Local Scouts Complete Community Projects and Achieve Eagle Scout Rank

Scout Troop 729 proudly announces that two of its dedicated Scouts have earned the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout.

The new Eagle Scouts, Henry Mediate and Elliot Trefz, both from Bay Village, have completed all requirements of the Eagle rank and will be recognized for their hard work, perseverance, and dedication to Scouting values. As part of the scouting program, each completed an Eagle Scout Service Project which addressed needs in the community.

Mediate’s project combined his desire to help students with special needs and his love of board games. While taking a class to learn about teaching careers in special education, he tutored students and spent time in their classroom. He observed students learning in different ways, including playing board games, which are not only fun to play, but also promote strategic thinking and deductive reasoning. However, their game collection was lacking, with most games having worn or missing pieces making them unplayable. This is where Mediate stepped in. He organized a donation drive, collected lightly used board games from Bay Village and nearby communities, and gave them to the special education classroom. Mediate’s team of scouts cleaned, checked, and identified items missing from the donated items. They consolidated games as needed to ensure each game was complete. In total over 500 games were donated to the school!

“It is rewarding to see how much fun everyone has playing these games, especially considering they were previously collecting dust in someone’s basement and likely headed for the landfill.” commented Mediate.

Trefz’s project benefited the Sabrina Noelle Foundation, which promotes and provides activities to address mental well-being for young adults and teens. One of the many activities the foundation does is provide kits for teen artists to make jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. These items are then sold at craft shows, high school and college events, and year-round at Quill Pottery Studio in Westlake, and Over the Moon Boutique in Lorain with a portion of the proceeds going to the artist and some going into the foundation. However, the foundation did not have enough displays to showcase the jewelry. Trefz organized a team of scouts to build shelving and jewelry displays for the foundation. The shelving and displays were designed so jewelry can easily be transported and set up for display at local craft shows.

“It was a fun project to work on and motivating knowing it was for a good cause” said Trefz.

“These displays enable us to showcase the work of teen artists, build their confidence, and raise funds to support the foundation’s mission” said Sabrina Noelle Foundation leader, Kristin DuPrey.

Jewelry and other art creations can be seen at upcoming events in Bay Village, Willoughby, and Rocky River. Visit the foundation’s website at www.sabrinaoelle.org to get more information.

The Eagle Scout rank represents the pinnacle of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) program and is awarded to Scouts who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, service, and commitment throughout their Scouting journey. To achieve this rank, candidates must fulfill a rigorous set of requirements, including earning a minimum of 21 merit badges, demonstrating leadership through service projects, and successfully completing an extensive review process.

“Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout is a testament to the Scouts’ exceptional character and unwavering dedication,” said Denise Day, Scoutmaster of Troop 729. “We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and look forward to seeing how they will continue to lead and serve in the future.”

The Eagle Scout rank is the highest honor in Scouting and is earned by less than 5% of all Scouts. It signifies a Scout’s readiness to take on significant responsibilities and contribute positively to society. The skills and values learned during the Scouting program serve as a foundation for the Scouts’ future endeavors, both personally and professionally.

For more information about the Boy Scouts of America or to learn more about Scout Troop 729, please contact Denise Day at 440-478-8840.