Three Attain Rank of Eagle Scout

[Editor's note: The following was sent by Ridgewood Boy Scout Troop 5, announcing that three scouts have been awarded their Eagle badges. The text has been modified slightly for style.]

Ridgewood Boy Scout Troop 5 is proud to announce that three young men from the Troop have achieved the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout.

A Court of Honor ceremony was held on Monday night, June 11, 2012 at the First Presbyterian Church to award this rank.

A large group of friends, family and local dignitaries attended the ceremony including Paul Aronson, Ridgewood Village Council Member;  Bernadette Walsh, Ridgewood Village Council Member; Gwen Hauck, Ridgewood Village Council Member elect; Stanley Kober, VFW Post 193; Commander Bob Paoli, American Legion; Walter Perog, Legionnaire and Eagle Scout; Rich Curran, Bergen County American Legion Scout Chair; John Young, Ridgewood Fire Department; Lieutenant Todd Harris, Ridgewood Police Department; Frank Miller, Ramapo Valley District Boy Scouts Leader; Doug Dittrick, Yaw Paw Association; and Anthony Chirdo, NNJC.

The following provides information about each Eagle Scout:

Chris Autera

Chris is a rising junior at Ridgewood High School. He is the son of Michael and Tracy Autera. He joined Cub Scouts in 2002 and Boy Scouts in 2007. Chris has held various positions in Troop 5 such as patrol leader, quartermaster, and senior patrol leader. For his Eagle project he helped renovate the basement of Upper Ridgewood Community Church after Hurricane Irene by painting sections of the basement and constructing a play structure for the church's nursery. This project involved 34 volunteers and over 190 hours of work.

Adam Bronfin

Adam is a rising junior at Bergen County Academies. He is the son of Kenneth and Sarina Bronfin. He joined the Cub Scouts in 2002 and the Boy Scouts in 2007. Adamhas held a variety of leadership positions in the Troop including Troop Guide and as Special Projects Coordinator. His Eagle Scout Project included a significant effort to cleanup, plant vegetation and spread mulch in and around the Amphitheater of Orchard School in Ridgewood, NJ. This project involved more than 20 volunteers who worked more than 150 hours on the project.

Michael Orlando

Michael is a sophomore at Ridgewood High School. He is the son of Rocco and Kathy Orlando. Michael joined Cub Scouts in 2002 and the Boy Scouts in 2007. Michael has held various leadership positions in the Troop to include Den Chief, Troop guide, Scribe, Quartermaster, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and Senior Patrol Leader. Michael’s Eagle Scout Project was the redevelopment and expansion of the circular patio area in front of the RHS adjacent to Heermance Place. The project involved expanded landscape areas, planting of trees, shrub and plants. Bench seating was installed around the patio area with the benches. The project involved the efforts of volunteers putting in more than 245 hours. The project was described in the Ridgewood News on December 30, 2011.

About the Eagle rank

To earn the Eagle Scout rank, the highest advancement rank in Scouting, a Boy Scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills. Although many options are available to demonstrate proficiency in these areas, a number of specific skills are required to advance through the ranks—Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle.

To advance, a Boy Scout must pass specific tests that are organized by requirements and merit badges. Merit badges signify the mastery of certain outdoor skills, as well as helping boys increase their skill in an area of personal interest. Of the 120 merit badges available, 21 must be earned to qualify for Eagle Scout. Of this group, 12 badges are required, including First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Environmental Science, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Camping, and Family Life.

In addition, a Scout has a choice between Emergency Preparedness and Lifesaving and a choice among cycling, hiking and swimming. Beginning with the Star rank, and continuing through Life and Eagle, a Scout must demonstrate participation in increasingly more responsible service projects. At these levels, he also must demonstrate leadership skills by holding one or more specific youth positions of responsibility in his patrol and/or troop.

The fact that a boy is an Eagle Scout has always carried with it a special significance, not only in Scouting but also as he enters higher education, business or industry, and community service. The award is a performance-based achievement whose standards have been well maintained over the years. Not every boy who joins a Boy Scout troop earns the Eagle Scout rank; less than 4 percent of all Boy Scouts do so. This represents almost 2 million Boy Scouts who have earned the rank since 1911. Nevertheless, the goals of Scouting—citizenship training, character development, and personal fitness—remain important for all Scouts, whether or not they attain the Eagle Scout rank.

Troop 5 is one of the oldest continually operating youth organizations serving the Ridgewood community since 1925. Troop 5 was originally chartered through the Ridgewood-Glen Rock Council that subsequently merged into the Bergen Council and eventually into the Northern New Jersey council. We still camp every year at Yaw Paw, the original summer camp for the Ridgewood Glen Rock Council. We meet throughout the year on Monday nights at First Presbyterian Church. We have over 60 registered scouts forming five patrols led by the Senior Patrol leader and Troop Leadership Council, an all youth leadership team guided and assisted by the adult leaders. We have monthly outings including local overnight camps, day hikes, and treks to local points of interest.