Camping with the Chickasaw Council
‘The Real Objective of Scouting’
Camping is essential to the Scouting experience. In the words of founder Robert Baden-Powell, "The open air is the real objective of Scouting and the key to its success."
Chickasaw Scouts and Scouters are fortunate to have two fantastic camps owned and operated by the council where they can enjoy camping and other outdoor activities throughout the year.
Kia Kima Scout Reservation, located in Hardy, Arkansas, is the summer camp of the Chickasaw Council. Opened in its original location in 1916 and moved to its current location in 1964, Kia Kima welcomes over 3,000 campers each summer to the banks of the gorgeous South Fork River.
Camp Currier, located in Hernando, Mississippi, is the weekend camp of the Chickasaw Council. Opened in 1925, Camp Currier has welcomed generations of Scouts and Scouters, to enjoy the exceptional climbing and C.O.P.E. facilities, participate in numerous district and council events, or simply enjoy a weekend getaway with their unit.
Kia Kima Scout Reservation
Kia Kima Scout Reservation comprises some 540 acres and three distinct camps: Camp Osage, Camp Cherokee, and the Ozark Venture Base. Camp Osage, the larger of the two camps, is the main camp situated on the South Fork River where Scouts eat in the Dining Hall. Camp Cherokee, the smaller camp, enjoys the picturesque John A. Cooper Lake, and Scouts cook their own meals in their campsite.
Kia Kima is the site of the Chickasaw Council’s Scouts BSA summer camp, Cub Scout resident camp, and winter camp. A wide variety of programs are offered including Scoutcraft, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, small boat sailing, shooting sports, hiking, rock climbing, and more. The Ozark Venture Base offers additional exciting programs.
Camp Currier
Camp Currier, in Eudora, Mississippi, has been welcoming generations of campers since 1925. Located on more than 300 pristine acres, Currier is the primary location for district events, including Camporees, Cuborees, and Webelos Woods; a venue for large council events and trainings; and a weekend camping favorite. Currier is home to a state-of-the-art C.O.P.E. and climbing course; shotgun, rifle, archery, and action archery ranges; a lake that is perfect for canoeing or fishing; great trails; and much more!
Scouts BSA Summer Camp at Kia Kima
Scouts BSA summer camp at Kia Kima Scout Reservation is a premier camping experience for your Scouts! Join us in the beautiful Arkansas Ozarks for camping, swimming, climbing, fishing, and so much more. At Kia Kima, Scouts and leaders make memories that last a lifetime!
Week-long summer camp experiences at Kia Kima are typically offered for four consecutive weeks from early June through early July. There are two camps at Kia Kima:
Camp Osage, situated on the banks of the South Fork River, is the larger of the two camps with a weekly capacity of 550. Campers enjoy a traditional camp setting with food service from a modern, state-of-the-art Dining Hall.
Camp Cherokee is situated on the beautiful 19-acre John A. Cooper Lake and has a weekly capacity of 200. Troops enjoy cooking all of their meals, using food provided to them from the commissary.
High Adventure Opportunities at Kia Kima
Kia Kima is well-known for its high-adventure opportunities for Scouts and Venturers, through our Ozark Venture Base.
The Ozark Ultimate Trek (O.U.T.) program is the signature high-adventure opportunity at Kia Kima. Participants enjoy a weeklong sampling of the many fantastic outdoor opportunities available in the Ozarks, including whitewater kayaking, hiking/backpacking, caving, and much more!
Learn to live like the pioneers in the Mountain Man program, where Scouts will try their hand at blacksmithing, tomahawk throwing, black powder shooting, and more!
Our C.O.P.E. and Climbing programs allow Scouts to have fun on the ropes! C.O.P.E. (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience) participants will hone their teamwork skills as they conquer the low ropes, high ropes, and zipline on our course. Climbing participants will sharpen their skills on our 60-foot tower before going to Jamestown Crag on Fridays to climb real rock!
Cub Scout Summer Resident Camp
Each year during the first two weeks of June, Kia Kima Scout Reservation hosts two sessions of Cub Scout Resident Camp. This mini-long-term camping experience is something you Tigers, Wolves, Bears, Webelos, and Arrow of Light Scouts will never forget!
Each year, Kia Kima hosts two sessions of Cub Scout Resident Camp during the first week of June. Scouts have the opportunity to earn or work toward completing Cub Scout Adventures and to have lots of fun! In the short times Scouts are at camp they will experience swimming, boating, blobbing, sliding, archery and BB-gun shooting, climbing, fishing, hiking, pioneering, sports-playing, and S.T.E.M. experimenting. Your Scouts will have a blast!
Tigers, Wolves, and Bears have fun and work to complete Cub Scout adventures across a range of activities in walking groups; activities include hiking, swimming, fishing, climbing, boating, blobbing, sliding, archery and BB gun shooting, knot-tying, crafting, pioneering, and much more!
Webelos and Arrow of Light Scouts work on adventures that they select across the many program areas of Kia Kima; the delivery of these adventures focuses on fun and enrichment!
Winter Camp at Kia Kima
Winter Camp is a mini long-term camping experience where Scouts can work on advancement while enjoying the beauty of the Ozark Mountains in the winter. The program is updated every year to offer unique merit badges and skills that Scouts may not be able to complete during the summertime.
The Dining Hall is open for food service at Winter Camp, though participating units have the choice between eating in the Dining Hall and cooking food that they bring to camp.
For 2025, the Ozark Venture Base Mountain Man Experience is also offered during Winter Camp.
Weekend Camping at Camp Currier
For Cubs Scouts and Scouts BSA alike, weekend camping at Camp Currier represents an opportunity to get into the outdoors at almost any time of year.
Districts also host exciting themed Camporees at Camp Currier throughout the year, while each fall the Council hosts Adventure Quest, an action-packed weekend event that is the highlight of the year for Chickasaw Council Cub Scouts.