By Bryce Kent
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| Eli’s sash with all his merit badges including the 21 eagle scout required merits |
Since 1910 the Boy Scouts of America has been training youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities and educational programs. Out of the almost 110 million boys that have participated in BSA activities only about 2.5 million have earned the highest level of achievement in the club, Eagle Scout. The Northview community had the opportunity of welcoming junior Eli Fournier and senior Jeremy Hufnagel as Eagle Scouts, earlier this year.
For Eli Fournier, the long journey to the top began in February of 2011. He started as a boy scout because he wanted something fun to do, but also a friend and dad encouraged him to do it. Going in, a young Fournier didn't know what to think but very quickly became hooked and truly flourished in every skill the Boy Scouts taught. As the years went by he enjoyed moving up the ranks in his local group, Troop 219.
The journey to Eagle Scout is not an easy one, there are many requirements, one of those being receiving 21 merit badges. Some of these merit badges take months to complete and many different skills must be learned along the way. Along with a few side requirements and goals to reach as well as the merits, the largest obstacle in the road to becoming an Eagle Scout and the most labor intensive part of the Eagle Scout rank is the Eagle Scout Project.
The Eagle Scout project is a multistep project that impacts a community in some way, it starts with a proposal for the task to scout leaders, then the scout must raise funds and prepare the materials for building. Finally, the scout gets together with a bunch of friends and his troop and builds his project. Fournier planned to build a Gaga ball pit for Northview’s own North Oakview elementary school.
For Eli Fournier, being a scout is so much more than spending time in the outdoors and earning merit badges. He said, “[it is] more about building character, leadership, faith in your scoutmaster and learning to love to serve is what being a boy and Eagle Scout is all about.” He wouldn't give this experience up for the world and recommends all young students thinking about joining Boy Scouts to do it. He goes further to say it's also “a pretty cool bragging right to be an Eagle Scout.”
For Eli Fournier, the long journey to the top began in February of 2011. He started as a boy scout because he wanted something fun to do, but also a friend and dad encouraged him to do it. Going in, a young Fournier didn't know what to think but very quickly became hooked and truly flourished in every skill the Boy Scouts taught. As the years went by he enjoyed moving up the ranks in his local group, Troop 219.
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| Eli and friends from his troop putting together his eagle scout project- the Gaga ball pit |
The Eagle Scout project is a multistep project that impacts a community in some way, it starts with a proposal for the task to scout leaders, then the scout must raise funds and prepare the materials for building. Finally, the scout gets together with a bunch of friends and his troop and builds his project. Fournier planned to build a Gaga ball pit for Northview’s own North Oakview elementary school.
For Eli Fournier, being a scout is so much more than spending time in the outdoors and earning merit badges. He said, “[it is] more about building character, leadership, faith in your scoutmaster and learning to love to serve is what being a boy and Eagle Scout is all about.” He wouldn't give this experience up for the world and recommends all young students thinking about joining Boy Scouts to do it. He goes further to say it's also “a pretty cool bragging right to be an Eagle Scout.”
Photos courtesy of Holly and Eli Fournier
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