(Monona County, Iowa) – On Friday, Sept. 26th, representatives with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) and their partners at the Iowa DNR, celebrated with a ribbon cutting at the former Little Sioux Scout Ranch. More than 100 neighbors and supporters of the project joined in to learn more, explore and celebrate the new addition to the Loess Hill State Forest. Permanently protected, residents and visitors of Iowa can continue to forge a connection with nature and enjoy remote camping, hiking, fishing, hunting and other forms of outdoor recreation across the nearly 1,800-acre former scout camp.

Background:

In late 2022, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation purchased the Little Sioux Scout Ranch in western Iowa from the Mid-America Council of the Boy Scouts of America. INHF raised nearly $2 million before Dec. 31, when it had to exercise an option to purchase the property. Lead donations of $500,000 from Polina and Bob Schlott of Crescent, $500,000 from the Iowa West Foundation of Council Bluffs, $300,000 from the Gilchrist Foundation of Sioux City and $250,000 from the MidAmerican Energy Foundation — along with hundreds of other private donations — made it possible to purchase the vast wilderness area.

The 1,776-acre property has been used as a scout camp for more than 50 years by troops from Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. In 2021, the Gilwell Foundation, which owns all the properties used by the council, came to the difficult decision to sell the camp due to declining attendance. At that time, INHF purchased an option to buy the property that expired at the end of 2022, setting a goal to raise $2 million for the project, which will cost more than $7 million in total.

“The support for this project has been amazing,” said INHF President Joe McGovern. “Donors have told us they want to see this place protected — staying in one piece and not being developed — but they’re also excited to see it opened to the public eventually.” In working on the sale with the council, INHF has agreed to do three things: Open the property to the public; maintain the memorial to four boys that died in a 2008 tornado on the property; and honor and share the history of LSSR as a scout camp.

The site is now part of the Loess Hills State Forest and is owned and managed by the Iowa DNR.

Learn more about the project here.