Exceptional Eagles
Several Boy Scouts in Troop 209 have earned the highest rank of Eagle Scout in the past year or so, including one young man who was only 12 at the time he fulfilled the Eagle Scout requirements.
"Troop 209 started with 16 registered youth at the beginning of 2020 and by the end of December 2020, eight of our Scouts had earned the rank of Eagle, and a ninth young man earning the rank of Eagle on Feb. 25, 2021," Scoutmaster Albert Aranda explained.
Troop 209 was already a special troop because of its longevity. It has been continuously registered for more than 71 years.
"There’s other troops older than ours, but we haven’t had a lapse,” Aranda said. "Our troop just kept going."
Even through the uncertainties of a global pandemic, these young men found ways to give back to their community. To become Eagle Scouts, they had to fulfill documentation, dozens of hours of work and service requirements before turning 18.
"It astounds me because, you know, COVID hit and a lot of things got sidelined or delayed," Aranda said. "The kids kept pushing through. I’m very proud, very humbled by the fact they kept going."
Troop 209's Eagle Scouts
Asa Ty Morton, 13, Canfield Middle School seventh-grader.
Scouting: Five years.
Eagle Project: Safe and clean grocery shopping and delivery to serve elderly community members in Dalton Gardens. Asa wanted to create a project to safely serve during the COVID-19 pandemic. He worked with Dan Edwards, mayor of Dalton Gardens. He created documents for advertising, ordering and delivery. He went door to door delivering the flyers, then collected the orders for two weeks. He shopped for and delivered the groceries and recruited his immediate and extended family to help to keep the group smaller and safer. Most were fellow Scouts who helped with shopping and delivery.
Asa earned his Eagle Scout rank on Dec. 9, 2020 at the age of 12.
“My older brother, Noah Morton, also earned his Eagle Scout rank when he was in middle school, so I wanted to, too," Asa said. "I also wanted to try to get it faster than he did. My mom was a Scout leader and she helped me a lot to know what I needed to do, gave me rides and showed me how to keep it all organized. I worked on merit badges or rank requirements almost every day after school in sixth grade.”
Andrew Applehans, 15, homeschool freshman.
Scouting: Eight years.
Eagle project: Completed at English Point Trail System in Hayden under the direction of the U.S. Forest Service. It consisted of building a picnic table, building and hanging four bat boxes, repairing two existing benches and building and installing four new benches along the trail system. Andrew raised money for his project by asking local businesses and private donors for donations of money and/or supplies. Andrew achieved Eagle rank at age 14.
"I pursued Eagle rank because it was fun and I wanted to learn all the things that becoming an Eagle required," Andrew said. "I chose the Eagle project I did because I enjoy being in the outdoors and I enjoy woodworking and building. My inspiration for building the bat boxes began with a family camping trip in which we had the opportunity to learn about the positive impact bats have on our ecological system.
"Since bats are pollinators and eat their weight in bugs every night, I thought this would benefit the visitors of English Point trail."
Jackson Oswald, 13, Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy seventh-grader.
Scouting: Five years.
Eagle project: For and on behalf of A Love for Missions Abroad, a nonprofit that carries out medical mission trips in Guatemala. Jackson discovered a need for hygiene kits for patients who receive care during these trips. Patients in Guatemala often travel long distances to receive treatment and lack the necessary items for overnight stays. Jackson fundraised, organized and directed the gathering of products to assemble hygiene kits. Hygiene items, as well as materials to sew the bags for the kits, were donated and purchased. Volunteers helped sew the bags and assemble each kit. More than 50 kits were made and have been delivered to ALMA and will be taken to Guatemala on the next medical mission trip. Jackson will be presented with his Eagle rank during an award ceremony at a future date and venue.
"Being a Boy Scout and obtaining my Eagle rank has taught me life skills, leadership and the importance of helping the next one in line," Jackson said. "Service brings value to my life."
Tanner Applehans, 13, homeschool seventh-grader.
Eagle project: Completed at English Point Trail System in Hayden under the direction of the Forest Service. Tanner received generous donations from the community and private donors in the form of money, supplies and equipment. His project included removing stumps, clearing topsoil, leveling the ground and bringing in and compacting gravel, surrounded by a 6-foot-by-6-foot wooden border to create two picnic areas for picnic tables. He modified an existing picnic table and built a new one for the newly created picnic areas. He also repainted the outhouses.
"I chose the project I did because I thought it would be fun to do, a good learning experience and a way to serve my community," Tanner said. "My brother, Andrew, completed his eagle project in the fall. When we went to use the picnic table he'd built the following spring, it was overgrown with weeds.
"I decided then that I wanted to make the picnic table more accessible and usable, so the inspiration for my project began," he said.
Christian Adams, 14, Coeur d’Alene High School freshman.
Eagle project: Christian held a blood drive.
"I know that it’s an average project, but I had a reason," he said. "I have a severe heart murmur and that got me interested in cardiology. Because of that, I wanted to do something heart related. The only thing that I could’ve done is a blood drive."
It took about three months for Christian to complete his entire Eagle Scout project.
"I worked every day for those three months and it payed off," he said.
Christian quoted Lord Robert Baden-Powell, soldier, writer and founder of the world Scouting movement.
"The most worthwhile thing is to try to put happiness into the lives of others."
Trevor Carpenter, 17, Lake City High junior.
Scouting: Nine years.
Eagle project: Created a Gaga Ball pit at Lakes Middle School. Trevor worked with the Lakes PTA and teacher Nick Lieggi to complete it. A few friends helped him construct it in the Lakes shop with Lieggi's help. He started discussing the project with the school as a freshman, completed the project during fall of 2019 as a sophomore and submitted his report to the board in early 2020. His goal for choosing this project was to give something back to the school he attended. He knew the students would use this a lot. Trevor progressed through the ranks to First Class at the age of 11 and reached Eagle at 16.
Isaiah Pack, 18, Coeur d'Alene High School senior.
Scouting: Six years.
Eagle project: Food and book drive for the women's shelter at Union Gospel Mission. Provided Christmas dinner and books during the holiday season for more than 80 mothers and children.
"Serving members of the community is so important to me," Pack said. "I wanted to help provide a special Christmas for these women and their children to help brighten their day and make it special!"
Jared Smith, Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy freshman at the time of his project.
Scouting: Joined at age 8.
Eagle project: When Jared was part of the music program at Charter, the conductor asked if anyone could help build risers for the stage at the school.
"He originally said that the school would be able to help pay for the materials," Jared said. "I knew that if I made it my Eagle project, I could put together a fundraiser and the school would be able to use the funds for something else."
Jared paid for materials and donated a few extra hundred dollars to the school.
"Even when I was just a Cub Scout I knew that I wanted to earn my eagle rank," Jared said. "I was super lucky to have some of the best Scout leaders there are. They taught me about perseverance and hard work. I learned skills that I will use throughout the rest of my life.
"I'm super excited that I was able to do something for my Eagle project that will be used by the school for years to come."
Troop 209 Scout Ethan Reneau also completed a project and earned his Eagle Scout rank.
