6% | 27.7% | 14.7% |
| Other revenue | 2.6% | 3.7% | 14.9% | 23.2% | 35.6% |
| Expense composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses before depreciation | $1,247,736 | $1,412,590 | $1,499,893 | $1,223,585 | $1,688,260 |
| Total expenses, % change over prior year | 4.2% | 13.2% | 6.2% | -18.4% | 38.0% |
| Personnel | 65.9% | 65.4% | 73.1% | 77.0% | 80.5% |
| Professional fees | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.2% | 1.4% | 2.6% |
| Occupancy | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.0% | 0.3% |
| Interest | 1.1% | 1.0% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Pass-through | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| All other expenses | 31.8% | 32.6% | 25.4% | 19.6% | 16.6% |
| Full cost components (estimated) info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses (after depreciation) | $1,296,810 | $1,464,707 | $1,555,850 | $1,277,879 | $1,695,439 |
| One month of savings | $103,978 | $117,716 | $124,991 | $101,965 | $140,688 |
| Debt principal payment | $0 | $14,286 | $302,789 | $779 | $814 |
| Fixed asset additions | $57,928 | $0 | $63,487 | $0 | $13,812 |
| Total full costs (estimated) | $1,458,716 | $1,596,709 | $2,047,117 | $1,380,623 | $1,850,753 |
Capital structure indicators
| Liquidity info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Months of cash | 2.9 | 3.5 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 5.1 |
| Months of cash and investments | 2.9 | 3.5 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 5.1 |
| Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets | 2.0 | 2.2 | -0.3 | -2.1 | 1.9 |
| Balance sheet composition info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $301,614 | $411,214 | $181,075 | $352,437 | $712,309 |
| Investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Receivables | $45,650 | $34,874 | $28,995 | $6,653 | $9,145 |
| Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) | $1,491,707 | $1,515,542 | $1,576,788 | $1,627,119 | $1,691,474 |
| Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) | 57.4% | 60.2% | 61.3% | 62.6% | 63.6% |
| Liabilities (as a % of assets) | 46.1% | 43.7% | 25.6% | 48.9% | 30.4% |
| Unrestricted net assets | $509,901 | $534,543 | $557,397 | $374,528 | $861,507 |
| Temporarily restricted net assets | $49,145 | $96,682 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Permanently restricted net assets | $750 | $750 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Total restricted net assets | $49,895 | $97,432 | $109,289 | $158,914 | $160,259 |
| Total net assets | $559,796 | $631,975 | $666,686 | $533,442 | $1,021,766 |
Key data checks
| Key data checks info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material data errors | No | No | No | No | No |
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
Executive Director
Ms. Laragh Kavanaugh
Laragh brings over 20 years of leadership experience, both as an outdoor educator and director at an international non-profit to the role of Executive Director. From guiding youth wilderness expeditions for Outward Bound to leading international programs in India and Ghana to directing operations for CIEE, the leading international education non-profit, Laragh brings a diverse but focused perspective to the Ketcha team. Laragh passionately works to cultivate an atmosphere of integrity and understanding and is committed to building a positive work culture to empower and elevate those around her. After growing up in Maine and becoming a parent herself, Laragh understands the impact that the natural world has on youth and how important access to quality outdoor programs is to Maine families and communities.
Laragh holds a B.A. in Human Development and Outdoor Leadership from Prescott College in Arizona and is a Maine Master Gardener. She lives in South Portland with her family.
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
Ketcha Outdoors
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.
Ketcha Outdoors
Board of directorsas of 09/05/2023
Board of directors data
Mr. Jay Evans
Community Volunteer
Jay Evans
David Houle
BerryDunn
Simon Hodshon
Bob Brown
Peter Cain
Abbie Carter
Jeff Hicklin
Atlantic National Trust
Dave Johnson
Perkins Thompson
Erika Nelson
Grant Thornton
Jennifer Ogden
Evernorth
Karen Stanley
United Recovery Fund
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? No -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
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