Big Lost Campus

The Big Lost Campus, home to IBC’s 5th-Grade Outdoor Adventure Program and a Mountain Adventure Tours mainstay, is situated on 12.5 pristine acres of land overlooking the Big Lost River, just 45 minutes from Ketchum, Idaho.

Founded in 2005, the Campus is continually being expanded to better serve its purpose of connecting individuals, the community, and the environment thanks to the support of generous donors and volunteers.

With unique examples of sustainable and responsible buildings in the high desert set up to host and welcome students of all kinds, the Big Lost Campus is where it all started.

The Borah Basin Building (BBB) opened in 2017 as the first building for public use constructed with hemp in the United States, and occupies a central place in our Campus. It is created with approximately 75% recycled materials and benefits from passive solar design and solar thermal heating.

Separating the lobby from the main room of the Borah Basin Building (BBB) is blown-glass art made by inner-city students from Tacoma, Washington and a massive hand-carved and -burned wooden door by local artist Aaron Maynard.

Enjoy the beautiful views of the lush lower property and the Big Lost River from the deck of the Borah Basin Building (BBB).

The lobby of the Borah Basin Building (BBB) is a cozy spot with armchairs and a rocket mass heater that fires right up to heat the entire space.

Education signage helps provide information on the fascinating make-up of the Borah Basin Building (BBB).

The Borah Basin Building (BBB) was the result of years of collaborative efforts from generous individuals and groups such as the Elaine P. Wynn Family Foundation’s Youth Advisory Group.

The main room of the Borah Basin Building (BBB) can be used to hold meetings, seminars, workshops, or simply gather away from the elements. It is fully equipped with a lighting and sound system and offers breathtaking views out on the Big Lost River and the lower property.

Step into our fully-equipped locker rooms with hot showers to wash off the day’s adventures!

Step onto the deck of the Borah Basin Building (BBB) and into the hot tub! Relax under the stars or watch the sun rise over the Lost River Range.

Follow the path from the Cordwood Cottage to grab some food in the Kitchen, gather in the Borah Basin Building, or explore the Lower Property and beyond.

Elevate your glamping by staying in the Cordwood Cottage, a cozy and sustainable building outfitted with couches, armchairs, and a queen-sized bed!

The inside of the Cordwood Cottage offers natural light and a cozy atmosphere

The yurt adjacent to the Kitchen is set up for larger groups to gather away from the elements to enjoy meals, creative space, or warm up in the winter months!

Views of the Borah Basin Building (BBB) and the Upper Property from the Beach Cabana. With a rustic bar, treehouses, forts, and camping spots a stone’s throw from the river, there are endless opportunities to explore and rediscover the magic of childhood in the woods.

Whimsical signs point the way across handmade bridges and paths leading to the river and other points of attraction in the Lower Property, such as the Beach Cabana, Central Park, and camping spots.

The Lower Property offers multiple dry campsites with fire rings and firewood. Bring a tent, a hammock, and your friends — the ingredients for an idyllic night in the woods!

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Our property is set up to accommodate large gatherings of people for retreats, seminars, workshops, festivals, camps, or simple getaways to recharge your mental, spiritual, and physical batteries in the Idaho mountains.

The upper property features two yurts fully equipped for sleeping as well as one adjacent to the kitchen building. Grab a bite to eat at the shaded picnic tables or reunite around the firepit to unwind from the day and roast s’mores. True to its name, the Cottage is a cozy building equipped with couches, armchairs, and a queen-sized bed. It neighbors the newly completed Love Bungalow, a smaller building built entirely with innovative hemp materials, in line with Idaho BaseCamp’s dedication to environmental responsibility.

Our central hub and the focal point for most activities is the Borah Basin Building (BBB). Designed with love by Hempitecture and Living-Architecture, and built with the help of many volunteers, the BBB opened in 2017 as the first building for public use constructed with hemp in the United States. It is created with approximately 75% recycled materials and benefits from passive solar design and solar thermal heating.

The BBB is a cavernous and light-filled community space purposefully intended for many uses; with full-service bathrooms equipped with hot showers, it is a perfect location to hold meetings, seminars, workshops, or simply gather away from the elements. When the weather is willing, step out onto the deck and into the hot tub to soak under the stars!

The lower property features extensive woodland with whimsically-fashioned signs leading along trails and bridges to the Beach Cabana, a gathering space equipped with a kiln and BBQ station for long summer nights by the Big Lost. With a number of primitive campsites available through the property, all a stone’s throw away from the river, the lower property will open up your imagination to play, explore, swim, or simply hang a hammock and rest from a day of activities.

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