Camp Steiner Boy Scout Camp has new owners after nearly 100 years
HANNA, Utah — Historic Camp Steiner is under new ownership since the Boy Scouts of America chose not to renew its lease this year.
The new owner, Sunrock Foundation will turn the camp into a High Adventure Base Camp.
“The Sunrock Foundation has a 20 year special use permit with the U.S. Forest Service and hopes to raise $300,000 to fix up the property that sat vacant for five years,” Camp director Shad Stevens said.
The camp was exclusively run by the Boy Scout organization for 93 years. It covers multiple lakes and over 80 acres of mountain property.
Camp Steiner was the highest elevation boy scout camp in the United States. An archived article from the Salt Lake Tribune states, “hundreds of boys have earned thousands of merit badges since it opened in 1930.”
Some of the buildings on the property are on the National Historic Register.
The historic 80-acre Camp Steiner in the Uintas will soon reopen as the Sunrock High Adventure Base for individuals and youth groups.
If there’s anyone equipped to start a nonprofit dedicated to providing youth with meaningful opportunities in the outdoors, it’s Shad Stevens. The longtime Boy Scouts of America enthusiast has been a teacher, coach and, up until recently, was the vice principal and athletic director of South Summit High School.
Shad Stevens
Stevens’ longtime dream has been to secure a property where youth can disconnect from society and reconnect with their lives.
Last year, he learned the Boy Scouts of America would not renew its U.S. Forest Service special use permit at Camp Steiner. The 93-year-old camp has deep roots in the Uinta Mountains and at 10,400 feet, was the second-highest Scout camp in the world according to BSA. He said it was considered the “Flagship Camp” of the Great Salt Lake Council and was always the first camp to fill up.
Open house for former Camp Steiner, now Sunrock High Adventure Base
HEBER — Following historic Camp Steiner’s change in ownership, a Utah family has turned the site into a High Adventure Camp. Sunrock High Adventure Base is holding an open house on Saturday, July 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Camp Steiner had previously been leased by the Boy Scouts of America for close to 100 years, until the BSA chose not to renew the special permit needed for use.
Shad Stevens, Board President for the Sunrock Foundation, decided to save the site that was so meaningful to a lot of Utahns.
The open house, located in the Uinta Mountains, will be free to the public.
All are welcome: A former Boy Scout camp is now offering adventures for families
- Camp Steiner, a historic Boy Scout camp in the Uinta Mountains of Utah, is opening to the public as Sunrock High Adventure Base Camp.
- The camp will continue to serve youth groups, but it will also be open to families and community-based groups.
- The camp is less than two hours away from Salt Lake City and about an hour away from Park City, but first-time visitors may feel a world away.
Camp Steiner Reopening as Sunrock High Adventure Base
HEBER — Historic Camp Steiner will be getting new life, thanks to a Utah family and the efforts of many others.
Shad Stevens, Board President for the Sunrock Foundation, will turn the once Boy Scout camp into a High Adventure Base Camp.
Camp Steiner means a lot to Utahns, many of whom participated in Boy Scouts there, earning merit badges, hiking the scenic trails nearby, and jumping in the freezing mountain lakes.
“For 94 years now, it’s been traditionally, Boy Scouts that have been going up and using the camp. It’s been phenomenal,” Stevens said. “We have heard from a lot of people of the history, the memories, the traditions that are involved in this camp and worked a lot with the past Camp Steiner staff and learning from them what this camp has meant.”
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