Simon Kenton Council Moves Forward with Property Sales to Strengthen the Future of Scouting

The Simon Kenton Council is moving forward with the sale of several real estate assets as part of a deliberate effort to focus its resources where they matter most: delivering great Scouting programs to youth across central and southern Ohio and northern Kentucky. The Council’s Executive Board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the sales on May 21, 2026.

“Every dollar and hour spent maintaining underutilized properties is one we can’t invest in Scouts, volunteers, and growth. The sale of these properties will strengthen the future of Scouting in our council,” said Travis Gulling, CEO and Scout Executive of the Simon Kenton Council. “Our goal is simple: focus our resources on delivering great Scouting programs.”

The properties being listed for sale are:

A 12-acre parcel at Camp Falling Rock (east of Baker Road). This parcel is separated from the main camp and cannot effectively support Scouting programs. Selling it simplifies the Council’s footprint while keeping Camp Falling Rock itself fully intact.

A 33-acre parcel in Athens (0 Simms Road, Athens, OH 45701). This land has sat unused for many years and no longer fits the Council’s program needs.

The Chillicothe Service Center (991 East Main Street, Chillicothe, OH 45601). Rather than maintaining a building that sees limited use, the Council will redirect those resources to support Scouting families, leaders, and membership growth across Southern Ohio.

The Simon Kenton Council Leadership Development Center (807 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH 43212), which also houses the Council’s offices and Scout Shop. The building has served the Council well, but it is larger than the Council needs today and carries significant ongoing maintenance and operating costs. The Council is exploring a facility that better fits its needs while continuing to provide quality training for volunteers – and will make every effort to keep a Scout Shop in the same building. No new location has been selected, and planning is underway.

These decisions follow a careful, deliberate process. The Executive Board first authorized the Council to research a broker in November 2025. The Council then interviewed three prospective brokers, and the Finance Committee approved moving forward on May 14, 2026, followed by Executive Board approval on May 21, 2026. The resolution was signed by Council Chair Deanna Biros and CEO & Scout Executive Travis Gulling.

“Every one of these decisions comes back to our priorities: focusing our resources on growing Scouting and delivering life-changing experiences to youth,” Gulling said. That means reinvesting in the Council’s existing camps, upgrading facilities and program equipment, recruiting more Scouts, and better supporting the volunteers who make it all possible.

The Council will continue to keep its Scouting families informed as plans develop. “Thank you for your support, your commitment to Scouting, and all you do for the youth we serve,” Gulling added.