Camp Mitigwa is a Boy Scout camp operated by the Mid-Iowa Council and is located along the Des Moines River Valley to the east of Woodward, Iowa. This scenic woodland area rambles over 700 acres of rolling valleys and ridges and offers many opportunities to explore and discover nature. Facilities and activities are concentrated on three of the reservation’s ridges: Frankel, to the north, which is the primary ridge for Cub Scout Summer Camp; Blank, which is the main entrance to Boy Scout Camp Mitigwa; and Casady, just south of Blank, which is also used for Boy Scout Summer Camp.
Hidden between Frankel and Blank ridges and accessed by a well-maintained Lakefront Trial, Lake Fisher provides youth with the chance to catch-and-release a variety of fish and explore aquatic and plant life. It also offers a chance for Scouts at summer camp and groups with reservations to try their hand at canoeing and kayaking.
Dan Beard Trail provides Scouts with 5+ miles of Iowa hardwoods navigating deep ravines and a view of the Des Moines River. The rest of Camp Mitigwa's 700+ acres are still wild. The camp features two pools – Maytag Pool on Blank Ridge and Frankel Pool on Frankel Ridge; two dining facilities; two staff housing areas; two staff lounges; and two trading posts. There are 18 campsites offered on the three ridges that make up Camp Mitigwa.
The Mitigwa Scout Reservation maintains six wood-heated cabins available year-round for weekend rental, as well as a heated restroom and shower facility. There are also three forts on the property: Fort Pella is located on Frankel Ridge; Fort Clatsop is located on Casady Ridge; and Old Fort Madison is located on the far end of Frankel Ridge in the WeCanDoIt area.
A thirty-foot, five-sided Rappelling Tower is located on the western activity fields not far from the parking lot between Blank and Casady ridges, and an advanced C.O.P.E. (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience) course can be found on the camp’s Frankel ridge and includes a 400' zipline and a triangle event that includes Gap Step, Balance Beam and Skywalk events. Both the tower and the C.O.P.E. course can be reserved by a troop or crew through the Mid-Iowa Council office.
Each summer, the Mitigwa Scout Reservation offers week-long residence camping experiences for Boy Scouts at Camp Mitigwa, and Cub Scouts get their chance at residential summer camp with 1 to 4 day camping experiences offered at Camp Akela.
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Day
08:00 AM
11:00 PM
Night
03:00 PM
11:00 AM
FACILITIES RESERVATIONS, USE & CHECK-OUT PROCEDURE
1. Reservations are accepted on a first-come, first serve PAID basis. Cancellations will be accepted two (2) weeks
prior to the reserved use date. Payments for cabin and/or equipment use is transferrable not refundable.
2. The full cost of your reservation should be submitted with your reservation request form to use the facilities or
equipment. Checks, credit card and permission to debit your unit account, are acceptable forms of payment.
Costs listed in this document are for Scouting Units. Other groups should call the council office to inquire about
reservations.
3. Check-in and check-out is done with the Campmaster, or Camp Ranger if the Campmaster is not available. The
Campmaster will accompany unit leaders to the facility for check-in. Check-in includes noting existing
deficiencies and reviewing check-out procedures. The Campmaster will also brief the unit leaders and the Senior
Patrol Leader about safety concerns, location of potable water, location of garbage and recycle dumpsters, the
availability of camp assets for loan (compasses, GPS units, tools, cooking equipment, etc.), the availability of
dryers in camp for wet gear, a few simple rules, etc. The Campmaster will also provide a telephone number to
call for assistance and get an approximate time for your departure. Strict check-out guidelines are followed for
each facility to ensure a good experience for the next occupant.
4. Upon successful checkout, the Campmaster documents that all is in proper order, then secures the facility.
ALL CABIN RENTALS INCLUDE USE OF INDOOR RESTROOM FACILITY
(Units must clean the facility if they use it)
*FRANKEL RIDGE/LAKE ROAD IS USED FOR SERVICE VEHICLES ONLY
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND SMOKING ARE PROHIBITED ON ALL
MID-IOWA COUNCIL PROPERTIES
For reservation information and forms please contact
Maytag Scout Center
515-266-2135
Check-in is done with the Campmaster, or Camp Ranger if the Campmaster is not available. The
Campmaster will accompany unit leaders to the facility for check-in. Check-in includes noting existing
deficiencies and reviewing check-out procedures. The Campmaster will also brief the unit leaders and the Senior
Patrol Leader about safety concerns, location of potable water, location of garbage and recycle dumpsters, the
availability of camp assets for loan (compasses, GPS units, tools, cooking equipment, etc.), the availability of
dryers in camp for wet gear, a few simple rules, etc. The Campmaster will also provide a telephone number to
call for assistance and get an approximate time for your departure. Strict check-out guidelines are followed for
each facility to ensure a good experience for the next occupant.
Check-out is done with the Campmaster, or Camp Ranger if the Campmaster is not available.
Upon successful checkout, the Campmaster documents that all is in proper order, then secures the facility.
ALL CABIN RENTALS INCLUDE USE OF INDOOR RESTROOM FACILITY
(Units must clean the facility if they use it)
Reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Cancellations will be accepted two (2) weeks prior to the reserved use date.
