JUNCTION CITY (KSNT) – Leaders of the Kansas-based chapter of a national youth development organization are examining a possible change in ownership of a large summer camp near Junction City.
Officials with the Kansas 4-H Foundation initially shared in April this year that its Board of Trustees were examining the possibility of transferring ownership of the Rock Springs Ranch summer camp and conference center. The transfer is part of a “long-term strategy” to support continued youth development in the Sunflower State.
Rock Springs Ranch, located around 12 miles south of Junction City, regularly brings in thousands of children each year for opportunities to explore, learn and grow together. The ranch has been open for eight decades and offers various activities such as canoeing, archery, horseback riding and more.
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Kansas 4-H Foundation staff said that, since the ranch opened in 1946, it has welcomed almost two million campers, families and others. However, changing operational and financial needs for the large-scale camp prompted the foundation to explore a possible ownership transition and potentially identify a partner who is open to a usage agreement that would allow Kansas 4-H to access the ranch without ownership obligations.
Staff with the Kansas 4-H Foundation said in an August update that discussions about the future of Rock Springs Ranch are continuing to move forward. While the 2026 programs have not been impacted by these talks, the foundation isn’t accepting reservations or registrations for 2027.
“This is an important process, and there are no easy answers,” said Lisa Pfannenstiel-Garrison, chair of the Kansas 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees, in the August press release. “The Board continues to evaluate possible paths forward. This includes exploring potential changes in ownership or alternative ownership models that position Rock Springs Ranch for the future while strengthening the Foundation’s ability to invest in Kansas youth statewide.”
Pfannenstiel-Garrison said the foundation wants to find an answer that allows the ranch to continue serving both youths and adults in the years ahead.
For more information about the potential transition of ownership of Rock Springs Ranch, click here. To learn more about what the ranch has to offer in its various summer camp programs, click here.
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