Camp Big Timber: Three Fires Council, BSA - Elgin, Illinois

Nicole S.

I have utilized CBT for both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts many times over the years. It's an amazing facility. Outdoor campsites are great and the main lodge is amazing. T-Lodge is OK; a bit run down but I understand they will be updating it in future.

Obie P.

Excellent camping area. They have restrooms with showers if needed. Very well maintained, clean and lots of fun. Jeremy at the camp was extremely helpful and courteous. All the kids in our group had a wonderful time. I would highly recommend them.

Frederick A.

I was here for a two day craft show put on by Craft Productions and Lamb's Farm. A very nice and well put together property. I know I drove past the entry many times when I lived in the area and never knew the place was there.

Daniel A. C.

I used to camp here as a Cubscout now my son does the same. This is camp is making MAJOR improvements and WILL be the camp it was to me 35 years ago

Joshua H.

We just attended the supposed "Easter Egg Hunt" that we paid $10 for, and the Easter eggs were supposed to be hidden in a field for our children to find. Instead, the Easter eggs, we're simply spread out on a mown piece of yard, laid out in plain sight. Supposedly, you were supposed to get 10 eggs, to get a prize bag, and they didn't even bother counting the eggs, and all of the bags we're from Edward Jones investments, and had Edward Jones information in them. So basically, instead of a real Easter egg hunt, where you hide the eggs, and have children use their brains to find these things, this was just another trade show scheme, to promote Edward Jones.

Alan G.

We've camped here twice with the Scouts - once in June 2019 (extremely hot!) and a 2nd time the last weekend of Sept 2019 (tons of rain, grounds were VERY muddy!). We were very pleased with both stays. Activities were well planned and organized. Plenty of planning and proper instructions to keep the kids safe and have events run efficiently.

My 6 year old greatly enjoyed BB guns, sling shots, archery, paper rockets, casting, human foosball, and hiking, and just being outdoors with plenty of space to run around and be a kid.

The main lodge has outstanding facilities all around. Private washrooms with showers, large indoor eating and activity/group areas, a covered back porch and what looks like will some day soon be an outdoor fire pit area. What would be really cool is if they had photos of CBT over time, for some history. There's a bell on a stand outside in the middle of a planter bed that I'd guess has some significance. It left me curious what the historical purpose of the bell was - a plaque would be a nice touch 🙂

Meals were very tasty.
All of the staff was very polite and helpful, which goes a long way with hundreds of people there for a very large all day event!

Trails are nicely cleared - certainly not overgrown as had been commented on in the past.

The only challenging thing about CBT I can think of is that in larger group events they discourage driving down to the camp field - entirely understandable as it's for safety reasons with all the scouts walking about. That said, it'd be really helpful to have a non-pedestrian car path connecting the parking lot to the camp field. I imagine that would be an expensive undertaking, and may detract from the natural appearance of the lands, so really, not a deal breaker.

If you're planning on camping at CBT consider bringing a wagon or cart to move what you can't carry on your back in case you need to transport across long distances from your car to your camp site.

Just in the time between our June and Sept stay we've seen big changes in the landscaping and structures. I'm very excited to keep coming back and watch this place evolve! Any chance we get, we're camping at CBT again!

Meriama M.

Had an awful experience with them. They are lacking skills on how to handle a challenging 10 years old. We were threaten to remove my 10 years old from the Camp on the 3rd day of the Camp session because of his behaviour.I am not trying to say that my child is an angel but if a child is acting out that means you are NOT able to entertain him. Sam Watt has an attitude and does not show respect to parents.
My husband and I decided to send our boy somewhere else. I would not give him a chance to ruin by child future or disrespect my family. Stay away

Brandon B.

While the activities were interesting for the kids, and the day with friends for them was fun, the mosquito infestation was obscene. I say the word infestation specifically because it fits best.
After being in the military for 3 years, I've spent months of my life living outdoors in many states and a couple of different countries, and I have never seen a density of mosquitoes like that. I went home and got a fogging machine back, only to be told that I couldn't use it because someone may have a reaction to the over-the-counter chemicals, and/or it could contaminate the area.
What about the literal dozens of bug spray cans people were basically bathing themselves in? Hopefully nobody comes down with a West Nile Virus or something like that. Maybe that's what it would take for the operators to acknowledge the seriousness of the problem that they have.
My son who arrived halfway through the day, and was doused continually with the best bug spray on the market, came home with 75 mosquito bites! I fared much better but I have to say that it was a torturous day/night. Never again.