Camp Kilworth History

Camp Kilworth located on Dash Point in Federal Way was an early camp of the Tacoma Area Council. The camp was opened in 1932 and was closed in 2005 by the present day Pacific Harbors Council. In 1932, Council and Rotary Eight Past-President Will Kilworth donated 40 acres near Dash Point to the Scouts. This became Camp Kilworth.

Two fireplaces in Rotary Lodge by Hugh C Wallace Trust. 1935.

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 Photo courtesy of Joe Leister C.

The Boy Scouts of America were organized at almost exactly the same time as Rotary Eight, of Tacoma Washington, and by 1911, the first Tacoma Troop had been founded. By 1917 there were several troops in the area, but no local organization to coordinate and support them. At this point Rotary Eight stepped in, raised funds and founded the Tacoma Area, later Mount Rainier, and now the Pacific Harbors Council of the BSA. Tacoma 8's Elmer Dover was the council's first President, and his successors have more often then not been Rotary members.    

In 1923, Rotary Eight assisted in constructing the Scout Camp at Spanaway Lake. I believe this was Parks land. (The first council camp was Camp Cleveland (sp) on American Lake, then Spanaway Lake). When the Scouts were forced to move in 1932, Council and Rotary Eight Past-President Will Kilworth donated 40 acres near Dash Point to the Scouts. This became Camp Kilworth.

The tract was named Camp Kilworth and, despite the ravages of the Great Depression, the main building, Rotary Lodge, was dedicated in 1936. Since 1940, Rotary Eight has been a major sponsor of the council's annual Scout-A-Rama. One of Tacoma 8's major standing committees is dedicated to this event, which is an important source of funding for Pacific Harbors Council Activities.

The Great Depression of the 1930's did not spare Rotary Eight, and membership decreased in the hard times, despite a reduction in dues and fines. A Business Advisory Committee was founded to assist hard hit members. Much was still accomplished during the lean years, however. A major undertaking was the construction of Rotary Lodge at the Boy Scout's Camp Kilworth near Dash Point.

In recent years, Camp Kilworth has been used as a weekend camping area and the lodge for training courses and events. 

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Directions to Camp Kilworth: 30900 50th Avenue SW, Federal Way, WA 98023. Go south on Pacific Highway. Turn right on South 320th Street. Follow 320th until it dead-ends, and turn right on 47th Avenue South. Turn left on Dash Point Road SW. Go .2 miles and turn right on 50th Avenue SW. Camp Kilworth is 1 block down on the right hand side.