Will's Musings: Blogging about life's experiences

I have sat through probably a half-dozen boards of review for Eagle Scout. Tuesday night was different. The tables were turned and it was my son who was in the proverbial hot seat.

Before I go on, yes, he did make it, and earned Eagle Scout, the 132nd in the 111 year history of Troop 40 Yorkville, IL!

Where it all began

I could regale you with a million stories throughout his Scouting journey through BSA Troop 40 and Cub Scout Pack 350 (part of Three Fires Council, Scouting America and Scouting America), starting when he burst through our front door after school in first grade excited to join Scouts.

That was 11 years ago.

Looking back, what stands out isn’t just the final rank, but the dedication, perseverance, personal growth and leadership – the grit– it took to get there.

What it took to get there

As his Scoutmaster has always said, Scouting is earned, not given. And here is what is took to cross the finish line:

• Earning seven ranks by completing 141 requirements spanning life skills such as First Aid, Cooking, Camping, Aquatics, Fitness, Citizenship, Outdoor Ethics, Navigation, Tools, Hiking, and Scout Spirit.
  
• 1,089 days of leadership to the Troop in the positions of Troop Guide and Quartermaster, and serving as Senior Patrol Leader of two campouts.
  
• 25 merit badges including 21 required overall, 14 specifically Eagle-required such as Citizenship in the Nation, Community, World and Society; Emergency Preparation, Communication, Personal Management, Rifle Shooting, and Wilderness Survival.
  
• Other special recognition including the National Outdoor Achievement Award for Camping, and election to the Lowaneu Allanque Lodge of the Order of the Arrow, Scouting America and completed the Ordeal to become a member.
  
• 611 hours of leadership completing his Eagle project including leading a crew of 19 Scouts and adults on the project work day.
  
• Camping 70 nights under the stars at 28 locations in five states, including two, week long summer camps, cave exploration trips, and other cool outings such as the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force and the Harley Davison Museum.
  
• One high adventure trip camping seven nights and canoeing nearly 50 miles through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) in northern Minnesota.
  
• 122 miles of hiking including a one day 20 mile hike to earn the Hiking Merit Badge.
  
• 184 hours of community service including flag retirement ceremonies at the Yorkville American Legion, the Troop’s chartered organization.

And this is only what happened after crossing over to the Troop in 2019 after spending five years in Cub Scouts.

Leadership learned in the field

Beyond the hard skills and the metrics, the true value of the dedication of the mission to Eagle is the internal transformation. It is a masterclass in soft skills. The kind that can’t be taught in a classroom, but must be shaped in the field.

In an era of instant gratification, Scouting requires a rare level of sustained dedication. Most importantly, I watched Keegan develop the “confidence of competence” in many ways, from leading large teams to learning to swim, and sitting in front of a panel of seven adults to reach the final goal equal to what adults know as the pressure cooker of a job interview.

Showing up, over time

Reaching the goal of Eagle Scout isn’t luck. It’s reached by showing up, doing the work, and staying true to the mission long after the initial excitement has faded from that first grade boy who burst through the door wanting to wear a uniform.

The young man who successfully completed his final board of review earned the right to wear the medal.

See you down the trail.