Camping

Organized camping is a creative, educational experience in cooperative groups living in the outdoors. It uses the natural surroundings to contribute significantly to physical, mental, spiritual, and social growth.

  • Camping contributes to good health.
  • Camping helps campers develop self-reliance and resourcefulness.
  • Camping enhances spiritual growth.
  • Camping contributes to social development.
  • Camping is an experience in citizenship training. 

Camping and outdoor programs are exciting and essential elements of the Boy Scouts of America. Camping and outdoor program activities will deliver adventure, challenge, teamwork opportunities, confidence building, fun, and other new and exciting experiences. The activities included in these programs will lead to self-confidence, and leadership, and will enhance the traditional aims of Scouting: citizenship, character development, and mental and physical fitness consistent with the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

Safe, responsible, and successful outdoor activities will entice youth to become members of the Scouting organization and benefit from its values and character-building activities.

Where to Camp

There are many excellent camping locations around central Illinois where Scout units can enjoy the outdoors. Additionally, the W. D. Boyce Council has two outstanding camping facilities of its own:

  • Ingersoll Scout Reservation

    Ingersoll Scout Reservation (ISR) is the primary resident camp of the W.D. Boyce Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Located just west of London Mills, Illinois, the reservation encompasses almost 1000 acres of woodland and prairie between Fulton and Knox Counties. The Cedar Creek, a tributary of the Spoon River, forms most of the southern boundary of the camp. Initially founded as Wilderness Camp in 1963, the camp was renamed in 1973 to posthumously honor William P. Ingersoll, a local philanthropist who helped in the camp’s initial purchase.

  • Cache Lake (Canada)
    Cache Lake Camp is a Boy Scout camp owned by the W. D. Boyce Council, in Ontario, Canada. The camp is located 670 miles north of Bloomington, Illinois, approximately 8 miles via water, northeast of Crane Lake, Minnesota. This camping opportunity was started in 1963 – with all of the start-up and annual maintenance work conducted by dedicated volunteers.

The Cub Scout Outdoor Program

Cub Scouting offers overnight camping opportunities for Cub Scouts through long-term camps, Webelos den overnight campouts, council-organized short-term or family camps, and pack overnighters. For more information on Cub Scout camping guidelines click here

Cub Scout Day Camp

Cub Scout Day Camp introduces Cub Scouts to camping and helps them develop outdoor skills at an age-appropriate level that will later be applied more thoroughly as a Scout. For information on Cub Scout Day Camp click here

The Scouts BSA Outdoor Program

Outdoor adventure is the promise made to boys and girls when they join Scouting. Young people yearn for outdoor programs that stir their imagination and interest. Learn more about the Scouts BSA Outdoor Program

For additional resources for Scouts BSA Program consider – The Adventure Plan (TAP) now available on tap.scouting.org which provides Unit leaders a digital tool kit of all resources useful in planning and conducting outdoor adventures. 

Get the latest information on Scouts BSA Summer Camp at Ingersoll Scout Reservation (external link).