Mark Brody, Pine Hill District Scouter, receives the Silver Beaver Award April, 2022

Mark began his Scouting journey in the 3rd grade with Pack 1 Verona, N.J. At 11, he crossed over to Troop 1. Mark earned his Ner Tamid at 13 & Eagle shortly after his 15th birthday. Mark enjoyed his Troop 1 experience as a Patrol Leader & Den Chief. As a Den Chief, he received special commendation from Pack 1; a plaque which he still cherishes.

Most weekends and summer camp, Mark could be found in canvas Baker tents at Camp Bell, a parcel of property donated by a local family to Troop 1. The rest of his summer he worked at an all-day day camp, teaching Scout skills and running the overnight program.

As Mark went off to college, the leadership in Troop 1 shifted. The new Scoutmaster, an Eagle Scout from Troop 1 when Mark first joined, reached out to former Troop youth leaders to invite them back to Camp Bell as Instructors. One of Mark’s fondest memories is one such weekend where he cooked multiple chickens on a spit over a fire pit.

Mark credits his Scoutmaster, Ken Hipkins, and ASM, Heinz Kuhne, his parents, and grandparents for guiding him into the adult that he has become. He says that his life has 22 guiding tenets: the 10 Commandments of his faith and the 12 points of the Scout Law.

In 2001, Mark seized the opportunity to rejoin the BSA with his son, Caleb. He remembers telling Caleb on their first trip that “the hardest thing to do while camping is to set-up a tent in the rain”. And, then they did, with Mark as a Den Leader and then ASM. When Caleb went to college, Mark became a Unit Commissioner.

In 2006, Joe Brennan asked Mark if he would be interested in serving as Chair of the SNJ Jewish Committee. From this, Mark met AJ Kreimer, who invited him to jointly hold the position for SNJ & Burlington County Councils. Mark held this position through the merger and ever since. He is an active member of the GSC Religious Relationships Committee, has served as Chaplain for 2 Woodbadge courses, facilitated 10 Scout Shabbat services, organized many Jewish and Scouts-Own observances, served twice as Program Chair for the NER JCOS Conference, works as an ASM and advisor for Pack/Troop 36 of Temple Beth Sholom, attends the NJ Kinus each spring, and presents at the Ten Commandments Hike. Mark earned his Shofar Award in 2009 and received the District Award of Merit for his “service to the religious needs of Scouts” in 2009. Mark truly loves this role that binds his faith and Scouting into one journey. In 2010 Mark attended his only Jamboree and got to share in multiple worship services there with his friends, Joe and AJ.

Mark attended ITOLS at COL Council in 2005 and Woodbadge NE-II-159 (2006) in Monmouth Council. He regularly teaches SM Essentials and MB Counselor Training and has taught classes on Cold Weather Camping, Youth Run Troop, and Youth/Adult Position Sharing through UoS. Mark currently serves as the District Commissioner for Pine Hill.

Mark has a BS & MS in Biomedical Engineering. He has spent over 40 years advancing and supporting healthcare technology. In July, he retired from the VA after 26 years of Government service and now works as a consultant with Sigma-HC, LLC. This past November, Caleb, and his wife, Francia, gave birth to Mark’s first grandchild; on Mark’s mother’s 94th birthday.