GRAVOIS MILLS, Mo. — Nearly 200 Scouters from five different councils came together at the Lake of the Ozarks Scout Reservation over the weekend for the 2025 Invention Jamboree, held at the Sinquefield Invention Campus in Gravois Mills. Governor Mike Kehoe made a special appearance at the event, marking his fourth visit since the program launched in 2019.
The Jamboree, which took place Saturday, Oct. 4, offered Scouts hands-on experiences in STEM and entrepreneurship. Participants explored how to turn ideas into real-world innovations while learning from seasoned inventors and business leaders.
More than 100 Scouts earned the Inventing Merit Badge during the event, a highlight that underscored the program’s focus on creativity and problem-solving.
The Sinquefield Invention Campus — the only facility of its kind for Scouts in the nation — features four advanced laboratories equipped with laser engravers, 3-D printers, a computer lab, and a metalworking shop. The 6,000-square-foot space also supports year-round merit badge training in areas such as game design, sustainability, radio, photography, and sculpturing.
Universities including Missouri S&T and the University of Missouri-Columbia partnered to provide scientific expertise and support during the event.
The Great Rivers Council of Scouting America, based in Columbia, operates the Lake of the Ozarks Scout Reservation and the Sinquefield Invention Campus with support from Dr. Jeanne Sinquefield.
