04/22/2026
In honor of Earth Day, we celebrate the long history of ecological stewardship at our camp. The land Owasippe now occupies was heavily logged throughout the 1800s, and by the time the camp was established the surrounding forests were a shell of their former selves. Our initial 40 acres was a former farm and much of the surrounding property was also farmland. Early Scouts took on the responsibility of restoring the land, planting hundreds of thousands of trees in the 1920s alone, including twenty thousand pines around present-day Blackhawk in 1927. Their efforts earned national recognition, including the Izaak Walton League Conservation Award in 1932. In more recent years, projects have included improving growing conditions for the endangered Karner blue butterfly’s host plant, wild lupine, and the Owasippe Future Forest Project, which introduced a wide range of native trees across 40 acres of Scout property.
Programs such as Conservation Outpost and other conservation-focused areas have inspired generations of Scouts to develop a deeper appreciation for nature and carry an environmentally conscious mindset into their lives. Many have gone on to careers in forestry, ecology, and environmental science, while others continue conservation efforts in their own communities through native gardens, volunteering in forest preserves to remove invasive plants, and even removing “itsy bitsys” from nature.
Owasippe Maxed’s 3-day Ecology and Conservation Camp continues to inspire our Scouts through hands-on experience with the camp’s diverse ecosystems. Participants will explore ecological sites, learn about Owasippe’s different biomes, and gain a deeper understanding of conservation practices. Scouts will also have one final opportunity to work toward the Wildland Fire Management Test Lab Badge while it remains in its trial period.
For more information on the Ecology and Conservation Camp, view the Maxed Guide:
https://pathwaytoadventure.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-OSR-MAXED-Guide-v.260309.pdf
