Council Camping Program
Fun with a Purpose! This is the foundation which allows the Heart of America Council to provide a superior summer camp experience to the youth members of our council. Each age appropriate camp program recognizes the importance of providing an enjoyable and attractive experience for young people, while at the same time, address the elements that are important to youth development, such as social adeptness, caring relationships, creative use of time and respect for one self and others.
Overnight camping is not just for Boy Scouts. As part of the pack's annual plan, each pack should include a well organized Pack Overnighter for the Cub Scouts and families in their unit. Well planned, organized overnighters at the pack level help fulfill the promise made to our Cub Scouts. For lots of great ideas for Cub Scout camping, download the Cub Scout Camping Guide.
Cub Scout Day Camp is a day time camping experience held within each district of the council. Is is designed for Tiger Cubs and Cub Scouts who are working or achieved the rank of Wolf.
Bear Resident is a theme-oriented Cub Scout Resident Camp designed for Bear Cub Scouts. Bear Camp is a one-on- one camping experience with an adult attend wing with each Scout. Held at the Theodore Naish Scout Reservation in Bonner Springs, Kansas, Bear Camp provides a one-night, two day camping experience with a program designed as an introduction to the long-term camping program of the Boy Scouts of America.
Webelos Scout Resident Camp is held at the Naish Scout Reservation, and is designed for both first and second year Webelos Scouts. The first year Webelos program is based on Activity Badges such as Sportsman, Aquanaut, and Naturalist, while the second year Webelos Program is designed to advance the camping skills of a young man as he prepares to enter his next level of scouting, Boy Scouting. The Webelos Camp Program is a two night, three day camping experience.
Boy Scout Resident Camp is a long-term camping experience for all young men in the Boy Scout Program. It is designed to teach independence and interdependence among scouts, while at the same time, provide opportunities for them to learn leadership and teamwork as they live the patrol method and work on advancement and merit badge requirements. The Heart of America Council offers three long-term camping programs for Boy Scouts. The Theodore Naish Scout Reservation offers a six-day camping program, along with opportunities for young men to be active in the Order of the Arrow. The H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation is a nine-day Boy Scout camping experience with the opportunity for a young man to become a member the Tribe of Mic-O-Say after he has experienced three years of long term summer camp. The Council operates a five-day Boy Scout Camping experience at Rotary Youth Camp on Lake Jacomo. This program offers the Boy Scout camping program to young men who have a disability which prevents them from attending either the Naish or Bartle Scout Reservations.
As a young man advances in the Scouting Program and his camping skills become proficient, he becomes a vital troop resource to teach the younger scouts in his troop. The council offers two honor camping programs, the Order of the Arrow and the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, which are designed to hone the leadership skills of an older scout and encourage them to teach and support the younger Scouts within his troop.
The National Council of the Boy Scouts of America offers several high adventure camping programs which provide continued opportunities for older, more experienced scouts, in specific outdoor program areas.
Summer Camp Staff
Each year the Heart of America Council employs members to assist in the delivery of programs and services to the thousands of Scouts and Scouters that attend the summer camping programs. Interviews are held in December/January with letters of agreement and/or employment being mailed in March/April. You may download the application from the Forms/Camping Info section of this web-site or request that an application be sent to you by calling (816) 569-4933 or by sending an email to the Council Program Department. Additionally, applications are also available at the Council Service Center or from your District Executive.
Print the Annual Health and Medical Record, campership applications and much much more.