By Debbie Adams
Gabriel Wilson of Scout Troop 235 in Vinton spent the weekend of November 23-24 completing
his Eagle Scout project – building and installing an information kiosk for the “Friends of the
River” as part of the Franklin County Blueway on the Blackwater River.
Eagle Scout is the highest youth ranking a Scout can obtain. It requires years of advancing from
Scout to Tenderfoot, 2 nd Class, 1 st Class, Star, and Life ranks, then to Eagle. Only 4 percent of
Scouts go on to become Eagle Scouts.
There are obligations and expectations for attaining the rank – Scouts must commit to live
honorably, be loyal to God, troop, family, Scout leaders, friends, school, and nation, be
courageous, be cheerful, and, most importantly, to do service.
The Eagle Scout must earn 21 merit badges including those which are required (First Aid,
Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in Society, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in
the World, communication, cooking, personal fitness, emergency preparedness or lifesaving,
environmental science or sustainability, personal management, swimming or hiking or cycling,
camping, and family life) plus several others of their choice.
During his years in Scouting, Gabriel has earned some 42 merit badges, over 21 in just the past
year.
Aside from mastering the skills that earn merit badges, the major requirement for becoming an
Eagle Scout is to complete an Eagle Scout project, usually after months of planning and
preparation. In addition, Scouts must raise funds to finance their project. They must also recruit
fellow Scouts, leaders, and other volunteers to help complete the final stages of the project.
and friends. This group helped construct Gabriel Wilson’s project.
Wilson asked his fellow Scouts to dress for the weather, bring work gloves, wear good footwear,
and bring a water bottle, but no tools were necessary, because his father had all of the equipment
they would need for the building project.
As for why he chose that particular project, Gabriel says that the Friends of the River were
hoping for Eagle Scout candidates to take on building the much-needed kiosks. Gabriel and his grandfather, Scoutmaster Brian Cook, did some research and decided it would be a beneficial
project to take on for the community.
Gabriel is now finishing up the documentation for his project, which will be submitted to the
Scout Board of Review. The board will evaluate whether the qualifications have been
successfully met, including interviewing Gabriel about the project and the process.
Once the requirements are met satisfactorily, the Scout is recognized at an Eagle Scout
Ceremony. That will most likely be scheduled in early spring for Gabriel.
Gabriel has been involved in Scouting since he was 11 years old. He is now 16 and a junior in
high school. He is homeschooled by his parents, Josh and Jamie Wilson, and his grandparents,
Brian and Tammy Cook.
Gabriel says that when he first got involved in Scouting as a Cub Scout at the encouragement of
his grandfather, he “had a blast, it was so much fun, and I loved it.”
When he reached Boy Scout age, he joined Troop 235 which meets at Thrasher Memorial United
Methodist Church in Vinton. One of their leaders, Greg Leslie, is a family friend. Gabriel says he
has “made many great friends there.”
“A Scout working on his Eagle project is a special time and will be remembered for the rest of
his life,” said Scoutmaster Cook.
