Canyon Camp

11/02/2026

Join us in welcoming Michael Watson as Canyon Camp Director for 2027!

An Eagle Scout from Troop 7 in Freeport, Michael began his Canyon Camp staff journey in 2017. Since then, he has served in several leadership roles, including Aquatics Director for the past five summers. Outside of camp, Michael is a middle school teacher who brings a passion for leadership, education, and Scouting.

We’re excited to see Michael lead Canyon Camp into the 2027 season!

Interested in Canyon Camp? We’ll see you next summer! Sign up today at www.canyoncampbsa.org.

Want to be part of the 2027 Canyon Camp staff? Learn more about joining our team at www.canyoncampbsa.org/staff.

Welcome Our New Canyon Camp Director, Michael Watson!
Please join us in congratulating Michael Watson as he steps into the role of Canyon Camp Director for the 2027 season!

An Eagle Scout from Troop 7 in Freeport, Illinois, Michael's Scouting journey has come full circle. As a youth, he was active in Order of the Arrow inductions and ceremonies and began serving on Canyon Camp staff in 2017 as a kitchen aide. Over the years, he has taken on numerous leadership roles, including Aquatics Assistant, Eagle's Nest Director, and Aquatics Director, a position he has held for the past five summers. Scouting helped shape Michael's passion for leadership and teaching, ultimately leading him to a career in education. Today, he serves as a 6th-8th grade Social Studies and Language Arts teacher in Steward, Illinois.

"I'm excited to continue growing in Scouting and leadership in this new role," Michael shared. "Most importantly, I'm thrilled for the opportunity to pass on the skills Scouting has given me to the 2027 Canyon Camp staff and the Scouts we serve."

We are excited for Michael's vision, enthusiasm, and dedication to help guide the future of Canyon Camp. Please join us in welcoming him to this new role and wishing him success as he leads an incredible summer camp experience in 2027!

10/29/2026

10 years ago at Canyon Camp!

A lot can change in 10 years, but the memories made, friendships built, and Spirit of Canyon Camp remain to this day.

Drop a comment if you remember summer 2016 at Canyon Camp!

10/21/2026

Summer 2027 is just around the corner! Are you looking to do something meaningful with it?

Spend your summer at Canyon Camp!

As a member of camp staff, you'll help Scouts earn merit badges and make the most of their time at camp, whether that's through program areas, food service, or camp maintenance. But working at Canyon Camp is about more than the job itself. It's about the people you work alongside and the community you're part of.

Are you ready to be a part of the Spirit of Canyon Camp? Apply to join the summer 2027 staff at https://www.canyoncampbsa.org/staff

10/17/2026

The camp truck is looking good after some much-needed maintenance with the help of Kelly Campbell!

Kelly, Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 91, heard the camp truck needed some attention and stepped in to help. He set us up us with Hesgard Collision Center to take care of some window and mirror repairs.

Hesgard went above and beyond, not only making the repairs but giving the truck a much-needed spa day! The camp truck gets plenty of use throughout the year, so it was great to see it get some extra care.

A big thank you to Jason Jordan with Spring Green for making Canyon Camp this trucks home years ago, and thank you to Kelly for helping make sure it's ready to go for it's next challenge!

10/12/2026

These warm fall days are reminding us of summer!

Thinking about your plans for next summer? Spend it with Canyon Camp! Register for Scouts BSA camp or apply to join our summer staff.

We can’t wait to see you at camp!

Register for Scouts BSA Camp 2027 at https://www.canyoncampbsa.org/register
Apply for Camp Staff at https://www.canyoncampbsa.org/staff

10/06/2026

For 15 summers, Seth Kannarr has given an incredible part of himself to Canyon Camp, including serving as Camp Director for the last five years.

But more important than the titles or the years are the thousands of Scouts who experienced Canyon Camp during that time. Scouts who tried something new, earned a merit badge, sat around a campfire, made lifelong friends, and discovered just a little more about who they could become.

Seth would be the first to say that none of it happened because of one person. Canyon Camp has always been about its people, and year after year he was surrounded by tremendous volunteers and assembled wonderful staff who poured everything they had into creating an unforgettable experience for Scouts.

Those teams faced their share of challenges together.

Seth helped lead Canyon Camp out of the pandemic. He stepped into the Camp Director role following co-directors with decades of experience. He helped hold staff together through the heartbreaking loss of a close friend. He led through severe storms, including a derecho, and through the countless challenges, both seen and unseen, that come with operating a Scout camp.

Through it all, he kept moving forward with optimism, a belief in the people around him, and a commitment to filling each summer with the Spirit of Canyon Camp.

From a Handicraft CIT in 2012 to Camp Director in 2026, it has been quite a journey:

2012 — Handicraft CIT
2013 — Kitchen Aide
2014 — Nature Assistant
2015 — Pioneer Potpourri Director
2016 — Nature Director / OA Summer Chief
2017 — Nature Director
2018 — Nature Director
2019 — Program Director
2020 — Program Director / Assistant Ranger
2021 — Program Director
2022 — Camp Director
2023 — Camp Director
2024 — Camp Director
2025 — Camp Director
2026 — Camp Director

The next chapter for Canyon Camp will be a new one, and Seth will support it however he is able. We look forward to welcoming a new Camp Director next summer and doing everything we can to help them, their staff, and Canyon Camp succeed.

Most importantly, we look forward to seeing generations of Scouts continue walking through those gates, making memories, growing as leaders, and discovering for themselves what so many of us already know:

The Spirit of Canyon Camp lives in its people.

Thank you, Seth, for 15 years of service to Canyon Camp, its staff, and, above all, the Scouts we are here to serve.

10/03/2026

A huge thank you to the nearly 100 volunteers who came out to Canyon Camp today for the annual Monroe Kiwanis Woodcutters Ball!

A tremendous amount of work was accomplished—preparing Camp for the off-season, caring for the property, and moving several important projects forward.

We are incredibly grateful to the Monroe Kiwanians and the many, many volunteers who gave their time, energy, and talents today. Days like this are a great reminder of just how special the Canyon Camp community is.

Thank you for investing in Canyon Camp and helping care for this special place!

10/01/2026

Our next area highlight is the Trading Post!

If you're looking for some awesome camp gear, a snack, or the Salesmanship merit badge, the Trading Post is the place to be! Not to mention, it’s recently undergone some impressive renovations!

Be sure to check it out next summer!

09/29/2026

Your summer plans? Canyon Camp Staff! ☀️🏕️

Applications are OPEN for Summer 2027 Camp Staff!

Whether you’re looking for your first summer job, hoping to try something new, or coming back home to camp for another summer, there’s a place for you on staff.

Meet new people, give back to the next generation of Scouts, and be part of what makes Canyon Camp special.

See yourself here? Apply for Summer 2027 Camp Staff at https://www.canyoncampbsa.org/staff

09/24/2026

This week, we’re highlighting the Pioneer Potpourri program area! 🏕️

Pioneer Potpourri is a unique program area offering quick, 30-minute activities focused on skills used by pioneers.

It’s the perfect place for Scouts and leaders to explore, learn something new, and have fun together!