named programs · 8 · from sources
What they call their work
Circle C Corn Maze of Terror
10-acre haunted corn maze open in October, designed as a seasonal scare attraction with admission fee, targeting older children and adults.
Family Camp
Weekend retreat for families with children ages 5 and up, offering shared camp experiences including meals, lodging, and all recreational activities in a faith-based environment.
Healing Journey
Bible-based study program offering spiritual and emotional healing tools for individuals dealing with personal struggles, from mild to severe issues.
Man Camp
Weekend program for fathers and sons emphasizing biblical manhood, relationship-building, hands-on skills, and spiritual challenge through competition and adventure.
Rental Opportunities
Facility rentals for church groups and ministries seeking retreat space, with full support for lodging, meals, and programming.
Snow Camp
Winter weekend program for youth groups focused on spiritual growth and high-energy activities including indoor rock climbing, Lasertron, and worship, themed around building an unshakable faith.
Summer Camp
One-week Christian youth camp for ages 8–18 featuring Bible teaching, horseback riding, rock climbing, lasertron, swimming, and team competitions, centered around daily chapel services and evangelism.
Wild West Fall Fest
Family-friendly fall event featuring pony rides, rock climbing, Lasertron, and seasonal activities, hosted on-site for churches and families.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
-
Youth and Young Adult Spiritual Engagement 3 activities
- Host family and father-son camp programsOrganizes and hosts dedicated family camp weekends and father-son programs such as MAN CAMP and a Fathers & Sons weekend, focused on relationship building, spiritual growth, and shared outdoor activities including team competitions and Bible-based teachings.
- Operate winter camp programs for youth and groupsHosts seasonal winter camp programs for youth groups and friend groups, featuring faith-based programming centered on Hebrews 12:28, recreational activities such as tubing and rock climbing, and spiritual teachings and worship sessions. These programs have served thousands of youth, with documented spiritual commitments.
- Operate youth summer camps with religious programmingProvides multi-week summer camp programs for young people grounded in Christian teachings, including daily chapel services, Bible study, and faith-based activities on a 315-acre property in western New York. The camp includes cabins, a chapel, dining hall, and recreational facilities.
-
-
Religious Education and Instruction 1 activity
- Deliver Bible-based discipleship and evangelism trainingConducts structured Bible study and discipleship programs aimed at personal healing, spiritual freedom, and evangelism, including training young people to be Christian witnesses using marked Bibles and instructing them in devotional practices and godly living.
-
-
Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Host community events and seasonal festivalsOrganizes public events such as the annual Wild West Fall Fest and the "Circle C Corn Maze of Terror," offering free admission and recreational activities including rock-wall climbing, pony rides, laser tag, a 10-acre haunted corn maze, and a pumpkin smashing rage room to engage families and churches.
-
-
Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Offer outdoor recreation and adventure programmingProvides supervised recreational activities for campers including rock wall climbing, horsemanship instruction, laser tag in the Lasertron Arena, a 200+ foot slip and slide, swimming pools, and team-based competitions as part of structured camp experiences.
-
-
Managed Campground and Retreat Operations 1 activity
- Provide camp facility rentals and retreat supportOffers rental of camp facilities to church groups and organizations for retreats, providing accommodations, logistical support, and access to recreational amenities such as swimming pools, rock walls, and event spaces.
-
-
CACFP Meal Service and Administration 1 activity
- Provide meals and food services for campers and eventsPlans, prepares, and serves meals for campers during summer and winter programs, including offering all-you-can-eat pancake breakfasts for a fixed fee and providing dinner during regular event nights for men and families.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$389K
Contributions & grants$257K66%
Program service revenue$113K29%
Investment income$14K4%
Other revenue$5K
expenses
Total expenses$443K
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$183K
Grants paid out$1K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$397K
Cash$42K
Investments$8K
Liabilities$16K
Net assets$381K
Liquid reserves1.4 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +34.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 4
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAYNE AARUM | PRESIDENT | 40 | $45K |
| JOSHUA AARUM | SECRETARY | 40 | $33K |
| JULIE AARUM | DIRECTOR | 4 | $5K |
| CHLOE AARUM | DIRECTOR | 4 | $4K |
board members · 5
- CONNIE AARUM — DIRECTOR
- DARYL DEKALB — TREASURER
- MICHELLE MCCLUNG — DIRECTOR
- NANCY DEKALB — DIRECTOR
- WESLEY AARUM — CEO/ VICE PR
relationships · 5
Who they work with
- Bob Lowe Funder — Provided initial loans totaling $40,000 for camp development, later converting the debt into a gift to the ministry.
- Circle C Ranch Partner — Co-hosts pancake breakfast events with Living Waters Ministries INC at the ranch location.
- Circle C Ranch Partner — Operates in conjunction with Living Waters Ministries INC as a Christian camp ministry.
- Circle C Ranch Partner — Operates the Man Training Ministry in partnership with Living Waters Ministries INC.
- Ross Barker Partner — Vice-president and chairman of the Circle C Ranch board, providing leadership and counsel since the camp's founding.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Experiential Faith Engagementmethodology: experiential-faith-engagementBy using adventure-based and immersive camp experiences, we produce spiritual growth and relational development because shared challenges—physical, emotional, and environmental—create transformative moments that foster openness to faith and deepen personal commitment.
- Family-Integrated Spiritual Formationmethodology: family-integrated ministryBy designing programming that involves multiple generations in shared camp experiences, we produce deeper spiritual impact because family-centered engagement reinforces faith at home and strengthens relational bonds as vehicles for discipleship.
- Gospel Proclamation as Core Missionmethodology: gospel-proclamationBy prioritizing the proclamation of the gospel, we produce spiritual rebirth and religious engagement because the organization believes that salvation and transformation are contingent upon personal faith in Jesus Christ, which is advanced through direct evangelism and teaching.
- Relational Discipleship Modelmethodology: relational-diciplshipBy fostering long-term, intergenerational relationships through shared experiences and mentorship, we produce sustained spiritual formation because personal connection creates trust, accountability, and organic opportunities for faith transmission.
- Scripture-Based Healing and Transformationmethodology: scripture-based healing ministryBy applying Bible study as a therapeutic tool, we produce emotional and spiritual healing because the organization believes Scripture addresses deep human brokenness and fosters wholeness through divine truth and personal surrender.