BY Alicia Belmore
This story was originally published in the July 2026 issue of COMO Magazine.
By now, the scene at the Scouting Adventure Center just west of Columbia is familiar. One teen has raved for months about the center’s climbing wall, building the anticipation for her eager friends, who are about to discover the source of that unbridled enthusiasm. Some seem ready to sprint their way to the top; others aren’t quite so sure. After all, the Veteran’s United Foundation Climbing Wall towers 26 feet high.
Since the Scouting Adventure Center opened at 6081 W. Van Horn Tavern Rd. in 2023, thousands of youths from across Missouri have shared similar experiences with the climbing wall and a dizzying selection of other activities available to both scouts and the general public. According to John Fabsits, CEO of Scouting America – Great Rivers Council, some 3,000 scouts or potential scouts visit the center annually, with attendees coming from all corners of the state.
In addition to the 26×53-foot climbing wall, which challenges climbers with 14 “lanes” of increasing difficulty — while helping teach communication skills and boost self-confidence — the center is also home to Sinquefield Innovation Space. Named in honor of another donor, the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation, the innovation space is divided into four areas that focus on audio, visual, and design; engineering; health and safety; and science and nature.
“We are thrilled to have this space dedicated to our youth,” said Fabsits. “It’s a place specifically designed for scouts.”
Read the full journal article here: https://comomag.com/2026/07/01/a-grand-adventure/
