Camp Loud Thunder is Illowa Council’s premier Scout Camp. Nestled next to the Loud Thunder Forest Preserve, Camp Loud thunder boasts over 200 acres of fun for all ages. We have a variety of facilities available to suit your unit’s next excursion – from campsites, to primitive cabins, to our modern Dunkin Lodge facility, there’s something for you!
Launch Point
Is your Unit planning an outing in the Quad Cities? Camp Loud Thunder is a great spot to make your “home base” on your trip! Here are some fun things to do in the area that might be of interest!
Loud Thunder is also a great winter destination for units that are planning Ski Trips at SnowStar, which is only a few minutes from Camp.
Our Facilities
R.D. Dunkin Lodge
R.D. Dunkin Lodge offers modern accommodations including a large fireplace, full kitchen, and full bathroom and shower facilities. The R.D. Dunkin Lodge sleeps up to 40 people – perfect for large groups wanting to spend a comfortable weekend in the great outdoors.
There’s plenty of space in the living area and around the fireplace. Also full kitchen amenities allow you to prepare all your meals. Dunkin’s accommodations provide separate quarters for men and women. Ten separate rooms sleep four people each, and the separate bathroom and shower facilities allow for plenty of privacy.
More pictures of this facility, as well as the full list of amenities, can be viewed through our Tentaroo rentals platform.
Primitive Cabins
Camp Loud Thunder has three rustic cabins each located on a large wooded lot. Each cabin is equipped with a wood-burning stove (with a generous supply of firewood), electricity, and an outside water source and latrine.
Pyesa, Thunder and Algonquin Cabins are used year-round and are especially popular for winter camping. Gather around the outdoor fire ring any time for cooking and fellowship.
Each cabin has a large common room with picnic tables and sleeps 22. Separate cabin rooms allow for both male and female leaders to share the cabin. Room set up is listed below for each:
Pyesa Cabin:
- 1 Youth Room (Sleeps 16)
- 2 Adult Rooms (Sleeps 4 and 2)
Thunder Cabin:
- 1 Youth Room (Sleeps 16)
- 2 Adult Rooms (Sleeps 4 and 2)
Algonquin Cabin:
- 2 Youth Rooms (Sleeps 12 and 8)
- 1 Adult Room (Sleeps 2)
More pictures of these facilities, as well as the full list of amenities, can be viewed through our Tentaroo rentals platform.
Tent Campsites
Camp Loud Thunder offers 16 developed tent campsites, including a large handicapped-accessible site that features concrete paths and a handicapped-accessible latrine building.
A typical site holds 12 tents. About half of the tent sites are ‘double’ sites and hold up to 24 tents. Two large campsites are located close to the parking lot, making it easier to move your gear into the sites. Each site has its own latrine and water source. Electricity is available at select sites. There are four rustic sites located in lower camp that can be accessed through the lower camp entrance off the main road.
More pictures of these facilities, as well as the full list of amenities, can be viewed through our Tentaroo rentals platform.
Conference Facilities - Indoors
Camp Loud Thunder offers Conference Facilities to host your next conference, committee meeting, or training event. These indoor facilities have modern amenities to suit your needs while still enjoying Loud Thunder’s serene atmosphere.
More pictures of these facilities, as well as the full list of amenities, can be viewed through our Tentaroo rentals platform.
The Administration Buidling
Camp Loud Thunder’s Administration Building (“Admin”) features conference seating for 30 – 35 persons and a screened front porch. Admin has modern male/female restrooms and limited cooking facilities. The building offers air conditioning in the summer and wood heat in the winter. This is a great place to hold your planning meetings or training sessions.
This facility is often utilized for check-in at Council and District Events, or for Campmaster quarters during fall, winter, and spring camping. If you are interested in renting this building, please contact the Illowa Council Service Center so we can check availability for you.
Richardson Dining Hall
Activities at Camp Loud Thunder are anchored by a modern 300-person Dining Hall which doubles as our largest capacity meeting room. The Dining Hall serves a key purpose in providing a large space for fellowship among Scouters and their families.
Our dining hall also has a full commercial kitchen available, complete with a double convection oven, warmers, and an ice machine, so you can easily feed a large number of hungry campers (kitchen training, such as Servsafe, required). There is refrigerator access; however, access to the walk-in freezer is dependent upon availability.
To rent the Dining Hall with usage of the Kitchen, kitchen training, such as Servsafe, is required. For this reason, rentals of the Dining Hall with the Kitchen must be processed by contacting the Illowa Council Service Center.
We can also provide 6′ round tables (23 total) and/or 8′ rectangular tables (30 total), plus lots of chairs to help you configure seating at your event.
Please note: the Dining Hall is not set up for overnight sleeping arrangements. If you require overnight sleeping options, please consider a cabin, lodge, or campsite.
Conference Facilities - Outdoors
Camp Loud Thunder is a great place for your next group conference! We offer peaceful settings with outdoor seating. These spots would be great for your next training event, Court of Honor, or Eagle Ceremony. These spaces are also popular with the public for weddings.
More pictures of these facilities, as well as the full list of amenities, can be viewed through our Tentaroo rentals platform.
Council Ring
Camp Loud Thunder’s Council Ring is most commonly used for opening and closing night during resident camp. However, it’s also the perfect spot for a large group to hold a Court of Honor, Eagle Ceremony, or other event. The outdoor seating at this venue can hold approximately 300 people.
Thunder Chapel
The Loud Thunder Chapel is a serene setting for an outdoor ceremony, or to simply come together for worship or fellowship. Consider this option for your next Court of Honor or Eagle Ceremony! This serene spot is also a highly appreciated wedding venue by both Scouters and Non-Scouters alike.
The outdoor seating can hold approximately 80 people.
Experiences - COPE & Climbing
COPE (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience) and climbing help develop leadership, teamwork, communication, and problem solving skills through challenging physical and mental activities like ropes courses and rock climbing. Participants also build self-esteem, learn to manage fears related to heights, and gain physical coordination and mental toughness in a safe, supportive environment.
These facilities are only available by contacting the Illowa Council Service Center, as we will need to secure a facilitator.
More pictures of these facilities, as well as the full list of amenities, can be viewed through our Tentaroo rentals platform.
Climbing Tower with Zip Line
Camp Loud Thunder’s Climbing Tower is the perfect challenge! Get your group together and enjoy the view from the top before you fly down the 300+ foot zip line. New for 2023, there will be stairs up to the top of the climbing tower so folks who don’t want to climb can still enjoy the zip line.
Two sides (north facing and west facing) are outfitted with climbing holds. One side (south facing) is designed for rappelling. One side (east facing) is a vertical playground.
Participants must be 13 years of age or older. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required. You must have a minimum of 10 participants to reserve this experience.
Rentals for this experience must be coordinated through the Illowa Council Service Center.
Facilitators for this area must be Scouting America Climbing Instructor Trained and the council will help to coordinate their attendance for your rental. If you have someone in your unit that already is, please reach out and we can help lock in your date.
COPE - Low Ropes & Initiative Games
Camp Loud Thunder offers COPE (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience). Learn to overcome mental and physical obstacles, both as a group, and as individuals. Participants are taught through group dynamics to formulate a safe, workable approach, execute their plan, and evaluate the results. COPE develops leadership, trust, communication skills, self esteem, teamwork, problem solving, decision making skills, and it’s FUN!
Participants must be 13 years of age or older. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required. You must have a minimum of 10 participants to reserve this experience.Some of the pictures also feature our High Ropes Course. The High Ropes Course is only available to groups that have permission from Illowa Council’s COPE/Climbing Committee.
Rentals for either experience must be coordinated through the Illowa Council Service Center.
Experiences - Outdoors
Camp Loud Thunder is the perfect spot to create experiences and discover new skills.
These facilities are only available by contacting the Illowa Council Service Center, as we will need to secure a facilitator.
More pictures of these facilities, as well as the full list of amenities, can be viewed through our Tentaroo rentals platform.
Fort Armstrong
Want to play an epic game of Capture the Flag? Or maybe your a non-Scouter group looking to hold a fun outdoor event? Fort Armstrong is a top pick for Scouts and non-Scouters alike! Kids love to play in this realistic fort and let their imaginations run wild! This is also a great spot for Live Action Role Play (LARP) groups.
Swimming Pool
Camp Loud Thunder’s Swimming pool is open seasonally, and rentals are required to be attended by a Certified Lifeguard provided by your group. Certification must be provided in advance to the Council Service Center a minimum of 2 weeks prior to your rental.
The pool has 4 individual adult shower facilities complete with sink, shower, and toilet. There are both male and female changing areas with sinks, showers, and stalls on either side of the pool house.
Rentals for this facility can only be made by reaching out to the Illowa Council Service Center. At present, this facility is not available to Non-Scouters.
Observatory
LT-AT (Loud Thunder – Astronomy Tower) houses a Celestron CG14 Telescope. When linked with the corresponding computer software, this telescope is “out of this world”! We’d also like to thank K&K True Value for the excellent paint job on the Observatory building itself; it’s a gem!
This experience is offered only through the Illowa Council Service Center, and usage is dependent upon weather, time of sunset, and facilitator availability.
Thunder Forge
The Thunder Forge has room for 6 people to hone their blacksmithing skills and work on their Metalworking merit badge. This is always a popular option at our Scouts BSA Resident Camp in the summer. We offer both coal and gas forge options, plus all the required equipment. Scouts must be at least 12 years of age. All participants are required to have non-synthetic long pants and close-toed shoes.
Experiences - Ranges
Camp Loud Thunder’s Range and Target Activities areas offer well maintained Archery, Shotgun, Black Powder (not pictured), Rifle, Pistol (not pictured), and Cowboy Action Shooting Ranges.
Due to the nature of these activities, participating Scouts should be mature, able to concentrate on an activity, and be sufficiently coordinated.
All ranges require an Illowa Council trained Rangemaster to be on premise. All firearms and ammunition are provided by Illowa Council. Personal firearms are not permitted. Some activities also have minimum age requirements and parental approval via permission forms.
More pictures of these facilities, as well as the full list of amenities, can be viewed through our Tentaroo rentals platform.
Rifle Range
Rifle Shooting is always a very popular option. Our Rifle Range has 12 firing points for a safe and educational experience.
Shotgun Range
Scouting America promotes shotgun shooting as an opportunity to teach firearm safety and develop a range of life skills, including discipline, focus, and physical fitness, through a structured program. It promotes a safe environment to learn fundamental marksmanship, improve concentration, and build self-esteem and self-reliance.
Archery Range
Archery provides a fun, challenging, and rewarding outdoor activity for scouts, offering both a physical workout and a strong mental exercise that builds confidence through achievable goals and a rewarding merit badge. It helps develop physical fitness and mental discipline, improves hand-eye coordination and focus, and teaches essential life skills like patience and self-discipline.
Experiences - Cowboy Action & Spirit of the West
Camp Loud Thunder offers a well maintained Cowboy Action Shooting Range in Lower Camp.
Due to the nature of these activities, participating Scouts should be mature, able to concentrate on an activity, and be sufficiently coordinated.
All ranges require an Illowa Council trained Rangemaster to be on premise. All firearms and ammunition are provided by Illowa Council. Personal firearms are not permitted. Some activities also have minimum age requirements and parental approval via permission forms.
More pictures of these facilities, as well as the full list of amenities, can be viewed through our Tentaroo rentals platform.
Cowboy Action
This program uses specific scenarios, encourages teamwork, and provides a sense of adventure while teaching valuable skills. The emphasis is on safe and responsible firearm handling and it provides a fun and engaging introduction to historical range and target activities.
Hone in your multi-targe aim in an Old West setting! Cowboy Action Shooting is held at the Lower Camp range. Scouts must be 14 years old to participate. Try your hand at .22 lever action rifles, .22 single action revolvers, and coach style shotguns, all while aiming at steel targets. For Scouts aged 10-13, we have Paintball style Cowboy Action Shooting at steel targets.
Spirit of the West
Join us at the Thunder Corral for a dutch oven meal at our Chuck Wagon, Cowboy Action Shooting (described above), and root beer floats in a commemorative Loud Thunder mug! For Scouts aged 14 and older and adults, we offer regular Cowboy Action Shooting using a .22 lever action rifle, .22 single action revolvers, and coach style shotgun shooting at steel targets. For Scouts aged 10-13, we offer Paintball style Cowboy Action Shooting at steel targets.
Experiences - Waterfront
As of 2022, Camp Loud Thunder’s saw a complete overhaul and is a beautiful spot for boating and fishing! It’s fully stocked and ready for your group to enjoy!
Rentals for waterfront activities require that an adult has proof of both Scouting America Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat Trainings.
Camp Loud Thunder has canoes, kayaks, and row boats available for rent.
Kivas
Loud Thunder’s Kiva Shelters provide shade from the hot summer sun and are the perfect place for picnics, gatherings with family and friends, and Scout fellowship. Scattered throughout Camp, each one is located close to other fun activities or facilities. Consider renting one of these along with campsite to work on merit badge requirements or other projects while at Camp!
Loud Thunder has a total of 4 Kivas in Upper Camp – Jerry’s Kiva, Friendship Kiva, Handicraft, and EcoCon. (Pictures below.)
There is also a Kiva in Lower Camp for Range and Target Activities and Spirit of the West. (Not pictured.)
More pictures of these facilities, as well as the full list of amenities, can be viewed through our Tentaroo rentals platform.
Who Can Rent?
Scouting units are able to rent facilities at Camp Loud Thunder through the unit’s Tentaroo account. This means that you must log in under your unit’s Tentaroo account (NOT your individual/family account).
If you are wanting to use your individual/family account for rentals, or if you are a Non-Scouter, please contact the Illowa Council Service Center at [email protected] to request Facilities Rental access for your account.
All non-Scouting groups using Camp Loud Thunder or its facilities must provide the following documents:
- Certificate of Liability Insurance in the amount of $1 Million Dollars
- Signed Hold-Harmless Agreement
Book Your Adventure
Fee Schedule
Camp Loud Thunder has a 3-tier pricing structure:
- Illowa Council Scouters
- Out of Council Scouters
- Non-Scouters
Please view the fee schedule through the link below.
Availability
Facility availability can be viewed in two locations:
- Through our Tentaroo Facilities Platform by clicking “Check Dates”.
- Through our Council Calendar by clicking the link below.
Rental Resources
Reservations are open to units through our Tentaroo platform and are considered “locked in” after full payment has been made. We suggest paying online through Tentaroo immediately after setting up your trip and making your facilities reservation(s).
- There is a 3% processing fee for using credit cards through Tentaroo.
- There is no processing fee for using the eCheck option through Tentaroo.
Payment can be made in person at the Council Service Center, by mail or by phone. Keep in mind that your reservation is not “locked in” until payment is made; your dates and/or facilites could be rented by someone else if you do not complete the check out process. If you have questions, please email [email protected] or call the Illowa Council Service Center at (563) 388-7233.
Tentaroo Access
Through the Tentaroo Facilities Platform, you can:
- Check dates for availability
- Check pricing for different facilities
- View information and pictures of the facilities
- Create a Trip
- Add Facilities Reservations to that trip
- Complete payment to lock in your rental
BEFORE ACCESSING THE FACILITIES RENTAL PLATFORM, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
- We ask that you please use the names and cell phone numbers of the people that will be actually attending during the trip. This helps our Campmasters know who to reach out to if there is an issue. No landlines, please.
- We ask that when you create a new Trip, please add your Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) and your Departure Time to the Additional Information Section.
- If you need further assistance on setting up a trip, please see the instructional video from Tentaroo below.
- One thing that’s different than before… RD Dunkin Lodge and our 3 Primitive Cabins can no longer be rented for one night over a weekend. You must rent these facilities for the full weekend (Friday through Sunday).
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