Camp McKee Scout Reservation

Nine hundred acres of forest make up the McKee Scout Reservation, one of the finest Scout camps in the nation. Located on Route 11, just eight miles south of Mt Sterling, KY, this rugged wilderness terrain features both a well-managed forest and a 17 acre lake that offers boating, canoeing, swimming, and fishing. During the summer months, Camp McKee is an established summer camp. Scout troops may come and stay for a week, taking full advantage of the camp’s numerous facilities. A full-time staff is on hand to help Scouts with advancement in various areas. Included are an outdoor skills area, an ecology/conservation area, a developed waterfront program, a handicraft area, archery, rifle, and shotgun ranges, and a special first year camper’s program. Special activities are held each day for the camper’s enjoyment. Campers sleep two to a tent on metal cots with mattresses. The large, air-conditioned dining hall has ample space for a large group of campers.

Troop camping is available not only during the summer, but throughout the entire year. The McKee Scout Reservation contains 13 developed campsites and one cabin that are open for use year-round. The Pioneer Mountain Trail, a 12 mile circular trail, is within the camp’s boundaries.


http://campmckee.org
Phone Number: (859) 498-1328
Address: 8695 Levee Road, Jeffersonville, KY 40337


[tb_google_map address=”37.93926, -83.9284″]

Buffalo / Wah-La-Ha Trail

The Buffalo / Wah-La-Ha Trail system is a historical loop trail located in Frankfort, KY, and operated by Troop 269. The Buffalo Trail begins at the Old Capitol building in downtown Frankfort, and winds through the city and into the surrounding countryside. Parts of the trail follow the route that herd after herd of buffalo traveled in their search for salt licks. This trail also takes in the side of Fort Hill, used many times in defense of the trail and the city. The Wah-La-Ha Trail begins where the Buffalo Trail ends, and travels entirely along roads. It goes past the State Capitol, the Floral Clock, the Singing Bridge, and ends up at the start of the Buffalo Trail. The Buffalo / Wah-La-Ha Trail system is sponsored by Wah-La-Ha – Buffalo Trails, Inc. This organization makes medals and patches available to those who successfully complete one or both of the trails.

Approval is required prior to hiking the trail. One will need the “Official Trail Credentials,” a brochure made available by Wah-La-Ha – Buffalo Trails, Inc. This document is very informative about the history of the trails, and contains a detailed set of trail rules, information, and the questions one must answer along the trail in order to earn the patch. One may hike the Buffalo Trail, or the Wah-La-Ha Trail, or both. A full Scout uniform is required while hiking. Please use the below contact information for more information and for the Trail Credentials.


Buffalo Trail Length: 5.5 miles
Wah-La-Ha Trail Length: 7.0 miles


Phone Number: (502) 330-1146
Address: 760 E. Main St., Frankfort, KY 40601


Big Bone Lick State Historic Site

This site is known for its large amounts of fossils that were preserved in the salty marshland called Big Bone Lick. Bones found in this region are still displayed in museums around the world. Visitors can walk through a natural outdoor museum with replicas and exhibits which tell the story of the Big Bone Lick. There is a 4.5 mile Discovery Trail behind the Visitor’s Center, and a campground which contains 62 campsites and is open most of the year (closed from November 30 to March 1). The site is located near Union, KY, on Highway 338, and can be accessed at Exit 175 on Interstate 75. The site itself is open year-round.


http://parks.ky.gov/parks/historicsites/big-bone-lick/default.aspx
Phone Number: (859) 384-3522
Address: 3380 Beaver Road, Union, KY 41091


[tb_google_map address=”Big Bone Lick State Park‎, Union, KY”]

Northern Tier

One of the most respected wilderness areas, Northern Tier National High Adventure Base is located near Ely, Minnesota. It’s the takeoff point for canoe trips into the wildest, most uninhabited canoeing country ever organized to be used to train Scouts in the art of wildernes exploration. Its three bases (Charles L. Sommers, Don Rogert, and Northern Expeditions Canoe Bases) provide an unparalleled opportunity to explore the surrounding land. This land is composed of hundreds of miles of Boundary Waters Canoe Area in the U.S. Superior National Forest and Quetio Provincial Park in Canada. There are more than 2,000 lakes and 4,000 square miles of rough country for Scouts to explore.Northern Tier is wild and exciting, but safe. Each group is trained and prepared for their trip to be able to live in the wilderness. Each crew is accompanied by a guide who advises the crew and helps them find the route they have selected. All other activities are carried out by the crew, such as cooking, packing, care of equipment, route selection, cleanup, and other details which go along with living in the wilderness.

Group size is limited to nine, including the guide and unit adults. Two historic canoe trips can take you from Charles L. Sommers to the east or west, to routes traveled by French voyagers and trappers. Winter programs are also available on a limited basis.


http://www.ntier.org/
Phone Number: (575) 376-2281
Charles L. Sommers Address: 14790 Forest Route 438 Ely, MN 55731-8291
Don Rogert Canoe Base Address: Perch Lake Rd Atikokan, ON P0T 1C0, Canada


Charles L. Sommers


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Don Rogert Canoe Base


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Florida Sea Base

The Florida High Adventure program is headquartered in the heart of the fabulous Florida Keys. Scouting’s newest and most complete aquatic facility offers sailing of crafts 14 feet to 65 feet, wind surfing, motorboating, canoeing, deep sea fishing, lobstering, exploring the ecosystem of the Florida Keys, studying oceanography, and getting a fisheye view of marine biology.The Sea Base facilities include a large, fully equipped “galley” and dining area, elevated dormitories overlooking Florida bay, a swimming area with marker buoys, and large and small docks for the large sailing yachts and smaller vessels you will be using.

Within a mile of shore an extensive underwater coral garden forms a barrier reef protecting the island where the base is located. You’ll come face to face with thousands of multi-hued fish. The area abounds with stories of unequalled adventure.


http://www.bsaseabase.org/
Phone Number: (305) 664-4173
Address: 73800 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036


[tb_google_map address=”Boy Scouts of America:Florida Sea Base, Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL”]

Philmont Scout Ranch

Philmont is probably the base most familiar to Arrowmen. It is a wilderness area composed of 137,000 acres (200 square miles) of camping and hiking country. Located in northeast New Mexico near Cimarron, it lies in the slopes of the Sagre de Christo range of the Rocky Mountains. Backpacker magazine called Philmont, “the ideal backpacking resort.”

The land of Philmont is home of Kit Carson, the Santa Fe Trail, ancient Indians, and stories of the old west. Philmont is still an operating ranch.

The experiences at Philmont are as varied as Scouts themselves. The Expeditions are 12-day backpacking treks, while a Cavalcade is an 8-day horseback trek in the Southern Rockies. Co-ed Expeditions are available during June and August. For Scouts and Explorers not able to attend with a contingent, Mountain Men is a 6-day backpack trek designed to suit the individual’s needs. Technical rock climbing, archaeological excavation techniques, western saddle riding, outdoor leadership, and camp craft can all be learned while on the trails of Philmont. Other experiences including trail crews (7 days of trail work, 7 days of trek), Rayado, and the training center are available at Philmont. Trail size (and fees) depend on the experience desired.


http://philmontscoutranch.org/
Phone Number: (575) 376-2281
Address: 17 Deer Run Road, Cimarron, NM 87714


[tb_google_map address=”17 Deer Run Road, Cimarron, NM 87714″]

Api-Su-Ahts

This trail is known for its challenge and for its suitability for backpacking, although it can be hiked in one day. It is hard to become lost on this trail because it is so well maintained, and is also well marked for nature buffs. Part of the Jenny Wiley trail system, it is arranged in four loops and is located in Carter and Elliot Counties. The trail follows the shore of Grayson Lake for most of its distance. Some flooding may occasionally occur in small segments, but well marked alternate trails remove this problem. There are designated campsites along the way.


Total Length: 22.0 miles


http://www.lrh.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Kentucky/GraysonLake.aspx (Click on ‘Recreation’ near the bottom of this website)
US Army Corps of Engineers: (606) 474-5107


[tb_google_map address=”Grayson Lake Wildlife Management Area, Grayson, KY”]

Welcome to the new Where to Go Scouting Guide!

Kawida Lodge #480 has a new home for its Where to Go Scouting Guide!!  This website has been designed as a cohesive and easily-updateable resource for all our records.

Each location has two groups of attributes: Categories and Tags. Categories are used to classify locations that have camping and/or hiking. Tags identify various different possibilities within the locations, such as fishing and boating.

Happy Camping!

The Digital Media and Publications Committees