The Eagle Scout award is the highest award achievable by a Boy Scout in America. To earn an Eagle Scout award, a Scout has to spend years in his Troop camping and serving others, developing as a strong leader, completing over 20 merit badges, leading a successful Eagle Scout Service Project and passing his Eagle Scout Board of Review.
Becoming an Eagle Scout is a long road, but as many Scouts look back it is often one of the single greatest experiences of their lives. It certainly was for me.
My Eagle Scout Service Project was the creation of an outdoor classroom at my high school, Fred T. Foard. It cost over $3,000 and required over 800 hours of community service from both me and my friends, family and fellow Scouts. The entire cost of the project was covered by donations from local organizations and businesses, and it taught me that people are always willing to help you out when you have a great idea and the energy to make it a reality. You can read a bit more in the article below.
About Scouting
Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, and part of the worldwide Scouting movement. Since its founding in 1910, it has welcomed well over a hundred million young people.
I started Scouting when I was 15, after moving from Florida to North Carolina. My friend and Eagle Scout Bryan Mack recommended I visit his Troop, where his dad Roy was Scoutmaster, and I loved it. Two and a half years later, on my 18th birthday, I finished building my Eagle Scout service project, an outdoor classroom at my high school. On May 15th, 2003 I graduated from high school in the morning and received my Eagle Scout award that evening. Roy, Bryan, and my Assistant Scoutmasters Luther and Roger presented me with my award in front of my family, my friends, my fellow Scouts, my teachers and my principals from school. I felt then, and still feel now, a great appreciation for all of these people and their guidance and support over the years.
Since graduating from high school, I have met many other Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts (including my freshman year roommate in college) and been continually impressed by their character and values. I think Scouting provides young men in America with a wonderful opportunity to grow into caring, engaged and responsible adults who understand their place in the world around them. I look forward to being involved with the organization for many years and am thankful for what I have already learned from my Scout leaders and friends.
In the local paper
Read the article text
Travis Hellstrom graduated from Fred T. Foard High School on May 24th and the same evening was awarded the Boy Scouts most coveted award, the Eagle Scout Medal. The special ceremony was held in the courtyard of the High School in the new outdoor classroom area. The outdoor classroom was designed and built by Hellstrom, fellow scouts from Troop 398 and high school friends. The project took almost a year to complete. Nearly 537 volunteer hours of blood, sweat and tears went into the creation of the classroom including over $3,000 in donated construction and landscaping materials.
In order to obtain the coveted Eagle Award, each applicant must complete a number of requirements which includes a community volunteer work project. Roy Mack, Troop Committee Member says, “We knew Travis had three years to complete the requirements for Eagle Scout. That is a huge undertaking. He stayed focused and got the job done! I’m very proud of him.” Hellstrom will be attending Campbell University this fall to pursue a degree in medicine. The future students of Fred T. Foard will always remember the senior for his aesthetic and functional gift.
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