(KTTS News) — The Ozark Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America has sold the Frank Childress Scout Reservation near Joplin.
The Ozarks Trail Council says owning four camp properties was no longer financially feasible, so it made the decision to sell to the “Frank Childress Reserve Properties Committee”, a newly formed not-for-profit.
The sale price of the 175 wooded acre property was $500,000 — below the appraised value of $1.8 million.
The business model for the newly formed not-for-profit provides an affordable camping facility for multiple community groups like the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, church groups, and sports camps.
The Ozarks Trail Council will continue to operate three scout camps near Marshfield, on Table Rock Lake, and near Pittsburgh, Kansas.
Press Release
Frank Childress Scout Reservation will transition to a camp that serves multiple youth serving and community organizations. The Ozark Trails Council has sold Frank Childress Scout Reservation, near Joplin, Missouri, to the “Frank Childress Reserve Properties Committee”, a newly formed not-for-profit.
Ozark Trails Council leadership recognized that owning and operating four camp properties was no longer financially feasible and made the decision to sell Frank Childress Scout Reservation. With the support of the Council, a group of Scout volunteers organized the not-for-profit organization that has purchased and will operate the property. The newly named “Camp Childress” will be available to multiple youth serving and community organizations for their camping needs.
Frank Childress Scout Reservation is made up of 175 wooded acres and includes a pool, climate-controlled dining hall, commercial kitchen, cabins, hiking trails, campsites, and a trout fishing pond. It was one of 4 camping properties operated by the Ozark Trails Council. The Council will continue to operate three camps: one near Pittsburg, Kansas, one on Table Rock Lake, and their main Summer Camp operation near Marshfield, Missouri.
When the decision was made to sell Frank Childress Scout Reservation, rather than selling it on the open market, the Council partnered with the Frank Childress Reserve Properties Committee. The property was appraised at $1.8 million. To ensure the newly formed not-for-profit could purchase the property, the Council set a selling price of $500,000 and Council staff assisted in fundraising efforts. This was done to ensure the property continues to be a community resource and remains a quality camping facility for years to come.
Ozark Trails Council Scout Executive and CEO, John Feick, stated this is a real win-win-win for local communities, Scouting, and youth serving organizations in southwest Missouri. The business model for the newly formed not-for-Profit is to provide an affordable camping facility for multiple community groups: Scouts, Girl Scouts, church groups, sports camps, etc. In many rural areas, like southwestern Missouri, it is a real challenge to own and operate a youth camp with a single user. Many organizations have made the decision to sell camp properties, which has eliminated camping opportunities for all youth. The great thing about the Frank Childress Reserve group’s business plan is that they are reaching out to numerous organizations and will likely be able to fill the camp with multiple users.
The sale was completed on October 4th. For more information on Camp Childress, you can go to their website at www.campchildress.com
