Jack Doody earns Eagle Scout honor

5 years ago

CARIBOU, Maine — Jack Doody of Caribou Scout Troop 184 joined the ranks of the Eagle Scouts on Sunday, May 19, and was presented numerous awards from local organizations during the ceremony at the Caribou Scout lodge.

Doody’s Eagle Scout project involved creating 14 signs to help outdoor travelers navigate the North Maine Woods, according to Caribou Scoutmaster Vaughn Keaton.

His project was inspired by a 2016 camping trip in which the Troop traversed dusty dirt roads in the area. Doody found that the current signs were either not helpful or completely missing — a discovery that ultimately inspired his Eagle Scout project.

Doody soon wrote up project plans after receiving approval from Keaton and North Maine Woods Superintendent Mike McLellan. The Katahdin Area Council then approved his plans, and he began coordinating the project.

Keaton said Doody gathered a work party consisting of family and friends and spent a weekend installing signs at the North Maine Woods.

“Jack’s project took 143.5 man hours to complete,” the Scoutmaster said, adding that it helped the North Maine Woods significantly with “man hours and funds that they didn’t have to expend.”

Keaton concluded that Doody’s work will ultimately help “tourists, campers, and hunters navigate through the North Maine Woods a lot safer.”

During the ceremony, Doody was presented with numerous awards, including a flag from Washington courtesy of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ office, as well as awards from the Caribou Rotary Club, the Caribou Kiwanis, the Caribou VFW and American Legion, the Marine Corps League, and a Scout History Award from Keaton.