CAMDEN — Scouts and leaders from the Camden area applauded the presentation of beads, neckerchief and certificate to Jared Todd during a special Wood Badge ceremony held on October 30, 2023.

Wood Badge is an advanced, national leadership course open only to Scouting volunteers and professionals. It is designed to help Scouting leaders better understand how all the Scouting programs tie together. It provides leaders such as Todd with many useful leadership tools to help enable youth to have the best possible Scouting experience. The purpose of Wood Badge is to develop skilled leaders who can strengthen Scouting units in achieving the mission of the Boy Scouts of America.

“Although the course is different today, what Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, said in 1919 still applies, ‘One of the purposes of Wood Badge training is to get Scouters to think about the practice of Scouting, to meet together, to exchange experiences, and to live together in the spirit of the Scout Oath,’” said Chuck Mahaleris, in a news release.

Jared Todd, of Rockport, was a member of Wood Badge N1 218 21 class which began in September of 2021 and was led by Karen Norton of Harpswell. He was assigned to the Beavers patrol led by Mike Labbe of Topsham.

“Ed Weber, of Troop 200 first encouraged me to take the Wood Badge course and he was also on staff,” said Todd.

Along with attending and taking part in the outdoor program that is part of the course, the Scouter also has to complete their Wood Badge Ticket. Todd’s ticket included becoming a Merit Badge Counselor for Citizenship in the World; volunteer at Camp Hinds in Raymond; promote and organize for 12 consecutive months a Troop 200 collection bin for returnable cans and bottles; submit a minimum of five articles about Troop 200 activities; and help plan a Troop 200 hike in Baxter State Park and also help provide transportation and adult leadership at a minimum of 4 overnight Troop 200 activities. Each participant writes their own ticket but by design it has to include things that help the Scout unit and the Wood Badge participant.

Troop 200 Scoutmaster Ed Weber said, “Since Jared joined Troop 200 with his son Domenic in 2018, Jared has been an active parent joining us on numerous camping trips. He has the distinction of surviving -15 degree temps at Camp Roosevelt and summiting Mount Katahdin with the troop. He can also be found manning the waterfront tower at Camp Hinds during summer camp. Jared is always willing to lend a hand when asked.”

“Wood Badge provided me with an authentic immersion program into Scouting that gave me the experience of being a Scout and working with others in a Troop. It provided unique insight into the way a patrol works and the way Scouting prepares young people for the challenges of leadership in the real world. My patrol began as a group of five strangers, but we quickly became friends as we learned to navigate challenges and grow together as a team,” said Todd. “Wood Badge also provided time to reflect on servant leadership and how adults are called to model and teach these values through their work with Scouts. The people whom I met through this experience taught me more than I could ever learn on my own. Being among a group of people who love Scouting, are invested in Scouting programs, and are energized by the mission of Scouting has a huge impact on me. I have often thought that families who have not explored Scouting have no idea what they are missing.”

He also said that he has been able to apply the lessons he learned in Wood Badge into his lessons as a math teacher at the Appleton Village School.

The ceremony was held at the First Congregational Church in Camden, which is the chartered partner of Troop 200 and the church also sponsored Jared Todd’s Wood Badge course. His Wood Badge beads were presented by Mike Labbe and Ed Weber. Karen Norton presented Jared with his certificate.