Boy Scout Camp

- Kansas City, KS 66109

For nearly a century, Kansas has been home to one of the premier outdoor education and camping facilities in the Midwest: the Theodore Naish Scout Reservation, affectionately known to thousands of local residents simply as Camp Naish. While the address provided places it in the general vicinity of Kansas City, Kansas, the reservation itself spans over 900 acres of beautiful, rolling hills in nearby Bonner Springs, KS, high above the Kaw River Valley. It is operated by the Heart of America Council (HOAC) of Scouting America and serves as a vital resource for youth programs across the Kansas City metro area and beyond.

Camp Naish is far more than a simple campground; it is a sprawling, dedicated facility that offers a transformative experience. Its history dates back to 1925, making it a place where generations of Kansas and Missouri youth have developed leadership skills, learned outdoor survival, and earned countless merit badges. The camp is consistently recognized for its excellence, having been named one of Scout Life Magazine's "Top 10" Summer Camps, a testament to the quality of its facilities and programming. The expansive wilderness, consisting primarily of dense sub-climax oak/hickory forest, provides an authentic and challenging setting for adventure and personal growth.

The location of the Theodore Naish Scout Reservation is a major advantage for families in the Kansas City metropolitan area, as it offers a deep wilderness experience without requiring a long drive into remote parts of Kansas. While the mailing or administrative address may be tied to the broader Kansas City, KS, 66109 ZIP code area, the camp's physical location is specifically in Bonner Springs, KS.

Physical Location:

1100 Martinek Lane, Bonner Springs, KS 66111

Accessibility and Nearby Connections:

• The camp is situated in Wyandotte County, Kansas, with some of the highest elevations in the county, offering stunning natural views above the Kaw River valley.
• Its proximity to the heart of the Kansas City metro area—just a short drive away—means convenient access for families in Overland Park, Olathe, and Kansas City, Missouri.
• The facility is accessed via roads from the Bonner Springs area, which is well-served by major Kansas highways, making weekend drop-offs and pick-ups simple and efficient.
• Despite being so close to a major urban area, the 900+ acres of rolling hills and dense forest create a true sense of being "off the grid," allowing participants to fully immerse themselves in the outdoor experience.

This location perfectly balances the need for a rugged, authentic camping experience with the logistical needs of a large, regional youth organization.

Camp Naish offers a robust array of services and facilities designed to support both short-term weekend camping and multi-day, long-term summer camp programs. These services cater primarily to Scouting units but often extend to other organizations and the public for specific events or rentals.

• Long-Term Summer Camp Programs: The core offering is the week-long resident summer camp for Scouts BSA, featuring a comprehensive program including advancement opportunities, merit badge instruction (over 40 available), and daily structured activities.
• Cub World (Cub Scout Camping): A specialized area within the reservation, often featuring themed attractions like a pirate ship water park, a castle, and a lost mine, offering a shorter, age-appropriate camping adventure for younger Cub Scouts.
• Food Service and Dining Facilities: The camp operates a family-style Dining Hall, such as the historic Rotary Dining Hall, to provide nutritious meals for resident campers, with options also available for units preferring to cook patrol-style.
• Campsite Accommodations: The campsites are well-developed, offering a mix of facilities. For summer camp, platform tents and cots are typically provided, ensuring a traditional and comfortable tent-camping experience.
• Program Area Rentals: The facilities, including training centers, activity ranges, and various unique program features, are often available for rent by non-Scouting groups when not in use for council programs.
• Onsite Medical and Staff Support: The camp is fully staffed during summer sessions with trained professionals, including a health and safety officer, to ensure a safe and supervised environment for all participants.
• Trading Post/Camp Store: An onsite store is available for campers to purchase snacks, souvenirs, camping essentials, and Scouting supplies.

Camp Naish is renowned for its diverse program features that utilize the rugged, natural landscape of its Kansas property, creating unforgettable memories and teaching valuable skills.

• Exceptional High Adventure Programs: The Rimrock Trek is a highlight—a three-day, two-night high adventure trek that takes older Scouts through the beautiful, rugged terrain of the 900+ acre reservation, challenging their outdoor skills and endurance.
• Extensive Shooting Sports Ranges: The camp features dedicated ranges for various activities, including archery, rifle shooting, and often black powder and shotgun ranges, providing safe, supervised instruction in target sports.
• Waterfront Activities: Utilizing its aquatic facilities, the camp offers merit badges and recreational activities like swimming, lifeguarding, and the Mile Swim, essential for any Kansas summer camp experience.
• STEM and Advancement Focus: The program goes beyond traditional outdoor skills, incorporating modern educational elements like Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) merit badges and specialized field trips to enhance the advancement opportunities for Scouts.
• Historic and Natural Beauty: As one of the oldest operational Scout camps in the region (dating back to 1925), the site itself is rich with history, offering a scenic backdrop of oak/hickory forests and meadows that are home to native Kansas wildlife.
• Cub World Unique Features: The dedicated area for Cub Scouts includes whimsical and engaging attractions like the Pirate Cove water play area and hands-on craft areas, ensuring a memorable first camping experience for young participants.

The Theodore Naish Scout Reservation is a property of the Heart of America Council (HOAC) of Scouting America. For all official program information, reservations, and general inquiries, it is best to contact the Council office directly.

Camp Address (Physical Location):

1100 Martinek Lane, Bonner Springs, KS 66111

Council Headquarters (Administrative Office - Heart of America Council):

10210 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131

Council Phone (Primary Contact for Programs and Reservations):

(816) 942-9333

The Theodore Naish Scout Reservation is highly suitable for Kansas residents, not just those involved in Scouting, but as a premier outdoor educational and recreational hub in the region. Its strength lies in its ability to offer a comprehensive, week-long wilderness program that is close to home. For parents in the Kansas City area, the convenience of dropping off their children at a highly-accredited, supervised camp without the logistics of a long-distance trip is a major benefit.

More importantly, Camp Naish offers a vital opportunity for youth to engage with the natural beauty of the Kansas landscape. It teaches essential skills, promotes personal development, and fosters leadership in a fun, challenging environment. From learning to shoot an arrow on the range to hiking the high ground of the Rimrock Trek, the camp delivers experiences that build confidence and a deep appreciation for the outdoors that Kansas is known for. It represents a long-standing, community-supported tradition of high-quality youth development and is a true Kansas gem for outdoor adventure.

Boy Scout Camp

Kansas City, KS 66109, USA