(Photo provided) A new climbing tower is in place at Camp Kootaga near Walker.

WALKER — Scouting America Camp Kootaga is located on 500 acres along the Hughes River just 20 minutes outside of Parkersburg in Walker.

This is the camp’s 103rd camping season. Open all year long for camping and hiking, Camp Kootaga is the residential summer Scout Camp for the Buckskin Council. All Scouting units, all Scouting Districts and all Scouting Councils are welcome at Camp Kootaga.

Don B. Lowe purchased the property known as Camp Kootaga in 1922 The first long-term summer camp was held that year on the banks of the Hughes River. This camp consisted of one or two Troops from the Parkersburg area with Lowe as the Camp Director.

In 1929 Col. R. L. Cole brought a Kiowa Indian named J. Dougannah to help with the camp program. He named the Boy Scout camp “Kootaga” which means “Good Friends.”

Through the years, Camp Kootaga has gone through many changes, but one thing has remained constant: helping develop young people into upstanding citizens and outstanding individuals.

To register for summer camp at Camp Kootaga, go to the Buckskin Council website at www.buckskin.org. Follow the Camp Kootaga Facebook and Instagram pages to see pictures of the new climbing tower and bouldering grotto and all the things at Camp Kootaga. Contact Camp Director Billy Bryant at the Buckskin Council for more information.