Adventure West Council, Scouting America

What Adventure West Council, Scouting America does

Adventure West Council, Scouting America is a non-profit local council of the national Scouting America organization (formerly the Boy Scouts of America), delivering youth development programs to children, adolescents, and young adults ages 6–21 across Northern Colorado, Western Nebraska, and most of Wyoming. Its programmatic portfolio spans the full age spectrum: Cub Scouts (kindergarten through 5th grade, including Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos), Scouts BSA (ages 11–18 working toward Eagle Scout), Venturing (co-ed ages 14–20), Sea Scouts (co-ed ages 14–20), and Exploring (co-ed ages 10–20 for career exploration). The council also offers multiple specialized leadership training programs — including Wood Badge, NYLT, the University of Scouting, and the College of Commissioner Science — primarily targeted at adult volunteer leaders.

The council's core product surface is anchored by five physical camp properties: Ben Delatour Scout Ranch (primary camp), Camp Jack Nicol (Cub Scout camp on the BDSR campus), Camp Buffalo Bill (located 8 miles from Yellowstone National Park's east gate in the Shoshone National Forest), Camp Laramie Peak (high adventure and training), Camp Patiya, and Chimney Park Scout Ranch. These facilities enable multi-tier camp offerings — Cub World, Arrow of Light Camp, Winter Camp at BDSR, Summer Camp at Camp Buffalo Bill and BDSR, the Yellowstone High Adventure Outpost (offering backpacking, climbing, whitewater, and kayaking), and the Elkhorn High Adventure Base. The technology layer is essentially the national Scouting America platform: my.Scouting.org for member management, Scoutbook Plus for advancement tracking, and scoutingevent.com for event registration — none of which is proprietary to this council.

Revenue is generated through a diversified set of streams including annual membership registration fees, camp and program participation fees, unit dues ($75–$125 annually), council-organized popcorn fundraising (with 35% commission retained in scout accounts), Spring Product Sale (Adventure Cards, Monk Coffee), retail sales from three physical Scout Shops (Casper WY, Scottsbluff NE, Loveland CO), and donations via Colorado Gives Day, Significant Giving, and the Kroger Community Rewards program. Programs are delivered through five operating districts (Bighorn, Golden Plains, Thunder Basin, Tri-Trails, and Wapiti) and rely on a hybrid of a small paid professional staff and a large volunteer base. Chartering partnerships with religious institutions (United Methodist Church and Catholic Church as core partners), schools, PTAs, and civic clubs form the institutional backbone for unit formation. The council was founded in 1924, is headquartered in Greeley, Colorado, and in 2024 adopted Scouting America's national rebrand from "Boy Scouts of America." It is governed by a local board led by Council Chair Chris Richmond, with Nathan Dutson serving as Scout Executive (CEO).

Name

Adventure West Council, Scouting America

Legal name

Scouting America – Adventure West Council

Website

https://awbsa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Non-profit local council of Scouting America delivering youth development programs (Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts, Exploring) to ages 6-21 across Northern Colorado, Western Nebraska, and Wyoming through five camp properties, three Scout Shops, three service centers, and a network of chartered units.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Nonprofit Services

NAICS

RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (72121), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Adventure Camps & Summer Programs (THAAAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI), Instructor-Led Skills Academies (Climbing, Paddling, Mountaineering Schools) (THAAAOAI), Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Scouting camping services
• Outdoor adventure programs
• Leadership training courses
• Merit badge advancement

Headquarters

HQ city

Greeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Registration Fees: Annual registration fees for youth and adult members of Scouting programs
2. Camp and Program Fees: Fees collected for summer camp, winter camp, high adventure programs, Cub World, Arrow of Light Camp, and other program activities
3. Popcorn Fundraiser: Council-organized popcorn sales with 35% commission returned to scouts to fund their Scout Accounts
4. Spring Product Sale: Direct-to-consumer product sales including Adventure Cards and Monk Coffee with variable commission rates
5. Scout Shop Sales: Retail sales of uniforms, supplies, camping gear, and official BSA merchandise through three physical locations
6. Unit Dues: Annual unit dues ranging from $75-$125 typically, covering unit operational expenses
7. Donations and Charitable Giving: Donations through various campaigns including Colorado Gives Day, Significant Giving program, and general donations
8. Eagle Scout Project Fundraising: Scouts conduct approved fundraisers for Eagle Scout Service Projects with proper documentation and council approval

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Adventure West Council delivers Scouting youth development programs for ages 6-21 across Northern Colorado, Western Nebraska, and Wyoming. Its core offerings include age-tiered outdoor experiences (Cub World, Arrow of Light Camp, Summer Camp at Camp Buffalo Bill, Winter Camp at Ben Delatour Scout Ranch), high-adventure programs (Yellowstone High Adventure Outpost, Elkhorn High Adventure Base), adult and youth leadership training (Wood Badge, NYLT, University of Scouting, College of Commissioner Science), shooting sports via Range & Target Activities, three Scout Shop retail locations, and online advancement tools (Scoutbook Plus).

Product overview

Adventure West Council delivers Scouting programs across Northern Colorado, Western Nebraska, and Wyoming through a portfolio of camping experiences, leadership training programs, high adventure bases, and retail operations. The core offerings include overnight camps at five properties (Camp Buffalo Bill, Ben Delatour Scout Ranch, Camp Jack Nicol, Camp Laramie Peak, Camp Patiya, and Chimney Park Scout Ranch) featuring age-specific programming from Cub Scouts through Scouts BSA and Venturing. Leadership development is provided through NYLT for youth and Wood Badge, University of Scouting, and College of Commissioner Science for adults. High adventure programs include YHAO at Camp Buffalo Bill offering backpacking, climbing, whitewater, and kayaking, plus the Elkhorn High Adventure Base. The council operates three Scout Shops for uniforms and supplies. Supporting programs include Range & Target Activities (RATA) for shooting sports, seasonal events like Cub World, Arrow of Light Camp, Winter Camp, Jolly Jamboree, and Council Camporall, along with online tools like Scoutbook Plus for advancement tracking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cub World 3-day, 2-night themed overnight camping experience at Camp Nicol designed for Cub Scouts (Lions through Webelos) featuring themed lands including Medieval Castle, Wild West Frontier Fort, Rocky Mountain Nature Outpost, and Lighthouse at Dunn Point.
• Summer Camp at Camp Buffalo Bill Week-long summer resident camp located 8 miles from Yellowstone National Park in the heart of Shoshone National Forest, offering over 40 merit badges and outdoor adventure activities for Scouts BSA.
• Scout Shops Retail stores offering Scouting uniforms, supplies, camping gear, craft items, and gift products at three locations — Casper Service Center (Casper, WY), Scottsbluff Service Center (Scottsbluff, NE), and Loveland Scout Shop (Loveland, CO).
• National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) 6-day, 5-night leadership course for Scouts BSA youth providing skills and experiences to become better leaders in their unit and lives.
• Wood Badge Advanced adult leadership training (6-day course over two weekends) designed to equip leaders with skills, knowledge, and inspiration to guide and mentor Scouts, held at Camp Laramie Peak.
• College of Commissioner Science Training program for commissioners and those committed to supporting and improving Scouting units, offering a comprehensive curriculum and networking opportunities.
• University of Scouting Annual training event held in January in Cheyenne offering more than 100 classes taught by volunteers who share their knowledge and passion.
• Yellowstone High Adventure Outpost (YHAO) High adventure program based at Camp Buffalo Bill offering five distinct 7-day adventures: backpacking in Yellowstone National Park, climbing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, and combined rock and river experiences.
• Elkhorn High Adventure Base High-alpine backpacking program featuring alpine lakes, natural rock climbing, repelling, and black powder shooting, with a 50-miler option available.
• Winter Camp at Ben Delatour Scout Ranch 4-day, 4-night Scouts BSA winter camping program held December 27-30 at Ben Delatour Scout Ranch, offering over 20 merit badges and afternoon activities.
• Arrow of Light Camp 4-day, 3-night outdoor camping experience at Camp Jack Nicol on Ben Delatour Scout Ranch, offering 9 rank adventures plus activities for Arrow of Light Scouts.
• Jolly Jamboree Holiday Cub Scout weekend event held at Camp Nicol featuring festive activities, seasonal crafts, range activities, games, and holiday celebrations.
• Cub Activity Days Regionally located one-day Cub Scout events featuring program adventures, STEM activities, BB-guns, archery, crafts, and field sports.
• Range & Target Activities (RATA) Shooting sports and target-based programs including archery, BB guns, rifle, shotgun, slingshots, and throwing sports, with training certifications for adult volunteers.
• Scoutbook Plus Online advancement tracking system used by Scouting units to track scout progress, manage payments, and maintain records as part of the national Scouting America digital platform.
• Popcorn Fundraiser Council-organized popcorn sales fundraising campaign with 35% commission returned to participating scouts to fund individual Scout Accounts, used as a financial supplement for Scouting activities.
• Spring Product Sale Direct-to-consumer product sales campaign including Adventure Cards and Monk Coffee, with variable commission rates funding participating scouts.

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Kroger Family of CompaniesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKroger Community Rewards program allows shoppers to link their Kroger Shopper's Card to support Adventure West Council (code LS069). Kroger donates a portion of purchases to Scouting programs at no added cost to shoppers.
• United Methodist ChurchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing partnership offering three partnership options: Traditional Charter (church charters unit and approves leaders), Affiliated Partnership (church provides meeting space while council charters), and Facility Use Agreement (church provides space only).
• Catholic ChurchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing partnership with multiple options including Traditional Annual Charter, Affiliated Partnership, and Facility Use Agreement. Catholic Church is one of the largest chartering organization partners nationally.
• Northern Colorado Amateur Radio ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) event enabling Scouts to connect with other Scouts worldwide via amateur radio.
• Colorado National GuardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Jamboree on the Air event hosted in Fort Collins, supporting radio communication activities.
• Laramie County Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for College of Commissioner Science training events held in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
• Wyoming River TripsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate vendor recommended for whitewater rafting during free day activities at Yellowstone High Adventure Outpost.
• Life Pointe Church (Fort Collins)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Cub Activity Days event in Fort Collins location.
• Wildcat Hill Center (Scottsbluff)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Cub Activity Days event in Scottsbluff location.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): Wyoming-headquartered nonprofit providing wilderness education courses (backpacking, climbing, kayaking) for youth and adults. Comparable to YHAO in adventure activities and Rocky Mountain geography but operates on tuition-based expedition model rather than scout unit system.
• Outward Bound USA: National nonprofit delivering expedition-based outdoor education, including wilderness adventures for youth. Overlaps with AWC's Yellowstone High Adventure Outpost and Elkhorn High Adventure Base on outdoor skill-building and leadership outcomes but is paid-fee rather than dues-based.

Others

• Cathedral Mountain Lodge / Triangle X Ranch: Wyoming-based dude ranches/outdoor hospitality operating in the same Yellowstone corridor as AWC's Camp Buffalo Bill. Regional operator competing for outdoor family tourism spend near Yellowstone, though it operates as a hospitality business rather than youth-development nonprofit.

Direct peers

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County: Community-based nonprofit providing youth development programming (ages 6-18) in Northern Colorado with membership-style enrollment, after-school and summer programming, and a donor/fundraising-supported operating model. Direct peer serving overlapping youth segments.
• Girl Scouts of Colorado: State-level council delivering parallel youth development programming (K-12) across Colorado with similar camp properties, membership dues, retail shops, and volunteer-led delivery. Most direct comparable model operating in AWC's home geography.
• Colorado 4-H (CSU Extension): Youth development program for ages 5-18 offering clubs, summer camps, and outdoor/adventure experiences across Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska via Cooperative Extension. Targets the same rural and suburban markets as AWC with similar life-skill development mission.
• YMCA of Northern Colorado: Regional YMCA delivering youth programs, summer camps, swim/sports instruction, and leadership development across Northern Colorado with membership dues, program fees, and donations. Highly comparable operating model within the same geography.
• Boy Scouts of America Pacific Skyline Council: Sister local BSA council operating camps, retail shops, and units in Northern California with parallel program portfolio. Structurally identical (same parent, dues/fees/donations model, camp properties) — direct peer for benchmarking governance, fundraising, and unit economics.

Broad incumbents

• Philmont Scout Ranch (BSA National): Premier national BSA high-adventure base in New Mexico offering backcountry treks. Same parent organization as AWC but at national scale; directly competes for Scouts seeking high-adventure summer experiences within an overlapping national recruitment pool.
• Summit Bechtel Reserve (BSA National): National BSA high-adventure base in West Virginia focused on climbing, zip-lining, BMX, and water sports. Same national parent as AWC; competes for the same cohort seeking high-adventure summer experiences and scout jamboree attendance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/AdventureWestScouts
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@adventurewestcouncil576
• Facebookfacebook.com/AdventureWestScouts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adventure-west-council-scouting-america
• Instagraminstagram.com/adventurewestcouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Adventure West Council, Scouting America