LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Orinda Troop 303 Honors Three New Eagle Scouts


From left: Kyle Wallace, David Whisnant and Jonathan Date-Chong Photo provided

Boy Scout Troop 303 in Orinda honored three new Eagle Scouts at a Court of Honor Award Ceremony on Feb. 21 at Grace Presbyterian Church in Walnut Creek. Kyle Wallace, David Whisnant, and Jonathan Date-Chong earned the highest advancement rank in Scouting by fulfilling requirements in the areas of leadership, service and outdoor skills, as well as completing at least 21 merit badges and organizing and leading a service project benefiting his community. These four young men joined the less than 4 percent of all scouts who achieve Eagle Rank.

For his Eagle project, Wallace, a senior at Miramonte High School, designed and built a rainwater harvest system and garden bed for his former preschool. The project cleans, collects and stores up to 330 gallons of rainwater used to water vegetables and plants grown in the garden bed. The project educated the young students about water conservation and provided hands-on learning opportunities.

Whisnant's Eagle project included the construction of a wooden framed stair system leading from the parking lot of the Oakland Zoo up to the Veterinarian Clinic. It was an intense process of grading the hillside before assembling the wooden stringers and risers and securing the assembly to the ground. This project was a necessity to the zoo, as it provided staff with an easier way to transport sick and injured animals to the clinic. Whisnant is a freshman at Campolindo High School.

Date-Chong, a senior at Miramonte High School, designed and directed the construction of four wooden benches for Wagner Ranch Elementary school. The benches, painted to match the trims of the school buildings, were installed in areas where there was previously no seating for the students.

For over 52 years Orinda Boy Scout Troop 303, chartered by the Rotary Club of Orinda, has been providing boys with a variety of hiking, camping, community service and leadership opportunities. To learn more about the troop, visit www.bsatroop303orinda.com or contact scoutmaster Jim Brovelli (925) 997-8437.