| | Published February 20th, 2019
| Troop 219 honors 10 Eagle Scouts
| | | Submitted by Tyler Higgins |  | | Photo provided |
Lafayette Boy Scout Troop 219 will honor 10 young men who have achieved the Eagle Scout award, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America, at 2 p.m. on March 23 at Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church. From 2010 to 2018, Troop 219 was led by Scoutmaster Tyler Higgins, who earned his Eagle in Troop 219 in 1982. Last June, Chris Hunter assumed the role of Scoutmaster of Troop 219.
"Troop 219 has developed a solid curriculum of activities to teach boys outdoor skills and leadership. Our Scouts actively lead our events, and this supplements what they learn through academics and sports," said Hunter.
As part of earning their Eagle rank, the following service projects were completed by each Scout:
Michael Brewer refurbished the Petar Jokovina trailhead where it meets Sessions Road in Lafayette, where he cleared the trail entrance of brush and debris, widened the trail and installed new steps at the base of the trail; Ben Clark refurbished three balance beam blocks and built three additional balance beam blocks and one work bench for Lafayette Nursery School; Mac Follmer created and ran the first annual swim meet hosted by Orinda Aquatics with the East Bay Sea Serpents for developing and disabled swimmers with the goal to promote understanding of youth swimmers of all abilities, and looks forward to running the swim meet again next year; Sam Hagel built five Little Free Libraries placed in Lafayette elementary schools to promote literacy and reuse within the community, with the motto "Take a book, leave a book"; Sam Higgins designed, built and installed owl nesting boxes at the Lafayette Reservoir. As part of his Eagle service project, Higgins is working to earn the Hornaday Badge - Scouting's highest conservation award; Cal Hunter installed a walkway and stairs for students from Burton Valley Elementary and Merriewood Childrens' Center to access the garden on the hill above the schools; Kris Roos built three flagstone paths, installed four "pick up and drop off zone only" signs to ensure the safe arrival of children and designed and implemented a new trail standard for the identification of native species - all at the Lafayette Community Center; Bradley Sides built and delivered 20 corn hole game boards to Afghanistan for schools without playground equipment and refugee camps where thousands of young children live so as to bring a little joy to their otherwise very difficult lives; Reed Watson installed 10 trailhead markers around Lafayette after identifying the need and presenting his plan to the City; and Mike Winther constructed an employment boutique and collected donations for Shelter, Inc, a homeless shelter in Pittsburg.
To attain the rank of Eagle Scout, a Scout must earn his way up the scouting ranks from Tenderfoot to Life Scout. As a Life Scout, he must be active in the troop for at least six months, earn at least 21 merit badges, serve in a Leadership position, show Scout Spirit, and plan, develop and offer leadership to others in an approved Eagle service project helpful to any religious institution, school, nonprofit organization or the community. |
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA