Specialties
Sherwood Forest is a year-round youth development agency helping St. Louis kids growing up in poverty. The heart of our program is a month-long, residential summer camp experience at our camp in Lesterville, MO. Our unique Quest program blends traditional camp adventures with evidence-based programs, like our Book Club, that reinforce and support school-year learning. The real evidence these programs work? 100% of our Leadership Training Program graduates finish high school and pursue post-secondary education or training.
History
Established in 1937.
Our beginnings are quite humble. In 1937, with a volunteer staff and only $2,000 for food and cooks, Sherwood Forest provided a camp experience for 600 underprivileged boys and girls, aged 12-16, who were referred by social service agencies in St. Louis city and county. Operating on a rented site at Cuivre River State Park in Troy, Missouri, Sherwood Forest gave these children an opportunity to participate in a variety of activities, ranging from archery to swimming, acting to hiking, canoeing to pottery. For 41 years, Cuivre River was the home of Sherwood Forest, and a place of learning, friendships, and countless memories.
In 1978, Sherwood Forest's Board of Directors authorized the purchase of 478 acres of Ozark forest land formerly known as the Wiggins Ozark Camp, located just outside of Lesterville, Missouri. This is the present location of Sherwood Forest, and the place that today's campers often call their "second home."
Meet the Manager: Mary R.
Mary Rogers has been involved with Sherwood Forest since 1967- as a camper, counselor, village director, program director, camp director, and since 2002, Executive Director. Mary is a 1970 graduate of the Leadership Training Program at Sherwood Forest. Since her first year as a camper, Mary has spent just one summer away, when she completed her Master's Degree in Education at Harvard University. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Webster University, and is a member of the 2001 class of Leadership St. Louis. Mary is active with the American Camp Association (ACA) at the local, regional, and national levels. She serves on ACA's Committee for the Advancement of Research and Evaluation, the Steering Committee for the Not-for-Profit Council, and is a member of National Council of Leaders. Mary also works in a variety of volunteer roles for other regional and national non-profit organizations.