West Camp is the newer part of Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Scout Reservation, established in 1959. West Camp’s most noticeable feature is the activity field, which is large roughly the size of four football fields. This area is ideal for outdoor sports and activities. The program areas, dining hall, and campsites are situated around the field, making West Camp facilities are a bit closer together than East Camp’s. However, the campsites are not quite as dispersed. West Camp is conveniently located near the Welcome Center and includes several ecological features of interest, including Skid’s Creek, which connects Lake Killian to the Wolf River. West Camp is also home to the recently renovated Joey Dimock Firebowl, situated directly on the lake.

CAMPSITES

Please Note: The storm that went through Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Scout Reservation in the summer of 2019 dramatically altered some of the West Camp Sites. We have cleared and reconfigured most of them and hope to update the photos and descriptions below in the near future.

West Camp’s campsites are named after American pioneers (with one exception): Powell, Fremont, Boone, Carson, Clark, Lewis, Bowie, Bridger, Cody, Crockett, and Whitney. Go to our Maps of Camp webpage to see where each campsite is located.

Powell

This campsite is the first site as you come into West Camp. The site is named after John Wesley Powell and is designed to accommodate Scouts and leaders who require a shorter trip to the West Camp dining hall and office. The site includes a paved path that allows entry into several tents without any step or ramp required. The site has its own shower house and a shelter. The site can accommodate up to two units and (approximately) 35 Scouts.

Fremont (Powell C)

Perched on the top of a hill, Fremont is a medium-sized campsite that can support roughly 34 Scouts. The shared name of Fremont/ Powell C is due to the site having its own shelter, but sharing the latrine of Powell A/B. The Fremont name comes from John C. Frémont, a U.S. senator, explorer, and mapmaker. With most of the tents surrounding a single fire pit, this site offers a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. Although this site shares the shower house with the rest of Powell, it is not recommended for participants requiring accessibility accomodations as there is a steep gravel road leading to the campsite.

Boone

Boone is a sprawling and spacious campsite. This site owes its name to Daniel Boone, famed frontiersman and folklore hero. It is conveniently located near the parking lot, just a hop-skip and a jump away from the Dining Hall. The site’s hills provide five different levels for patrol sites and flexible accommodations for up to three units. It contains two shelters, a latrine, and three fire pits.

Carson

Named after Kit Carson, this site is one of the larger sites geographically and is fairly open. It is located on the western end of the main field and some distance from Aquatics and Eco-Con. Bowie is nearby, just across the road. It is well situated for everything in camp (it’s also closest to the Trading Post). The site has a main area with several patrol sites plus a hilltop site; it includes a shelter, latrine, and capacity for (approximately) 35 Scouts from one or two units.

Clark

This site is located at the southern end of the main camp road, which loops through West Camp. As a result, it is reasonably remote yet still within easy walking distance of everything in camp (with Aquatics and Eco-Con being the furthest away). The site has two shelters and one latrine and consists of two very distinct sites: one high on a hill and one at its foot. Thus, the site is ideal for two units; it has a total capacity of roughly 30-40 campers.

Lewis

This campsite is near Bowie, Bridger, and the shower house off the northwest corner of the camp field. Lewis has two distinct areas, allowing it to be shared easily by two units. The site is flat, relatively open, and includes a shelter and latrine. The site sits right on the corner of the two main camp roads, almost at the direct center of West Camp. However, the site is relatively intimate, housing roughly 30-35 campers.

Bowie

Bowie is located directly across the road from Carson, near Lewis, and sits west of the main camp field. It is an open, flat site with plenty of room for a larger unit. Bowie has a shelter and latrine, but distinct patrol sites allow it to be shared by two units. This makes it a perfect candidate for a brother/ sister unit. The total capacity is (approximately) 40 campers. Bowie is centrally located, within a short walk of all program areas.

Bridger

Bridger, our newest barrier-free campsite, is located closest to the shower house in West Camp, just off the northwest corner of the camp field and close to the Shooting Sports area. Nothing is more than a five-minute walk away. The site includes an open central area, ringed with patrol sites, and an area atop a hill. The site has packed gravel areas that lead up to platform tents which are recessed into the ground for easy wheelchair access. A packed gravel path also leads directly to the nearby showerhouse, flush toilets, and emergency shelter. There is also a campsite shelter and a standard latrine in the site. Bridger can house approximately 40 campers. Bridger neighbors Cody and Lewis campsites but is still reasonably remote.

Cody

Cody holds two shelters and a latrine. The site is closest to the Shooting Sports area and near the shower house and is conveniently located for all facilities. It is located beyond the northwest corner of the camp field. The site includes a rolling landscape with large open areas. It incorporates a plat-less campsite for more than 40 Scouts, meaning there are no platforms or wall tents provided in Cody A or B. Cody C (which includes 2-man platform tents) can host approximately 28.

Units need to bring their own tents for Cody A/B.

Crockett

This site is one of the more remote in West Camp. It is located north of the main camp field and is very close to Scoutcraft, Aquatics, and Eco-con. The site is cozy and fairly flat. Crockett includes an open main area as well as three distinct patrol sites off this area. It has one shelter, a latrine and a capacity for up to (approximately) 25 campers in one unit.

Whitney

Whitney is a more remote area of West Camp beyond Skid’s Creek, which is fitting given its former life as our Explorer Outpost in the mid-20th century for in-camp backpacking experiences. Unique to Whitney is its location by the lake. Whitney includes one shelter, a latrine, and a dock. Whitney may be remote but is very close to Scoutcraft, Aquatics, and Eco-Con. Whitney consists of two distinct areas: one near the lake and one further inland. The campsite can be shared by two units and holds up to (approximately) 40 campers.