Council Info
Lewis & Clark Core Values
There are 299 Local Councils across the United States chartered by the National Council, Boy Scouts of America.
In 1965, the Mississippi Valley Council and the Kaskaskia Council merged to become the Okaw Valley Council. In 1991, the Piasa Bird Council and the Cahokia Mounds Council merged to create the Trails West Council. In 2009, the Okaw Valley and Trails West Councils consolidated to create the Lewis & Clark Council. The Council encompasses Bond, Calhoun, Clay, Clinton, Greene, Jefferson, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair, Washington, and Wayne counties. The Lewis & Clark Council is the largest council in Southern Illinois serving over 17,000 youth, and has an operating budget of $2.4 million.
A professional staff reporting to the Scout Executive runs the Council. Currently, the staff consists of 12 Professional staff, 7 Support staff, 3 Senior Para-Professionals and other in-school Para-Professionals. The Professional staff is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Council.
The Executive Board is composed of a cross section of volunteers from throughout the Council and assists the Scout Executive. An Advisory Committee composed of prominent citizens also assists the Council.
The Council is divided into six districts: Black Gold, Cahokia Mounds, Illini, Kaskaskia, Piasa Bird, and St. Clair. Each District is supported by the District Executive, a paid position; a District Chairman; and District Commissioner, both volunteer positions. The council also has a Scout Reach division supported by a Para-Professional. The District Chairman and the Commissioners recruit, train, and motivate a large committee of other volunteers to service the Scout units in that District. Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, Venture Crews, and Explorer Posts make up each district. The largest district is St. Clair and incorporates the cities of Belleville, Shiloh, and O Fallon.
The hub of Council activities is the Council Service Center located at 335 West Main Street in Belleville. The Service Center houses the professional staff as well a National Scout Shop. A meeting room is also available for conducting council and district activities. The Council Service Center opened in 2004.
The Council owns four outdoor education centers or council camps. Throughout the year, these properties support Scouting activities ranging from day programs to weekly camping.
Camp Joy, which is located near Carlyle, Illinois, is a 165-acre camp that includes a lake. The camp offers a traditional Boy Scout summer camping program as well as year-round camping opportunities. The camp contains 16 campsites, a dining hall, trading post, showers, first aid building, and a handicap accessible campsite. A part-time ranger manages Camp Joy. Boy Scout programs offered during the summer encompass a wide range of activities ranging from a full aquatics program to archery and rifle shooting as well as a Project COPE program and climbing tower.
Camp Vandeventer, which is located near Waterloo, Illinois, is 156 acres of picturesque creek and rocky bluffs. During the summer, this camp becomes a Cub Scout specialty camp where parents and sons participate in all activities, which include aquatics, crafts, archery, BB gun, nature programs, games, sports, and excellent evening programs. Summer sessions offer crafts, games, archery, BB gun, swimming, and special noonday features. There are seven campsites, a trading post/lodge, two large pavilions, BB gun range, health lodge, small cabins, a new dining hall and a swimming pool with bathhouse. Throughout the year, the camp supports Boy Scout camping trips and has a full time Camp Ranger.
Camp Warren Levis is a 285-acre camp located in Godfrey, Illinois. The first summer camp took place in 1924, and has led a strong scouting program ever since. The camp has an amphitheater overlooking the recently refurbished lake, a trading post, nature lodge, teepees, winter lodge, dining hall, swimming pool with bathhouse, shooting sports area, Project COPE area with a zip line, tower, and wall, lake, and a horsemanship program. There are 13 campsites as well as a program field. Throughout the year, the camp is open for camping and programs including Boy Scout camp with Merit Badge Day Camp, Cub Scout weekend camps, Cub Scout Day Camp and a Webelos Resident Camp. The camp also employs a full time Camp Ranger.
Camp Sunnen is a 340-acre camp located in the Mark Twain National Forest outside of Potosi, Missouri. The camp is located on Sunnen Lake and the location provides the opportunity for Scouts to see true wilderness hiking, camping, and canoeing. Scouts have the opportunity to earn a variety of merit badges during summer camp including the golf and mountain biking. The camp includes a nature center, climbing tower, two family staff cabins, bunkhouses, a trading post, pavilions, a shooting sports area and tours of the “Mud Cave’. The camp also boasts a full aquatics program, which allows for swimming, boating, and snorkeling. The camp employs a full time ranger and is open year round for camping by councils and other non Boy Scout organizations.