About

Boy Scouts of America (dba Scouting America)—incorporated on February 8, 1910, and chartered by Congress in 1916—provides opportunities for youth to learn and grow. The Winnebago Council was first named the Waterloo Council and was incorporated in 1919. In 1929 the Waterloo Council and the Cedar Falls Council merged and was called the Wapsipinicon Council and served seven counties. The Mason City Council was founded in 1912 and by 1937 the name “Winnebago Council” was adopted.  Later, in 1971 the Wapsipinicon and Winnebago Councils merged, and while headquartered in Waterloo, kept the Winnebago Council name and covers 17 Iowa counties. Since that time, the Council has grown to serve 2,300 youth and adults participating in traditional Cub Scout Packs and Scouts BSA Troops, and career-based Exploring.

The Winnebago Council also operates a year-round outdoor recreation facility, Ingawanis, Adventure Base, near Waverly, Iowa. We are open to the public for an array of activities including cabin and campsite rentals, hiking/running/biking trails, canoe and kayak rentals (with access to the Cedar River), teambuilding experiences which includes both low and high ropes courses, a pool, shooting ranges, winter rentals such as snowshoes and cross country skis, a Dining Hall with a commercial kitchen for large events, and MORE!

Scouting America is a non-profit youth organization focused on character development, leadership training, and values-based education for young people in a safe, welcoming environment. We offer various programs like Cub Scouts for families with young boys and girls, Scouts BSA for young men and women, to instill the Scout Oath and Scout Law, such as trustworthiness, loyalty, and helpfulness, preparing youth for impactful, purposeful lives through outdoor experiences, community service, and skill-building activities.