Pendleton will become Director of the 2023 National Scout Jamboree effective October 10, 2022. 

Tom Pendleton

After serving on summer camp staff, Tom began his career in Scouting in 2002 in the Blue Ridge Mountains Council in Roanoke, VA where he served as a District Executive, Senior District Executive, and Field Director. During this time, he also served as the Reservation Director of the Blue Ridge Scout Reservation, serving close to 10,000 Scouts and Scouters each summer. 

In 2014, Tom was promoted to Director of Camping for the Greater New York Councils in New York City where he served for 5 years. In that role he gave leadership to all Greater New York Councils’ camping operations including the Ten Mile River Scout Camps (Keowa, Aquehonga, Ranachqua), Alpine Scout Camp and Pouch Scout Camp which serve over 70,000 people annually. During his tenure, camping attendance grew by over 20%.

In March 2019, Tom joined the team at the National Council where he has served on the Outdoor Programs and Properties team giving leadership to all Resident and Short-Term Camp National Camping Schools, the National Outdoor Conference and serving as staff adviser and subject matter expert for three national outdoor program subcommittees.   

Tom and his wife Laura have two Eagle Scout sons. As a family they enjoy spending time together outdoors and being on the baseball field whether watching or playing. Tom is an Eagle Scout with three palms, a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow, and Wood Badge trained. 

Leslie Thibodeaux has been selected as the General Manager of the Northern Tier High Adventure Base, effective Sept 24, 2022. After many years serving on summer camp staff, Leslie began her Professional Scouting career in 2001 as a District Executive in the Longs Peak Council in Greeley, CO.  She served as District Executive in two rural districts in Wyoming as well as the director of the Council’s Cub Scout resident camp. In 2003, she was promoted to Camping Director, where she managed the Ben Delatour Scout Ranch, eventually becoming the Director of Camps and Operations for the council. In that role, Leslie had responsibility for five camp properties and four council offices.

Leslie Thibodeaux

Thibodeaux’s experience in managing staff and facilities in multiple jurisdictions, as well as her fundraising skills, positioned her for the role of Director of Programs at the Northern Tier High Adventure Base. Leslie has been at Northern Tier since 2012, and during her tenure, the base has seen record attendance and the establishment of dynamic new programs.  

Leslie serves on the executive board for Ely Community Resources, Inc, and is actively involved in many other community organizations. 

Leslie and her husband Cade have been leaders in the local Cub Scout Pack and recently organized a Scouts BSA troop where their daughter Tracy is a Star Scout. As a family, they enjoy paddling, hiking and hunting. Leslie and her family are excited to evolve their roles in the Ely community and take on this new adventure with Northern Tier. 

On Thursday, September 8, 2022, the Boy Scouts of America received confirmation of its Plan of Reorganization from the Bankruptcy Court. This ruling, issued by Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein in Delaware, brings the organization only one step away from emerging from bankruptcy, and from being able to equably compensate survivors while ensuring the mission of Scouting continues. In addition to approval from Judge Silverstein, the BSA’s Plan of Reorganization has also won overwhelming support from survivors of past abuse in Scouting, with more than 85% voting to approve it.

What happens next?

In order to officially emerge from the financial restructuring process, the BSA must receive approval of its Plan of Reorganization from the US District Court. Because certain parties have communicated their intent to appeal the confirmation order, the BSA will next begin a District Court appeal process in order to emerge from Chapter 11, which will allow survivors to be equitably compensated and preserve the mission of Scouting for future generations.

The BSA does not know exactly when emergence will take place, but the organization expects it to be sometime this winter. The BSA will continue to share updates and information as the organization navigates the final stages of this process with the District Court.

The BSA has posted information about this process, including information for the Scouting community, at www.BSArestructuring.org. This site includes a Milestones page, which provides a source for the latest updates as the organization navigates the final steps of this process.

Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) and Boy Scouts of America (BSA) have entered into an agreement to end the ongoing trademark infringement litigation between the two parties. Both organizations are looking forward to focusing on their respective missions to serve youth. The agreement is subject to approval by the Court overseeing BSA’s bankruptcy proceedings.

Under the agreement, GSUSA permanently withdraws all of the trademark claims made in the case and agrees not to appeal the summary judgement ruling of the District Court. In return, BSA relinquishes its claims for legal fees and costs against GSUSA, which it asserted following the District Court’s grant of summary judgement. Neither party is paying the other as part of the settlement. As part of the agreement, both parties agreed to periodic meetings of their respective CEOs and board representatives. With this settlement begins a new period of cooperation and synergy between the two organizations.

One component of the agreement requires that BSA be proactive in ensuring its councils do not infringe on the GSUSA’s trademarks. All representatives of Scouting, including Scout units, should be mindful of this. 

It’s important to remember that at all levels, from our members and volunteers to our professional staff, BSA takes the brand and trademark rights of all organizations seriously and the organization has worked proactively to differentiate its unique program offerings. That of course includes the Scouts BSA program, so when referring to that program in any local council or unit materials — including recruiting fliers, announcements, promotional materials, social media posts, and beyond — be sure to follow the guidelines set out in this infographic on the BSA Brand Center:

As has been our tradition at the Boy Scouts of America, we applaud the efforts of all youth-serving organizations and encourage families to participate in character and leadership development programs of their choice. The BSA wants boys and girls to have an opportunity to join one or more of these organizations. While we all use different delivery models, our distinct missions have one thing in common – to serve youth.