Bob Gees, President of Club 13 in 1923-24, felt there was a need for a camp for the youth of Kansas City.  He and his wife acquired 40 acres east of Unity Farm on Colbern Road and, in 1928, the Gees placed the land in a Trust and granted Club 13 exclusive use of it in perpetuity for activities in service to youth.   The first to use the camp was a group of 32 boys in July 1925.  Only boys “who would not otherwise be able to vacation in the country were accepted.” 

Today, the facilities at the Rotary Youth Camp include twelve cabins, hot water showers, and a swimming pool designed specially for the disabled.  During the summer, the Youth Camp provides all facilities, complete kitchen services and meal in the large dining hall, and swimming instructors at no charge to the organizations.    Numerous hiking trails, play and sports areas are available year-around.  A quarter-mile long paved nature trail is available for those in wheelchairs.

During the summer, the Rotary Youth Camp is devoted to children with disabilities and disadvantage youth.  Without this camp, these children might never have the opportunity of a camping experience.  Throughout the school year, thousands of boys and girls from organizations serving children attend the camp.   Every weekend during the school year, Boy, Girl and Cub Scout troops, churches and YMCA youth groups use the camp.  Some of the summer user-groups also use the camp during the school year.  On weekdays many schools use the camp to give a hands-on experience to their environmental education programs.

In 2010, the Rotary Youth Camp will have nearly 1,500 summer campers and 5,000 off-season campers from many area schools, religious groups and scouting organizations.    

 Greater Kansas City Day

Since 1988, more than 1,500 area Rotarians have sold special Greater Kansas City Day editions of The Kansas City Star on the morning of the Kansas City Royals home opener.  Greater Kansas City Day has raised more than $1.7 million.   The largest beneficiary of Greater Kansas City Day is the Rotary Youth Camp, owned and operated by Rotary Club 13.  More than a dozen other charities receive funds from the sale of the newspaper, including Hope House, Hope Haven of Cass County, Heart of America Boy Scouts, Phoenix Family Housing, Raytown Emergency Assistance, Community Family Support, Sunflower House, and Northland Christmas Store.

Baseball Hall-of-Famer George Brett has been Honorary Co-Chair of Greater Kansas City Day eight times and a great supporter of the Rotary Youth Camp.  He says, “Greater Kansas City Day is as much a part of opening day as throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.  It is a treat for me to be a part of a great Kansas City tradition that kicks off opening-day festivities.  I salute all the volunteer who are out there selling papers for the kids of Kansas City.”