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The 2018-2019 Scouting year was truly an impressive one for Medfield’s Scouts BSA Troop 10. Over the course of those 12 months, ten young men earned the honor of Eagle Scout - the highest rank that can be achieved in scouting. Reaching this level requires years of dedication, service and leadership. Very few Scouts ever attain this prestigious honor, yet the following Medfield Scouts did just that: Sam Evans, Chris Johnson, Benjamin Rothstein, Alex Hissong, Collin Judge, Ross Johnson, Gabe Springer, Daniel Toohey, Will Maritan and Alexander Fedak.
In addition to earning at least 21 merit badges, each Scout, before attaining the rank of Eagle, is required to organize and execute a service project helpful to any religious institution, school, or their community. For the projects to be approved by the Scout Council, they needed to provide an opportunity for the Scouts to demonstrate project planning, project development, and leadership.
These ten Scouts completed the following projects:
Sam Evans created a series of videos for the Cultural Alliance of Medfield (CAM) about why the arts matter. He interviewed area residents, whose video testimonials addressed the importance of the arts in their own lives and in our larger community. Sam edited the footage and prepared the videos to be featured on CAM's website, where they highlight the value of arts experiences and support the organization’s arts advocacy mission.
Chris Johnson designed, planned and constructed fishing-line recycling boxes for three ponds in Medfield: Kingsbury Grist Mill Pond, Danielson Pond, and Chickering Lake in Rocky Woods. The recycling boxes reduce littering and help the environment and wildlife in and around the ponds which can become entangled in discarded fishing line.
Benjamin Rothstein designed and built a large gaga ball pit on the grounds of the Ralph Wheelock Elementary School. This location serves not only the students of the school, but also attendees of the Medfield Afterschool Program (MAP), which has a location behind the school. This spot also serves the greater community, as several sports fields are adjacent to this location.
Alex Hissong’s project benefitted the Red Gate Farm Conservation Land in Medfield, where he and a team of Scouts that he led cleared a trail to a vernal pool. He placed an informational sign about vernal pools on this trail, and also installed a sign marking the entrance of the conservation area.
Collin Judge designed, built and installed two wooden recycling bins at the Kingsbury Pond Grist Mill in Medfield. The 270-year-old mill attracts hundreds of visitors annually for picnics, fishing, hiking and photography.
Ross Johnson led a crew of Scouts and other friends to do erosion control work on the Medfield High School cross country course at Hospital Hill in Medfield. The crew filled in washed-out areas with gravel and dirt, and planted grass seed, making for a safer running course. Ross also designed and installed mile markers on the course.
Gabe Springer chose to help New Life Furniture Bank, a local organization that collects used furniture and household essentials and distributes them to families in need. Gabe led a team that designed and built a pair of heavy-duty carts for moving items around their warehouse, and also raised funds to purchase and build ten new dining room table kits for New Life’s clients.
Daniel Toohey fundraised, purchased and installed an automated external defibrillator (AED) at the Library. He also created signs with information on where to find AEDs around town. The signs were distributed to local businesses for posting and posted at local ball fields.
Will Maritan’s project took place in the Saint Edward Parish Church library. In this room, members of the community meet with the priest or lay persons to conduct funeral planning or other church meetings. The room is also used as a Catholic education classroom. Will and a team of scouts and other friends emptied, repaired, repainted, and redecorated the room with new furnishings that were either built by the Scouts or donated by supporters.
Alexander Fedak reworked the Bishop’s Throne at Annunciation Orthodox Church in Natick to better fit the scale of the space. The parts that were removed were repurposed to create a table for the altar.
"The Eagle Scout Award is the highest and most coveted rank in Scouting, and only a little over four percent of all Scouts have attained the Eagle Rank in the 110 years that it has been awarded," said Troop 10 Scoutmaster Matt Johnson. "Over the years, Scoutmasters Ned Rothstein, Dave Derian and I have watched these young men work hard to reach this level. The Scouts and parents of Troop 10 are proud of each of them – they are all hardworking young men and excellent role models.”
Medfield’s Scouts BSA Troop 10 is chartered to the United Church of Christ, where it holds weekly meetings on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 - 8:30. To find out how boys or girls from ages 11-17 can join the adventure, visit www.troop10medfield.org and click on the “contact us” link.
