Our Council

The Pine Tree Council carries out the mission of the Boy Scouts of America in central, western and southern Maine through a locally operated non-profit corporation chartered by the national council and supported by local volunteers and contributors.  Our council is divided into four districts where Scouting is delivered to the local communities.

2023 Council Officers

Jack O'TooleCouncil President
Michael L’AbbeCouncil Commissioner
Matthew KlutzaritzScout Executive
William ThorntonTreasurer
Jeffrey DossImmediate Past President
Paul ConleyVice President - Safe Scouting
Janet HansenVice President - Properties
Horace HortonVice President - Development
Marc Libby, Sr.Vice President - Friends of Scouting/NESA
Jim ThomasVice President - Program
Scott ValcourtVice President - Camping

Districts

Abnaki – serving Androscoggin, Oxford and Sagadahoc Counties.

Casco Bay – serving Cumberland and southern Oxford Counties.

Kennebec Valley – serving Franklin, Kennebec, Lincoln, Knox and Somerset Counties.

York – serving York County.

Council Executive Board Members

Robert BarryJason BeamWilliam CoffinPaul Conley
Frederick DenicoWilliam DiffenderferJeffrey DossRonald Dovich
Thomas DunhamDrew FitzgibbonScott GabrielRoger Griswold
Janet HansenHorace HortonDarryk Kelly (OA Youth)William Kiley
Michael L'AbbeMarc Libby, Sr.Chuck MahalerisJeffrey Messer
Mike MirisolaKaren NortonJack O'TooleLynne Picoraro
Joseph PoulinWilliam SipperlyTammy SmithClinton Staples
Walt StinsonKelly SturmerLad TaylorJim Thomas
William ThorntonScott ValcourtPeter VentreDave Wade
Brandon WilkinsRichard Yerxa

History of the Pine Tree Council

Our council was organized in 1919, and at that time was known as the Portland Council, as it only included the city of Portland. Mr. Whitman Smith was the first Scout Executive, and during his term from 1919 until 1926, the balance of Cumberland County was added and the name changed to Cumberland County Council. The council was incorporated in 1927, and the land purchase of Camp William Hinds was made to honor the late son of Charles Hinds, who was on the Board of Trustees.  Mr. Herbert “Skipper” Patrick, for whom Patrick campsite is named, became the second Scout Executive in 1927 and kept this position until 1943. During this time, there were three other councils in Maine: the Katahdin Area Council in Bangor, the Pine Tree Council in Rockland and the York County Council in the Biddeford-Saco area. This arrangement of councils left a large area of Maine with no organized Scouting. Smaller councils grew in Lewiston-Auburn and Oxford and Franklin counties.

In 1933, the councils in southern and central Maine merged to formally become the Pine Tree Council, and in 1936 the York County Council gave up their charter and joined Pine Tree Council.  Early growth records show a youth membership of over 3,200 Scouts in 1933, over 6,000 in 1948 and doubling to over 12,000 members in 1958.

Our council has seen the addition and deletion of many districts. Some of the early districts included York District, which was named for the York County Council, the Mount Zircon District in the Rumford area, the Abnaki District, the Sebago District, the Quabacook District and the Snowshoe District.

The Pine Tree Council currently has four districts: Abnaki, Casco Bay, Kennebec Valley, and York, and we serve youth in 10 counties in Maine. Our program serves youth in traditional programs such as Cub Scouting and Scouts BSA, but also offers Scoutreach, Sea Scouting, and Venturing.

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