Scouts do hard things. That was the informal theme of the Troop 32 and Troop 12 Eagle Scout court of honor on November 20 where the two troops recognized five new Eagle Scouts.
- Aditya Sundarapandiyan
- Ari Shukla
- Charlotte Duhamel
- William Barker
- Soham Chauhan Sudhakaran
The ceremony, led by scout emcees Soham Kalavagunta and Ronita Shukla, began by introducing Scoutmaster Jon Campbell of Troop 32 and Scoutmaster Tori Campbell of Troop 12. Jon Campbell marveled that these Eagle Scouts come into scouting at age 11 or 12 “but, at the tail end of scouting, the amazing adult they are going to be is mostly on display.” Tori Campbell reflected that “every Eagle is not the same. Same requirements and touchstones along the way, but different end result. And that’s a good thing. Each is unique, strong and special in their own way.”
Each scout’s journey included some required merit badges where they learned about citizenship, personal fitness, managing their money and time, first aid, cooking and more. They also explored many other merit badge interests in science, technology, arts, humanities, nature, conservation, sports and hobbies. Each scout demonstrated leadership in their troop in roles such as scribe (taking attendance, meeting minutes), historian (documenting important events of the troop), quartermaster (managing the troops camping gear), bugler (marking key moments for the troop with bugle calls) and patrol leader (planning the activities of the troop). The adult leaders provide some guidance and a safe environment but the two troops are actually led by the scouts themselves.
The scouts learned and practiced many of their camping and leadership skills on countless overnight trips and at Camp Wanocksett, a Scouts BSA summer camp. Some scouts opted for the extra challenge of longer and more challenging “high adventure” trips such as canoeing the Maine wilderness, sailing the Florida Keys or hiking the mountains of New Mexico at Philmont Scout Ranch.
The capstone, to show that they were ready to be an Eagle Scout, was leading a project that benefits the community. This included planning, raising funds, acquiring materials, organizing help, executing the project, reporting results, and reflecting on what they have learned.
- Aditya Sundarapandiyan built an information kiosk at Wright Hill conservation land in Acton.
- Ari Shukla built bat houses for a bat conservation project.
- Charlotte Duhamel built picnic tables, planted shrubs and stocked toys at Capernaum Place, a transitional housing center in Lawrence.
- William Barker made several trail improvements at the Assabet River Blue-Green trail in Acton.
- Soham Chauhan Sudhakaran built a boardwalk in the Bulette conservation area in Acton.
The audience of about 100 friends, family, and fellow scouts saw the newly minted Eagle Scouts receive citations from Fran Arsenault representing the Acton Select Board, Robert Stemple representing Boxborough Select Board, and State Representative Dan Sena. Eric Duhamel, an Eagle Scout and Troop 32 alumnus (and Charlotte’s dad), reflected on his own scouting experience. Then he led about ten other Eagle scouts, and the five new Eagle Scouts, as they recited the Eagle Scout charge and oath. The Scoutmasters presented the new Eagle scouts with their Eagle Scout pins. The scouts presented pins to their parents and a special mentor pin to someone who helped them on their scouting journey.
Lastly, each scout addressed the audience. Several of the new Eagle Scouts recalled how they did not think about becoming an Eagle Scout when they joined the Troop; it seemed like a goal too far away. But, through hard work and guidance from other scouts and their extended troop family, the achievement seemed within reach – and then it became real. Because, scouts do hard things.
Tom Wolf is a member of the Acton Land Steward committee, a former Assistant Scoutmaster in Troop 32 and parent of an Eagle scout.
