And not without fanfare. Camp Mitigwa in Boone County will honor Eipperle by naming the proving grounds, previously the Eagle Academy, after him. The Eipperle Proving Grounds consist of two acres within the 450-acre campground.

“When I was told that, I thought the Scout executive was joking,” he said. “I really felt honored.”

Eipperle, 59, became the Camp Mitigwa’s director in 2012 and held the position for three years.

“People who are camp directors there now used to work for me,” he said, reflecting upon his time and the thousands of people who have used the grounds.

Marshalltown native Todd Eipperle, right, and current Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs Commandant Todd Jacobus, left, are pictured recently after Jacobus received the Silver Beaver Award from the Mid-Iowa Council of Boy Scouts. Eipperle is also celebrating a milestone of his own as he plans to retire from the Boy Scouts on March 31 after a 20-year career, and the proving grounds in Boone will now bear his name.

Through his leadership and a grassroots effort, attendance at Camp Mitigwa increased significantly, surpassing the goal set for the camp’s 90th anniversary. He also created The Eagle Academy, a new program for first-year Scouts.

The program emphasized the Patrol method, which is important during the first year. Scouts in the method participate in group living and citizenship. It places them in smaller groups to allow the Scouts to relate to one another, and they elect representatives. Scouts are also encouraged to rise in the ranks and receive merit badges.

Eipperle’s Scouting career has taught him a great deal through the last few years, especially when he served as a volunteer Scout master.

“I learned a lot about getting adults involved,” he said. “I learned more leadership skills as a leader than as a youth, which is kind of weird.”

That lesson connects to the biggest challenge Eipperle said his replacement will face — volunteer recruitment. He said recruiting children into the Boy Scouts is easy, but getting the parents to serve as leaders is the hard part.

Todd Eipperle, who grew up in Marshalltown, is retiring from the Boy Scouts at the end of the month. He is being honored with the naming of the Eipperle Proving Grounds at Camp Mitigwa.

“I had some really great leaders, but sometimes people are leery about doing it,” Eipperle said.

The biggest piece of advice he has for whoever seeks to fill his shoes is to build relationships.

“That is the most important thing,” Eipperle said. “Relationships, getting involved in the community and meeting people are so important.”

Retirement

This is not Eipperle’s first retirement rodeo. He retired from a 40-year career in the Iowa National Guard and United States Army Reserve in October 2023.

The Boy Scouts of America Mid-Iowa Council is declaring the Eipperle Proving Grounds in honor of Todd Eipperle. He is retiring from a 20-year career with the Boy Scouts.

“I do not know if it is a financial decision, or if I’m ready to move on to the next phase of life,” Eipperle said. “I have bought an RV camper. I am looking forward to using that, and being able to volunteer for more organizations in the community.”

That camper will allow him to use recreational vehicle parks across the nation which are for military use only. He plans on taking his rig to locations such as Cocoa Beach near Cape Canaveral in Florida, and Virginia Beach.

“I’m really looking forward to traveling,” Eipperle said.

When asked to sum up his Scout career in three words, Eipperle responded with “Honored to serve.”

Fundraiser

Todd Eipperle gets a pie in the face from a Boy Scout. He has had a 20-year career in the Boy Scouts and is retiring in March.

In honor of his Boy Scout career, and to raise money for the Eipperle Proving Grounds, there will be a Whiskey and Wine event at the Elmwood Country Club on March 26. All proceeds will be used to build open-air shelters at and help pay for necessary upgrades, such as plumbing.

It will feature various wines, whiskeys and bourbons to sample. There will be auctions of whiskey and wine barrels, as well as a silent auction.

Admission to Whiskey and Wine is $35 per person.

Fellow honoree

Eipperle is not the only person with Marshalltown connections to recently be honored by the Boy Scouts of America Mid-Iowa Council. On Monday, Iowa Veterans Home Commandant Todd Jacobus received the Silver Beaver Award, which is the highest honor given to a volunteer. Recipients must be adult leaders who have performed community service and have impacted the lives of youth through hard work.

——

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.