Big Bull Creek Youth Campground

🏡 **Introduction / Overview: A Dedicated Space for Kansas Youth Organizations**

The **Big Bull Creek Youth Campground**, located within the vast and beautiful **Big Bull Creek Park** in Edgerton, KS, represents a specialized, high-quality outdoor venue tailored specifically for the needs of organized youth groups. It is essential for local users to know that this is **not a public campground** for individual families or non-group use, but rather a dedicated facility reserved exclusively for **not-for-profit youth organizations**—such as Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, American Heritage Girls, and religious youth groups.

This campground, managed by the Johnson County Park & Recreation District (JCPRD), offers a superb base camp experience, balancing a secluded, nature-immersive feel with essential, modern amenities. Customer reviews praise its suitability for less experienced campers, noting its "remote feel, though close to the city" and its "Excellent amenities including clean and heated restrooms with flush toilets." This dedication to group needs and quality infrastructure makes it a premier destination for youth organizations in the Kansas City metro area and surrounding Johnson County.

The facility is designed to foster camaraderie, teach outdoor skills, and provide convenient access to the 2,060 acres of the greater Big Bull Creek Park, which is the largest park in the JCPRD system. It provides three semi-private camping "pods" and a common shelter area, making it ideal for large group activities like flag ceremonies, campfires, and group meals.

📍 **Location and Accessibility**

The Big Bull Creek Youth Campground is specifically located within the Big Bull Creek Park property near Edgerton, Kansas. The area is situated in the southwestern portion of Johnson County, providing a convenient escape from the city while remaining highly accessible via major roadways, including the nearby I-35 interstate.

The physical address associated with the campground's access point is:

33532, 34298 W 213th St, Edgerton, KS 66021, USA (Access point near 213th Street East of Spoon Creek Road)

The location is a manageable drive for groups originating from Olathe, Overland Park, and other parts of the Kansas City metropolitan area. However, users should be aware of a specific drawback mentioned by previous visitors: "The only downside is the highway noise due to close proximity to I-35, especially noticeable on quiet nights." Despite this, the remote feel and extensive parkland generally outweigh the occasional noise for most groups.

Access requires driving to the designated parking lot near the shelter/restroom complex, and since the parking area is "on the small side," groups are advised to utilize wagons to transport gear to the individual camping pods, adding to the camp-style adventure.

🛌 **Services Offered (Youth Group Focus)**

The services at Big Bull Creek Youth Campground are thoughtfully curated to support organized youth camping trips, emphasizing safety, sanitation, and shared amenities for groups up to 25 people per pod:

• **Group Pods:** Three separate **camping pods** (Pod 1, Pod 2, Pod 3) are available, each accommodating a maximum of 25 campers. Pods 1 and 3 are noted for having "more privacy," while Pod 2 is nearest the common facilities. Pod 2 is also noted as being **ADA accessible**.
• **Modern Restrooms:** A significant amenity is the **clean and heated all-seasons restroom** with **flush toilets**, a massive plus for camping groups, especially in cooler weather.
• **Large Common Shelter:** A shared, covered **large shelter** is provided for all reserved groups, featuring **ample electrical receptacles** and lighting. This shelter includes approximately 11 picnic tables for group meals and activities.
• **Fire Amenities:** A **large, common fire ring** is available near the shelter for group bonfires and flag ceremonies, complemented by **two smaller fire pit grills per pod** for individual group cooking.
• **Water Access:** A **water spigot** is available at the shelter for drinking and cooking water.
• **Specialized Amenity:** A "newly installed **hammock structure**" that can fit "a dozen hammocks" provides a unique, fun feature praised by reviewers.
• **Reservation System:** Campground reservations are **mandatory** and are only available to **not-for-profit youth organizations**.

✨ **Features / Highlights**

Big Bull Creek Youth Campground is a standout facility due to its specific design and integration with the larger park:

• **Dedicated Youth Focus:** It is one of only three JCPRD campgrounds specifically reserved for **not-for-profit youth organizations**, ensuring a consistent, safe, and focused environment for groups like the Cub Scouts.
• **Extensive Trail System:** The park offers a variety of trails accessible from the campground area. This includes a **1.25-mile loop for hiking** and connections to **longer trails for older kids and mountain biking**. These trails offer opportunities to spot abundant "wild life (bobcats, deers, turkeys, ..)."
• **Superior Facilities:** The availability of **heated restrooms with flush toilets** is a rare and highly valued feature in group camping, making it suitable for less experienced campers and year-round use.
• **Outdoor Education Assets:** The facility includes a **flag pole** and a **large open field** ideal for flag ceremonies, games, and outdoor education.
• **Unique Hammock Structure:** The exciting new **hammock structure** provides a fun, shared, and modern way for campers to relax and socialize.
• **Group Safety and Privacy:** The three separate pods offer groups a degree of privacy, while the central common shelter allows for the shared activities necessary for a successful pack or troop event.

📞 **Contact Information**

As the Big Bull Creek Youth Campground is part of the Johnson County Park & Recreation District (JCPRD), all reservations, fee inquiries ($35/pod per night for residents; $45 for non-residents), and operational questions must be directed to the JCPRD offices. The primary point of contact is generally the main JCPRD registration office, as the campground requires a permit process and key pickup:

Address: 33532, 34298 W 213th St, Edgerton, KS 66021, USA (Campground Location)

Phone: (913) 831-3359 (JCPRD Registration Office for Reservations)

Reservations: Must be made via the JCPRD **Campground Request Form** and key pickup is required at the Visitor Services office in Shawnee Mission Park during weekday business hours.

💪 **What is Worth Choosing: The Ultimate Youth Group Adventure Spot**

Choosing the **Big Bull Creek Youth Campground** is choosing a facility purpose-built to deliver a **high-quality, organized, and safe camping experience for youth organizations** across the Kansas City region. Its exclusivity to not-for-profit youth groups eliminates the concerns of sharing facilities with general public RV campers and ensures a focused, educational environment.

What makes it definitively worth choosing is the combination of its **remote, nature-rich setting** within the largest JCPRD park and the availability of **exceptional modern amenities**—specifically, the **heated, clean restrooms with flush toilets** and the **spacious, wired common shelter**. These features simplify logistics for adult chaperones and greatly enhance the comfort for young or novice campers, bridging the gap between a rugged outdoor experience and necessary comfort. From the dedicated camping pods and large fire ring to the exciting new hammock structure and access to the extensive trail system, Big Bull Creek Youth Campground is the gold standard for youth outdoor adventure and learning in Johnson County, KS.