Cody Bickel joined scouting as a Bear Cub with Pack 63 in Belmont and in his first year of Webelos earned the Arrow of Light Honor before bridging into Troop 193 at Holy Trinity. Cody is one of two remaining original members of the Anime Ninjas Patrol. With the help of Patrol Guide John Robb, Cody quickly earned his 1st class rank and by age 13 had advanced to Life Scout with the rank of Eagle squarely in his sights.
BSA summer camps in the Santa Cruz mountains, Oregon Coast, Sierra Nevada, Butte Meadows and even West Virginia to attend the National Jamboree, have been the backdrop for many merit badge classes and lifetime memories.
Cody is a three-time winner of the Red Bear Claw award at Winton for his advanced marksmanship skills, a feat not easily accomplished. He went on to become part of the Winton staff as a camp counselor and was selected as camp chaplain, where he led the religious services.
Cody graduated BSA’s National Youth Leadership Training program, has earned the catholic Ad Altare Dei Religious Emblem award and was honored to be elected into the Order of the Arrow, scouting’s national honor society. Cody has held the ranks of assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader and quartermaster for the troop.
Cody’s idea for an Eagle project came from his love of music and desire to serve. While serving as guitarist in the youth band at Mass, the nonprofit organization Haiti180 came to Holy Trinity and spoke about its mission to serve the people of Haiti.
With that, the idea to organize a benefit rock concert with a dinner, raffle and auction was born. Cody recruited two performers, two rock bands and invited Haiti180 Executive Director Sean Forrest to perform at the concert. He then solicited and received numerous donations from businesses throughout El Dorado County.
On the day of the event PG&E initiated a rolling blackout and all power was shut off just moments before the show was about to begin. Faced with adversity, Cody pulled friends and resources together. With generators, shop lights and candles, the show went on as scheduled raising more than $17,000, which was used by Haiti180 to build an orphanage for homeless teens.
