A Message from the Scout

I am currently a Life Scout in Troop 125, Commack, NY. Being a boy scout for almost six years and in cub scouts for four years, I gained a lot of experience and took part in opportunities that if not for scouting, I would never have been able to do. After achieving the Arrow of Light and crossing over into boy scouts I attended six summer camps, four big trips, met new friends, earned plenty of merit badges and held several leadership positions.

In my first year as a scout when I crossed over with most of my friends from elementary school, we became the Lizard Patrol. I was elected Patrol Leader and my goal was to lead my patrol and work to keep us together. I also held the position of Librarian, and then went on to be Historian. I wrote up an article on each event the troop participated in and kept a log of each of the days Troop 125 spent at summer camp at Camp Trexler.

My leadership skills were further expanded after attending the National Youth Leadership Training in 2010 where I learned the EDGE method, goal setting and achieving better communication. I also became a member of the OA, completing my ordeal in 2008. Since becoming a boy scout I earned several awards including both religious emblems for Catholic Boy Scouts, Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII. My most recent achievement was earning the World Conservation Award.

Outside of scouting I achieved several awards from school. At my middle school graduation I was given the "Triple C Award' from the office of the Attorney General of New York for Commitment, Character and Courage. I was also acknowledged by the Knights of Columbus with a Civics Award as well as a scholarship to Catholic high school by expressing leadership, commitment to faith community, good character and family values. I was on the Honor Roll throughout middle school and earned Cum Laude Honors in freshman and sophomore years of high school. In high school I took part in the Spanish and Peace and Justice Clubs in my sophomore year.

Scouting has truly helped me learn the importance of participation and community service. Since joining Boy Scouts I have worked with the Peanut Butter and Jelly Gang, making sandwiches every first Saturday of the month. Each year I also help the scouts clean up the grounds of the Commack United Methodist Church as a thank you to our sponsor. While working on my religious emblems, I helped at the food pantry to unload bags and sort and put away food at Christ the King Parish. I have been active in the Memorial Day Flag placement and pick up at Pinelawn and Calverton Cemeteries for ten years and helped in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk by supplying cold water bottles to walkers for two years. Outside of scouting community service, I worked as a volunteer camp counselor for the summer Bible Camp at my church.

My future goals in life are to become an Eagle Scout, inspired to do so by my uncle who achieved the Eagle rank thirty years ago in the same troop I am in. I also plan to go to college to continue to expand upon my education. After coJIege I hope to become an engineer or architect to create and build structures or machines that will help to improve the daily lives of others. I truly believe that the key to my success and of those that follow me is taught and ultimately found through the values, experiences, friendships and opportunities discovered on the trail through scouting and the organization of the Boy Scouts of America.

Eagle Project Description

The Children's Center at United Cerebral Palsy Commack, NY

For my project, I constructed therapy equipment for the Children's Center at United Cerebral Palsy. This consisted of an of incline/decline staircase to improve gross motor skills and a wheelchair accessible sand table for fme motor rehabilitation. The center previously had an incline/decline staircase constructed by an Eagle Scout almost 30 years ago that was in need of replacement. I chose to do my project for UCP because having a mild form of cerebral palsy myself, I personally understand the conditions the children experience. It felt good to contribute to the community and give them the opportunity to better their lives.

AWARDS EARNED

• Arrow of Light
• World Conservation Award
• Ad Altare Dei
• Pope Pius XII
• Paul Bunyan Woodsman
• Totin Chip

LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

• Patrol Leader
• Historian
• Librarian

MERIT BADGES

• Archaeology
• Archery
• Art
• Camping
• Carpentry
• Cinematography
• Citizenship in the Community
• Citizenship in the Nation
• Citizenship in the World
• Coin Collecting
• Communications
• Cooking
• Disability Awareness
• Emergency Preparedness
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Family Life
• Fingerprinting
• First Aid
• Fishing
• Fish & Wildlife
• Geology
• Indian Lore
• Leatherwork
• Mammal Study
• Metalwork
• Orienteering
• Pathfinding
• Personal Fitness
• Personal Management
• Pioneering
• Public Speaking
• Reading
• Reptile & Amphibian Study
• Safety
• Scholarship
• Sculpture
• Signaling
• Soil & Water Conservation
• Space Exploration
• Stamp Collecting
• Tracking
• Weather
• Wood Carving
• Woodworking

DANIEL'S BOY SCOUT HISTORY

2006

Earned the Arrow of Light

Joined Troop 125 - "The Troop"

Became a Tenderfoot

Attended Yawgoog Scout Camp in Rl

2007

Hiked the Freedom Trail in Boston, MA

Advanced to Second Class

Attended Camp Barton in NY

2008

Walked the Heritage Trail in Washington, DC

Achieved First Class and Star Ranks

Earned the Ad Altare Dei Religious Emblem

Inducted into the Order of the Arrow Attended

Treasure Island Scout Camp in P A

2009

Earned the rank of Life Scout

Attended summer camp at Trexler in PA

2010

Historical trip to Philadelphia, PA

Attended National Youth Leadership Training Program

Earned the Pope Pius XII Religious Emblem

Attended summer camp at Resica Falls in PA

2011

Historical trip to Antietam Battlefield in Sharpsburg, MD

Earned the World Conservation Award

Attended summer camp at Sequassen in New Hartford, CT

Became a Brotherhood Member of the Order of the Arrow

Delivered Eagle Scout Leadership Project

Achieved the rank of Eagle Scout

Project Photos