PIERRE — Jake Mackey is the kind of guy that likes to look ahead and have goals in life.

Perhaps that is one reason he was recently hired as the new district executive for the Five Rivers District.

Mackey, 23, took over the Boy Scout’s position from Joe Kress about a month ago.

Shawna Bleecker | Capital Journal Jake Mackey is seen outside the Niobrara Boy Scout troop camp last year. Mackey, 23, was recently hired as the new Boy Scout district executive for the Five Rivers District. Advertisement

“Right now I’m just trying to figure out what resources I have,” Mackey said about the new job.

Mackey grew up in Yankton and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

As an avid Scout growing up, it wasn’t a stretch for Mackey to continue his involvement with the organization.

“I started Cub Scouts in ’94 or ’95 and went through entire program,” Mackey said.

One scouting adventure that has stayed with him through the years was a 2 1/2 week canoeing trip he took with his troop when he was 15.

“It was kind of crazy,” he said. “We canoed from Yankton to St. Louis. We basically tried to recreate Lewis and Clark’s experience.”

After breakfast the troop would canoe for 50-70 miles every day, he said.

“By the time we got out it would be dark,” he said. The troop made their goal and crossed the metaphoric finish line with 810 miles of river behind them.

That sense of accomplishment stayed with Mackey — along with the life-long friends he made on the trip.

“It was a moment in life I will never forget,” he said.

After earning his Eagle Scout badge by building shelves and organizing, Mackey decided to be an adult leader and drove up to Yankton every so often.

“As I got older, I felt like I wanted to give back,” Mackey said. “I stayed involved to help the next generation of scouts continue to have good values.”

Mackey’s area of responsibility is “goes from the top to the bottom” of the central part of the state. Along with the Pierre-Fort Pierre troops, Mackey is responsible for organizing troops from Mobridge to Rosebud and almost everything in between.

“There is a lot of windshield time involved,” Mackey said, then added, “But it’s OK because I like to drive.”

Mackey is a fan of hiking, camping and riding his blue 1983 Honda Magna but said his main passion is scouting.

“I am really excited about scouting,” he said. “It drives me everyday.”

Since moving to Pierre, Mackey has ventured out to meet new people by joining the Rotary Club, Pierre Area Charitable Organizations and agreeing to be on the Oahe Days board of directors.

“I like to meet new people,” he said. “The more people I get to meet, the better off I am.”

Mackey’s organization skills has him looking ahead to the “Spring Camporee,” which will fall in line with the scouting organizations 100th anniversary, which happens to be today, Feb. 8.

If all goes swimmingly, scouts from across the state will camp in Hilger’s Gulch this spring, Mackey said. There also will be pine-wood derby races — of the official sort as well as an “outlaw class” — that will be open to the public.

“I’m trying to draw in a lot of the public,” he said.

So for those with scouts in their house or troops to lead, know that the new executive director plans to get down to the boys’ level.

“Interacting with the scouts is where the fun is,” Mackey said.