Our Facilities
Sherwood Forest is situated on 478 acres of secluded Ozark forest land just outside of Lesterville, Missouri (about 100 miles south of St. Louis). During the summer, our facilities become a “home away from home” for our campers during their stay. During the spring and fall, school groups from the St. Louis area and beyond participate in our Outdoor Education programs which focuses on communication, teamwork and problem solving. Our facilities are also available to rent for your special event during the fall and spring.
Program Spaces
Tango Tower
The Tango Tower is an advanced challenge course system, offering groups of all sizes exhilarating team-building experiences. Standing 45 feet tall, the Tango Tower incorporates a climbing wall, high obstacles, and a thrilling 250-foot zipline through the trees of Sherwood Forest.
the mac
The MAC is a state-of-the-art facility where campers can gain the critical academic skills they need to succeed. The MAC includes:
- The Reading Room – The Reading Room is for our 3rd graders who participate in a reading program where they read a book about the natural environment and participate in activities that are geared around the book.
- The Library –Utilized by every person at camp, the Library is where anyone can check out a book or sit and read while enjoying the view from Button Bush Pond.
- The STEM Lab – The STEM lab is where campers engage in hands-on activities centered around ecology and nature.
- The Technology Lab – The lab provides staff and campers technology and computer access for educational purposes during their stay at camp.
Robin Hood Lodge
Robin Hood Lodge is a large group activity space centrally-located near the dining hall. Activities such as dancing, drumming, and shadow puppet shows take place in Robin Hood Lodge. It is also a great space for meetings.
Swimming Pool
On a hot, humid day, there is no better place to be than Sherwood Forest’s swimming pool. During camp, the swimming pool is supervised by American Red Cross-certified lifeguards. The pool ranges in depth from 2 to 9 feet and features a large shallow end where all campers are free to play and swim. It is a point of pride for each camper when they earn their Deep Water Band. The pool is open from the end of May until the 2nd week of August.
Archery Range
Our archery range is nestled in a wooded area of camp, making it a perfect shaded spot for our campers to practice their aim. Targets are adjusted as campers’ skills increase.
John Allan Love Foundation Outdoor Stage
Our outdoor stage offers a dedicated space for the Arthur and Helen Baer Arts Program. It features high-quality lighting and sound equipment, a 400 square foot performance space, and large backstage area for storing costumes and props. Recent musical productions have included “Hairspray, Jr.” and “High School Musical, Jr.”
The Barn
The barn is an inspiring place for our campers to stretch their artistic talents through activities such as tie-dye, jewelry-making, and painting. The art area features three pottery wheels and a kiln, sewing machines, and plenty of supplies and spaces to be creative.
The barn also features spaces for our campers to learn about plants and wildlife native to the Missouri wilderness. Campers depart for their backpacking and river trips from this area, and use the Barn to organize and pack their supplies. Supplies for Outdoor Cooking are also stored at the barn.
Brandle Pavilion
Overlooking Button Bush pond, the outdoor stone pavilion is a peaceful retreat from the flurry of activity often found around camp. With its skylights, exposed beams, and stone walls, the pavilion is a unique and historic structure. On their first day of camp, youth gather at the pavilion to join their cabin groups and meet their counselors and village directors. Throughout camp it is used for a variety of activities. It is a beautiful spot for a wedding or quiet meditative space.
Living Spaces
Cabins and Villages
Sherwood Forest consists of four separate villages — Shire, Shantoah, Sycamore Springs, and Summit — each with its own campfire circle. All cabins are arranged to sleep 10-12 individuals with bunk beds and plenty of storage spaces for campers to keep their belongings.
Dining Hall
Our brand new Dining Hall, completed in 2019 as a part of our Way More Than Camp campaign, accomodates 300 people at once and better enable us to provide healthy and nutritious meals in an efficient, professional-grade kitchen
comfort Lodge
Our expansive health center, completed in 2019, allows our nursing team to provide high-quality care to campers and staff. It is available for groups to rent as a health center or for slef suffiecient lodgings for a small group.
Natural Spaces
Buder Lake
Buder Lake has always been a beloved area of camp, central to activities such as canoeing and fishing that our campers enjoy at Sherwood Forest.
Fields
There are three open fields located at camp where we hold many of our Adventure Sports activities as well as all-camp gatherings.
Campsites
Our property includes a extensive trail system and various campsites that range from a quarter mile to 2 miles from main camp. The campsites give children an opportunity to spend the night outside, away from their cabins without leaving camp. All campers in 3rd – 9th grade participate in overnights in our valley.