Heart of America Boy Scout Council

What Heart of America Boy Scout Council does

Heart of America Council, Boy Scouts of America (operating as Scouting America — Heart of America Council) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1910 and headquartered at 10210 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri. It is one of the largest local councils of Scouting America nationally, serving thousands of youth and families across the greater Kansas City metropolitan area through eight chartered districts (Blue Elk, Frontier, Iron Horse, Kaw, Lone Bear, North Star, Soaring Eagle, and Three Trails). The council delivers youth development programs including Cub Scouts (grades K-5), Scouts BSA (ages 11-17), Venturing, Sea Scouts, and adult leadership training, anchored by a structured advancement pathway culminating in the Eagle Scout rank.

The council's core operational assets are two of the nation's largest Scout reservations — H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation and Theodore Naish Scout Reservation — plus Rotary Camp and climbing/COPE facilities, which collectively generate significant summer camp revenue. A distinctive intangible asset is the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, a ceremonial society dating to the 1920s with over 80,000 members and a unique rank/recognition system. Revenue is generated through four streams: recurring annual membership fees ($99/year youth, $75/year adult as of 2020), per-person summer camp and high-adventure program fees (including Northern Tier expeditions), fundraising (Friends of Scouting campaign, popcorn sales, Golf Classic and Sporting Clays Classic events), and Scout Shop retail merchandise. Distribution operates through chartered organization units (churches, schools, civic groups), online registration via BeAScout.org, eight district offices, the central service center, and an integrated digital stack including ScoutBook, Internet Advancement, and the recently launched Scoutly AI chatbot pilot.

Name

Heart of America Boy Scout Council

Legal name

Heart of America Council, Boy Scouts of America

Website

https://hoac-bsa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1910

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Heart of America Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Scouting America local council serving thousands of Kansas City-area youth and families across eight districts, operating two major Scout reservations and delivering Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and high-adventure programs with a recurring membership and camp fee revenue model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Scouting activities
• Outdoor education
• Summer camping programs
• Nonprofit youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual national membership fees ($60 youth, $36 adult as of 2020) plus local council program fees ($39 youth, $39 adult) collected during annual recharter process. Covers insurance, youth protection resources, and background checks.
2. Camping Programs: Summer camp fees at H. Roe Bartle and Theodore Naish Scout Reservations. Per-person fees for day camps, weekend camps, and high adventure programs including Northern Tier expeditions.
3. Fundraising: Popcorn sales, Friends of Scouting annual campaign, and special events including Golf Classic, Sporting Clays Classic, and Bill Self Golf Classic generate donations and support council operations.
4. Retail/Scout Shop: Scout Shop merchandise sales including uniforms, handbooks, merit badge materials, and camping equipment through physical and online storefronts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Heart of America Council delivers Scouting programs including Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scouts to youth across eastern Kansas and western Missouri. It operates two major Scout reservations (H. Roe Bartle and Theodore Naish), extensive summer camping programs, leadership training courses (Wood Badge, NYLT, BALOO), the Order of the Arrow honor society, the Tribe of Mic-O-Say ceremonial program, and a Scout Shop retail outlet serving thousands of youth and families annually.

Product overview

The Heart of America Council operates a portfolio of interconnected youth development programs under the Scouting America umbrella. The core offerings include Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA membership programs for children ages 5-17, complemented by extensive camping facilities at H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation, Theodore Naish Scout Reservation, and Rotary Camp. The council's distinctive offerings include the Tribe of Mic-O-Say honorary society with its ceremonial traditions, ranks (Foxman, Brave, Warrior), and Silver Coup recognition, alongside the Order of the Arrow honor society. Leadership development is supported through Wood Badge, NYLT, and BALOO training programs. Additional services include ScoutBook and Internet Advancement for advancement tracking, the Scout Shop for uniforms and supplies, Northern Tier high adventure programs, STEM camping, and the Scoutly AI chatbot for family inquiries. The council also publishes the Adventures in Scouting newsletter and administers recognition programs including the Ewing M. Kauffman Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tribe of Mic-O-Say: A traditional high-adventure ceremony society within the Heart of America Council that provides tribal experiences for scouts at summer camp, including ceremonial rites, leadership development, and cultural traditions dating back to the 1920s.

Products and services

• Cub Scouts Scouting program for boys and girls in kindergarten through fifth grade emphasizing fun, friendship, character development, and age-appropriate outdoor activities including Pinewood Derby, camping, and community service. Includes Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos den levels.
• Scouts BSA Youth membership program for boys and girls ages 11-17 offering advancement opportunities, merit badges, leadership development, troop camping, high adventure, and pathway to Eagle Scout rank.
• Venturing Youth development program for young men and women ages 13-20 (or until 21) focusing on adventure, leadership, and service with STEM-focused activities beyond traditional Scouts BSA.
• Sea Scouts Maritime-focused youth program for older youth emphasizing seamanship, sailing, and nautical skills as part of the Venturing program family.
• H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation Primary summer camp facility offering Scout camping, STEM camping, high adventure, Order of the Arrow programs, and the Tribe of Mic-O-Say ceremonial program. One of two largest Scout camps in the country.
• Theodore Naish Scout Reservation Summer camp facility supporting Scouts BSA and high adventure programming. One of two largest Scout camps in the country.
• Rotary Camp Summer camp facility within the council's camping program serving Cub Scouts and other participants.
• Tribe of Mic-O-Say Honorary society and ceremonial program at H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation with Native American-themed traditions, ranks (Foxman, Brave, Warrior), and Silver Coup recognition awards. Dating back to the 1920s with over 80,000 recorded members.
• Order of the Arrow BSA's national honor society for campers and servicemembers, focused on fellowship, service, and camping, operated locally through the Blue Elk Lodge chapter.
• Wood Badge In-depth adult leadership training course for volunteers committed to the Scouting program.
• National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) Leadership training program for youth leaders in Scouts BSA troops.
• BALOO (Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation) Training for adult leaders conducting pack overnights and Cub Scout outdoor activities.
• Northern Tier High Adventure High adventure expedition program including the Okpik Winter Adventure offering cold weather camping and wilderness experiences in Minnesota, facilitated through the council with ScoutReach scholarship support.
• Scout Shop Physical and online retail store for Scouting uniforms, supplies, handbooks, merit badge pamphlets, and camping equipment.
• STEM Camping Science, technology, engineering, and math themed camping programs offered within the council's camp portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80,271 Mic-O-Say tribal members recorded by 2016
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Scouting AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational chartered organization providing program standards, insurance coverage, youth protection resources, criminal background checks, and national membership registration systems. HOAC operates under charter from the national organization.
• Sporting Kansas CityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Scout Night events at Sporting Kansas City professional soccer matches. Scouts receive special admission rates and on-field recognition, generating visibility and recruitment opportunities for the council.
• Kansas City MavericksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHockey team Scout Night events provide youth hockey enthusiasts opportunities to engage with Scouting while attending professional sporting events.
• Kansas SpeedwayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerScout Day at the Speedway events connect automotive and racing enthusiasts with Scouting through NASCAR racing experiences and recruitment opportunities.
• Monarchs BaseballminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmerican Association baseball team Scout Night partnerships provide affordable family entertainment and Scouting recruitment exposure at professional sporting events.
• Kauffman StadiumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHome of the Kansas City Royals, hosts annual Scout Day at the K event and Ewing M. Kauffman Distinguished Eagle Scout Award recognition ceremony at the stadium built by Eagle Scout Ewing Kauffman.
• Order of the ArrowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSA's national honor society with local Blue Elk Lodge chapter. Provides camping service, leadership development, and reinforces outdoor ethics among Scout troops.
• Northern Tier High Adventure BasecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSA's northernmost high adventure base in Minnesota. HOAC facilitates annual summer and winter (Okpik) expeditions for council Scouts, with ScoutReach scholarship support for participant costs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• National Order of the Arrow (BSA): National honor society within Scouting America of which HOAC's Blue Elk Lodge is a chapter. Operationally related as a sub-affiliate providing camping service and leadership development that HOAC leverages for member engagement.

Direct peers

• Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri: Direct competitor for girl-focused youth development in the same Kansas City metropolitan area. Offers analogous membership programs, camping at camps like Camp Daisy and Camp Tonga, cookie fundraising, and badge/achievement systems targeting the same family demographic.
• Greater St. Louis Area Council, BSA: Neighboring large BSA local council serving the St. Louis metropolitan area. Operates similar scouting programs, multiple camp properties, and comparable revenue streams (membership fees, camping, fundraising) — the most geographically and operationally comparable peer to HOAC.
• Dan Beard Council, BSA: Large BSA local council serving the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area. Comparable scale with multiple camp reservations, eight-district structure, and similar Scouting programming mix including Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and Venturing.
• Circle Ten Council, BSA: Large BSA local council serving the Dallas-North Texas region. Comparable in scale, multi-camp infrastructure, and urban-metro service territory with similar membership, camping, and fundraising revenue models.
• Pony Express Council, BSA: Kansas-based BSA local council serving northwest Kansas and surrounding areas. Operates similar Scouting programs in an overlapping geographic region with comparable rural/small-metro district structure.
• Crossroads of America Council, BSA: One of the largest BSA local councils in the country, serving central Indiana. Comparable scale in terms of districts, camp reservations, and membership base; offers directly analogous Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, camping, and Order of the Arrow programming.
• Cascade Pacific Council, BSA: Pacific Northwest BSA local council serving Oregon and southern Washington. Operates comparable camp properties (Camp Baldwin, Camp Thunder), district structure, and membership-based youth development programs.

Emerging players

• Camp Fire Heartland: Regional council of Camp Fire (formerly Camp Fire USA) serving Kansas City-area youth with similar outdoor education, camp, and youth-led programming focus. Operates comparable camping programs and club-based youth development activities.
• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kansas City: Regional youth development nonprofit serving Kansas City youth with after-school programs, athletics, and character education. Competes for the same family time and charitable dollars but focuses on clubhouse-based daily programming rather than outdoor camping.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/heartofamericacouncil.bsa
• Xx.com/hoacbsa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hoacbsa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Heart of America Boy Scout Council