 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.Robert Drake is buried with his parents outside of Chicago, Illinois 

The camp opened for the inaugural camping season on June 13, 1932.Camp Drake is one of the oldest council-owned and operated Scout camps in the nation.