Back in January 2001 I received my Eagle Scout badge from the Boy Scout Troop that I have been involved in since 1996. It was quite an accomplishment and I'm quite proud of my hard work particularly in those last few weeks in getting it. I might be a different person in many ways then I was back then, in part inspired by my trail for Eagle Scout.

This spring I will be finishing up my Bachelors Degree in Political Science at Plattsburgh State. I would have never gone there or even entered the field of government or politics if it weren't for scouts. I realized my passion for politics and the institutions of governing largely through the study regarded for merit badges like Citizenship in the Nation and Citizenship in the World.

Boy Scouts constantly involved working with government. I had constant contact with with local government officials on cleaning up a local cemetery for my Eagle Scout project. I attended a town meetings for Citizenship in the Community, and I interviewed a civil servant on the rights and responsibilities as a citizen. Those steps might seem small as an adult who does similar things in work and politics, but they were an important part of getting involved.

Besides politics, Boy Scouts inspired my love of the outdoors. I probably would not have spent so much time outdoors as a young boy if it weren't for Boy Scouts. And I probably wouldn't spend so much outdoor these days if it weren't for scouts. I had camped as Cub Scout and with my parents, but none of that matched with the over 30 days I camped out prior to becoming an Eagle Scout.

I camped out in a variety of environments as a Scout. Sometimes it rained, sometimes it snowed and was very cold. Other times it was just beautiful out. I camped in tents, in lean-tos and, occasionally in the winter in cabins. Sometimes it was in tents with snow all around us, and sometimes we fell out of canoes and into the drink, and sometimes we had cute and little (but big and dangerous) black bears brush against us as they would patrol our site for food. We hiked in sweltering heat and canoed in the pouring rain.

For hiking merit badge I hiked 70 miles, with five 10 mile hikes and a 20 mile hike. These hikes allowed me to explore natural areas that I had never been to before. I saw a large portion of Partridge Run for the first time, to say nothing of countless other sections of Long Path in Albany and Schoharie Counties. These hikes inspired me to go back to these areas as soon as I got my drivers license.

It thought me constant lessons about the natural world that surrounds us all. I learned that earth is pretty tough and can take some terrible abuse, and if we aren't careful can abuse us. I also realized to what a great extent man was having an impact on that environment to his own degradation. There was a distinct difference between the sustainable use of resources and what thoughtless action can have on our environment.

As an Eagle Scout today, I am a sum of all my experiences in becoming one. I believe it made me a better individual, and it's a beneficial experience for all of youth to get involved in. There are close to a million Boy Scouts today, but only a few of them actually go for Eagle Scout. It worth it to stick to one's goal and try to achieve this highest rank. It is possible, I along with thousands others, are living proof that one can do it.