Located west of Highway T just across from the main entrance to MSR, the Wabaningo region of Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan is less developed than East and West Camps. Wabaningo serves as the base camp for our High Adventure Treks and is home to the Northeast Illinois Council’s National Youth Leadership Training Course. Its primitive and untamed character lends well to exploration on horseback at the Triangle M Ranch.  For those looking to camp, Wabaningo offers tent camping, RV parking, and dispersed campsites.   

property areas

Wabaningo is split into four areas: Triangle M Ranch, Gilwell Field, the maintenance area, and the natural beauty that is the rest of Wabaningo.   

Triangle M Ranch 

The Triangle M Ranch operates as a full equestrian program during the summer camp season.  Scouts can sign up ahead of time or at camp for Horsemanship Merit Badge. Units and Scouts can also sign up for trail rides throughout the day as well (we highly recommend a breakfast trail ride!). Our horse trails weave around Wabaningo and will bring you near the nearby county forest and back along the shore of Bannard Lake. Click here for more information about the ranch and its programs.

Gilwell Field 

Gilwell Field is the perfect place for spring and fall camping with all the amenities you’d expect from a developed campground.  The Ladd Chojnacki Shelter (pictured above) is a large screened-in building complete with indoor fireplace, outdoor fire pit with seating, and charcoal grills.  There are two rustic campsites located nearby, and campers may also set up tents in Gilwell Field itself. Units camping in Wabaningo can plan your evening program at the fire bowl on the edge of Bannard Lake, just a few steps away from the Chojnacki Shelter. Gilwell Field also has a small shower house and a new latrine.   

Maintenance Area 

The Robert G. King Maintenance Area is home to all our maintenance operations. Fondly known as “the barn,” this building and its surrounding facilities help keep camp safe and looking good.   

Natural Beauty 

The rest of Wabaningo is undeveloped prairie and forest, save for the horse trails and hiking trails. When you join your Scoutcraft Staff for a Boundary Trail hike this summer, you’ll get to see it all up close!  If you’d prefer to see it from 8 feet up, sign up for a trail ride at the Triangle M Ranch.

CAMPING in wabaningo

Wabaningo has three campsites near to Gilwell Field. All are within walking distance of latrines, and there is a shower house on the edge of Gilwell Field.

Unit Camping

Units have the unique opportunity to base their Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan experience from Wabaningo. The unit provides its own program with the assistance of an assigned commissioner. Units can arrange to participate in many of the activities offered within the resident camp program or can design their own summer adventure. For more information, please contact our camping assistant.

Guest Camping

Families of Scouts attending camp or other camp visitors may tent and RV camp in Gilwell Field. For more information about guest camping, click here.

HIGH ADVENTURE

Wabaningo serves as base camp for units participating in our High Adventure Treks. Units may stay in Wabaningo before and after their trek or as needed. Click here for more details about our High Adventure Treks.