The council serves Scouts in east central Illinois and western Indiana.

A tract of land outside Oakwood was acquired for the new council camp with financial assistance from the Rotary Club.

The camp was founded in 1932 and is named for Robert J. Drake, Champaign-Urbana Council's Scout executive, who oversaw the purchase of the property but died of scarlet fever in 1929 before the camp was opened.

[3] The council is divided into two districts: Prairielands Council currently owns and operates Camp Robert Drake, a Boy Scout camp facility located near Oakwood, Illinois (although the property is addressed in Fairmount, Illinois and it is in the school district of Catlin, Illinois).

The camp facility is in use year-round by Scout units of all types, and is available for rental by other non-profit groups.