When Ari M. first walked into a Troop 65 Sudbury meeting in the 5th grade, she hadn’t so much as pitched a tent. She was there for the simplest of reasons: a friend, Katelyn,  and the promise of cake. Today, Ari stands as a confident Eagle Scout—a transformation defined not by a career path, but by the grit to weather literal storms, the resilience to hike through illness, and the wisdom to know that you don’t have to be “ready” to start something great.

The Myth of Being “Ready”

Looking back at her 11-year-old self, Ari describes a version of herself that was completely new to the outdoors. Her early Scouting experience was a mix of easy wins—like a 30-minute Fingerprinting merit badge—and the daunting realization of how much there was to learn.

Her biggest takeaway from the trail to Eagle is a rejection of perfectionism. “Just jump in,” she advises. “You don’t have to be ready for everything”. This philosophy allowed her to transition from a quiet 5th grader to a leader who is now “more confident” and spends her time “camping full time”

Resilience in the Face of the Unexpected

Troop 65 at Philmont Trip

Scouting is famous for “productive failure,” and Ari’s journey provided the ultimate testing ground at Philmont Scout Ranch. On just the second day of her trek, Ari contracted COVID-19. Despite being exhausted and sick, she pushed through four grueling miles on Day 3 before entering a quarantine camp. Proving her mental toughness, she returned to finish the trek in the sweltering heat while wearing an N95 mask.

The hardships were often balanced by the kind of humor that only comes from a shared disaster. During  a winter “Freeze Out,” Ari and some of her fellow Scouts skipped the warmth of a cabin to sleep in a tent, but deserted the tent at some point to sleep under the pavilion. In the middle of a windy night, they woke up at 3:00 AM to find they hadn’t staked the tent down—only to find it in the morning in the trees.

Leading Through Service

Ari dropping off needed items to the donation center after running donation drives.

Ari’s Eagle Scout project was born from a deep desire to help the migrant and immigrant populations in the Bedford areas. Having seen firsthand the impact of families navigating the journey from ESL classes to finding jobs, she wanted to provide a resource for connection.

• The Multi-Lingual Book Drive: Ari organized a drive to collect books that reflected a mixture of American and Haitian culture
• Needed Items: In addition to the books, she collected other necessities to help families
• The Connection: Her goal was to help children connect with American culture while ensuring they did not forget their own heritage.

The project pushed Ari out of her comfort zone as a leader. “I struggled with telling people what to do, especially older people,” she admits. But she learned that effective leadership means providing specific tasks and delegating with clarity.

The Responsibility of the Badge

Ari with her family at her Court of Honor

As a female Eagle Scout, Ari recognizes that she is part of a pioneering generation. “It’s a unique responsibility because… we might be the only image [of female Eagle Scouts] they know,” she says. For Ari, the rank means being the person others look to when a problem needs solving.

If she had to describe her entire journey in three words, she chooses: “Anybody Not Ready”. For Ari, this phrase is a reminder of the collective nature of a troop; it reflects the Eagle Court of Honor philosophy that you are only as strong as your weakest link. It is a call to look back and help those who are struggling, ensuring that everyone moves forward together, regardless of where they started.

When Amelia C. first stepped into a Scout meeting, she was a 17-year-old who admittedly “didn’t know what she was doing”. Like many trailblazing young women in the program, she began as a “follow along” to her brother, but she quickly realized she wanted the rank for herself. Today, Amelia is one of only two female Eagle Scouts working in the Milford Council office—a leader whose journey was defined by rapid growth, environmental stewardship, and the grit to overcome the “Eagle Slump”.

Finding Her Voice

Amelia’s early days were a crash course in moving through failures. She recalls a first winter campout—perhaps at Camp Resolute—where the troop was far from “outdoorsy”. From the infamous mistake of packing ten pairs of cotton socks to realizing she hadn’t adequately prepared the full troop, these early hurdles were the catalyst for her transformation.

The version of Amelia standing today bears little resemblance to that unsure beginner. Through the program, she traded uncertainty for polished leadership and a mastery of delegation—a skill she insists she will still be using when she is 30, whether in a group project or her professional life.

Memories in the Making

Scouting wasn’t just about the hardships; it was about the humor found in the chaos. Amelia laughs about a “geocaching nightmare” at Base Camp that was supposed to take 45 minutes but stretched into two hours before the team finally gave up and spent the time talking with staff instead.

The physical challenges were just as memorable. While she wasn’t a fan of lake swimming for her Swimming Merit Badge, those grueling laps were balanced by moments of pure beauty. Her most cherished memory remains a 4th of July hike up Mt. Monadnock with her crew, where they watched the fireworks from the summit—a perspective few get to experience

The Eagle Project: A Natural Legacy

Amelia’s Eagle project was a labor of love for her local environment. Inspired by her own hobbies, she installed pollinator gardens at “Bumblebee Park,” a local space she wanted to revitalize. Her mission was clear: encourage native plants and animals to return to the community without the use of harmful pesticides.

The path to the project was its own mountain to climb. Amelia faced:

• Bureaucratic Headaches: Constant back-and-forth with the town to secure approvals.
• Supply Chain Struggles: Sourcing and securing materials in the middle of a global pandemic.
• Operational Chaos: On project day, she managed the chaos by creating social distancing between three garden sites and pairing experienced volunteers with novices.

The reward was instantaneous. Watching “empty Earth” transform into a budding habitat was the exact second she realized the impact of her work. Today, her project has sparked a movement, with the town planting even more pollinator gardens in the area

Resilience and the “Eagle Slump”

Amelia is upfront and honest about the “Eagle Slump”—that period of distraction that hits many Scouts during the transition to college and graduation. She hit that wall hard, but she stayed motivated by looking back at the young girl who once followed her brother and decided she wanted to reach the top of the ladder herself.

She completed her trail to Eagle in a staggering 24 months—a “lofty” pace that required immense drive. To Amelia, the responsibility of an Eagle Scout is about more than a rank; it’s about “shining an example” and helping those further down the ladder reach the top.

Now pursuing a career as a paralegal, Amelia carries that same drive with her. If she had to sum up her entire Scouting journey in just three words, she chooses: “Memorable. Chaotic. Driven.“.

When Paige B. first joined Troop 424 as an 11-year-old in the 6th grade, she was entering a world that was about to change. Navigating her Scouting path through the “pre-COVID” and “post-COVID” eras, Paige transformed from a young newcomer into a confident leader who understands that growth isn’t about being perfect—it’s about showing up when things get messy. Today, she stands as an Eagle Scout who views the program not just as a series of requirements, but as a vital training ground for life.

Finding Her Voice

Ella S. and Alyssa B inside a Trojan Horse used for theme night at Camp Squanto.

For Paige, the heart of the Scouting experience is its safety as a learning environment. “Scouting is a place where it’s okay to mess up and figure out how to be a person,” she reflects. This philosophy was put to the test early on when she stepped into the role of Senior Patrol Leader (SPL). Inspired by her predecessor, Alyssa B.—who was one of the few older Scouts Paige could look up to at the time—Paige learned to navigate the “meaningful errors” that defined the trail to Eagle.

She candidly recalls the steep learning curve of her first time as SPL, facing those chaotic moments of realization: “I don’t know what you want?!” Yet, it was through this trial-by-fire that she emerged as a leader who is quick to address challenges and possesses the confidence to speak her mind.

Resilience in the “In-Between”

If leadership was the mental hurdle, the elements provided the physical one. Paige remembers the sweltering heat of summer campouts as her toughest challenge, noting how the rising heat and humidity made everyone irritable and tested the troop’s cohesion. But in true Scout fashion, the hardships were balanced by humor found in the “in-between” moments.

Whether it was a 14-day National Jamboree or a rainy weekend at her favorite nostalgic spot, Squanto, Paige found that the best memories often came when things didn’t go according to plan. During those long days, she found comfort in the simplest things: monkey bread, oatmeal, and the steady companionship of the friends she’s had since the beginning.

The Eagle Project: A Family Legacy

Paige standing next to the farm stand after it was built for her project

Paige’s Eagle Scout project was a unique “co-op” effort with her twin brother, both serving JPH at Ferry Hill. While her brother focused on a farming plot, Paige took on the construction and painting of a farm stand.

The project was a masterclass in management and the reality of volunteer leadership. On project day, she managed the chaos of leading both peers and adults by assigning specific, actionable roles, such as painting base coats. Despite the physical success, she faced a common “headache”: the paperwork. Having not tracked everything actively during the project, she had to painstakingly piece together reports and volunteer lists after the fact. Her advice to her younger self? “Just do the paperwork. Make sure you record everything”.

Beyond the Rank

Paige and her twin broth after both achieved Eagle

Like many high-achieving Scouts, Paige faced the “Eagle Slump” during high school. She pushed through with a mix of troop support, parental motivation, and a healthy dose of sibling competition with her brother.

Today, Paige is a leader who carries the skills of conflict resolution and “divide and conquer” delegation into her daily life. When asked to describe her journey in three words, she chooses a phrase that every Scout knows by heart: “You’re being Voluntold”.

It’s a humorous nod to the service-oriented nature of the program, but underneath the wit is a deep commitment to the Eagle responsibility: “Just give back to the community and follow the values and ideals”.

Katelyn with members of her family with the shed she built for her Eagle Scout project.

Katelyn’s story began in the 5th grade. Looking back, she remembers a version of herself that was incredibly shy. Her first step into the world of merit badges was Fingerprinting, earned during only her second meeting. As she moved through the ranks, the “Scout-related” challenges she faced began to transform her, providing the confidence to be outgoing and step into the light.

Finding Joy in the Struggle

The path to Eagle is rarely a straight line, and Katelyn’s was paved with failures and successes! Her resilience was tested in high-stakes environments, such as:

• The Physical Grind: Earning her Lifesaving merit badge, which required the physical strength to pull heavy people out of the
  

  Members of Troop 65 coming back from their Philmont Trek.

  water. Katelyn says that this was the hardest physical challenge she pushed through. 

• High Adventure: Navigating the grueling physical challenges of Philmont.
• The Beautiful Moments: Finding peace at the Top of Baldy, gazing at the Philmont stars, or enjoying local gems like Belle Isle Marsh Reservation. 

Even in the most difficult moments—like being in a quarantine camp at Philmont—Katelyn found humor. She recalls Scouts attaching themselves to the bear line for the trees, belt-singing “Chandelier” to keep spirits high. Through it all, her “comfort” was found in simple camp staples like Ramen and Walking Tacos—meals she notes you simply “can’t mess up”.

The Eagle Project: Leading Through Chaos

Katelyn with part of the shed
completed.

For her Eagle Project, Katelyn chose to give back to the community that hosted her troop’s meetings by building a storage shed. The project became an ultimate test of leadership when the wrong kit was delivered with no instructions and missing pieces.

Katelyn admits she initially felt intimidated by the Eagle Scouts who came to help, struggling at first to direct them. However, she emerged with a vital realization: it is okay to say “I don’t know”. By leaning on her team, she saw the project through to completion. Today, the most rewarding part for her is seeing the community actually using the shed she built.

A Future Built on Service

If Katelyn could speak to her 5th grade self today, her advice would be simple: “You know more than you think you know”.

Katelyn summarizes her entire Scouting experience in three powerful words: Service Before Self. This philosophy is guiding her next chapter as she applies to Nursing School. Drawing on the skills from her First Aid merit badge and her experience working in teams, she is ready to bring her Eagle Scout leadership into the healthcare field.

When Megan G. first stepped into a Troop 355 Newton meeting in the 10th grade, she was one of only three girls in the room. Nervous and admittedly timid, she was following in her brother’s footsteps but uncertain of her own. Today, Megan stands as an Eagle Scout and a robotics engineering student at Purdue University—a transformation fueled by mountain peaks, productive failures, and the relentless pursuit of self-advocacy.

Finding Her Footing

Megan’s Scouting journey didn’t start with grand ambitions of the Eagle rank; it started with the simple joy of a Reading merit badge and the inspiration of a peer. She watched her friend, Brianna M., successfully navigate summer camp and earn an astounding 14 merit badges in a single week.

“She was a good role model to see succeed,” Megan recalls. That inspiration helped Megan transition from a quiet observer to a leader who understood that growth requires stepping into the unknown. This shift was put to the ultimate test during a troop meeting where a shortage of leaders forced Megan, as Senior Patrol Leader (SPL), to delegate on the fly and teach stations herself. It was her first real taste of the “productive failure” that Scouting uses to forge leaders.

The Trials of the Trail

Megan at Shaffer’s Peak during sunrise

If leadership was the mental hurdle, Philmont Scout Ranch provided the physical one. Standing at 5’2″, Megan faced treks that would intimidate seasoned hikers. She remembers the grueling climb over Trail Peak—a path most crews detour to see, placing their packs at the bottom, hiking and coming back down all to see a 1940s plane crash. Megan’s crew went straight up and over.

However, the hardships were balanced by humor and breathtaking beauty. “We ended up finding everything Funny,” she laughs, recalling a moment when a friend fell out of a camping chair, or when her height became a unit of measurement: “You’re one Megan off the ground!” during a spar climbing activity the crew began encouraging a scout afraid of heights (a nod to her 5’2″ stature). The reward for the climb was a sunrise breakfast at Shaffer’s Peak —a moment of serenity that remains her most beautiful Scouting memory.

The Eagle Project: A Welcoming Transformation

Megan’s Eagle Scout project was a labor of love for her charter organization and church. The project was two-fold:

The “after” picture of the welcoming room that church-goers through the handicap entrance use

A More Welcoming Room: Transforming a small, drab space between the handicap entrance and the elevator by cleaning carpets, patching walls, painting, and building a custom bench.

Painting the Nativity Figures during the project work day.

The Nativity Restoration: Color-matching and repainting the church’s life-sized nativity creche—a project that hit home since her troop handles the figures every year.

Even a rainy project day and getting locked out of the church couldn’t stop her. “It was rewarding to see the immediate difference in the space,” Megan says, recalling the moment she finished the final carpet cleaning at 10:00 PM on a Friday.

Reflection & The “Eagle Slump”

Megan is candid about the “Eagle Slump” that hit her at the end of 11th grade. Balancing five AP classes, sports, and college applications made the finish line feel miles away. Her secret? Self-advocacy.

“It’s all about self-advocacy,” Megan advises. “You need to make sure you’re on the path you want to be on and hold yourself accountable.”

Engineering the Future

Today, Megan is an Engineering Major at Purdue University focusing on robotics. She’s already applying her Scouting skills in the lab—keeping her peers on task and knowing exactly when to lead and when to delegate.

If she had to describe her journey in three words, she chooses a Philmont tradition: “Roses, Buds, Thorns.”

• Roses: The great memories and friendships.
• Buds: The constant learning and improvement.
• Thorns: The rainy campouts and moments when motivation dipped.

As she prepares to head back to Philmont this summer, Megan has one final message for anyone on the fence about joining: “Give it a try. Even for a little bit… I couldn’t imagine what I would have done instead.”

Celia’s Scouting journey began on the brink of history. Her first meeting was March 5, 2020, just days before the world shifted to virtual life. While others might have faltered, Celia grew with the program, transitioning from “tagging along” with her brother’s Cub Scout Pack to carving out her own legacy as one of the first female Eagle Scouts many have ever met.

A Natural in the Water

Celia K. First Female Eagle Scout Camp Norse Staff 10th of August, 2025

It is only fitting that Celia’s first merit badge was Swimming. A competitive swimmer by nature, this badge served as the gateway to Lifesaving and her current role as a lifeguard at Camp Norse. For Celia, the waterfront isn’t just a place of work; it’s the most beautiful place Scouting has taken her. Over the years she’s fully embraced the challenge of the water, even completing the mile swim three times!

Picture (left): Celia K. holding a plaque the Aquatics Director Travis H. gifted her for being the First Female Eagle Scout on Camp Norse Staff. Plaque reads: 

Turning “Productive Failure” into Success

Every Scout has a story of a rainy campout, but Celia’s most memorable challenge was a literal test of survival. During her Wilderness Survival merit badge, she found herself as one of the only girls in the session without female coverage, requiring her to build her shelter near her own campsite.

“I was one of the only girls in the course and didn’t have female coverage at the wilderness survival site, so I had to build my shelter near my own campsite,” she recalls. “It wasn’t ideal since I was separated from the group, and I had to make do with what I had. I just tried my best and pushed through.”

The Eagle Project: Honoring the Fallen

Celia K. placing a flag on a veteran’s grave during Memorial Day.

Celia’s Eagle Project was born from a community need she spotted at Union Cemetery in Holbrook. Many graves were missing markers, making it difficult for families to locate their loved ones. Inspired by her mother’s service in the Army, Celia organized a massive effort to map and mark the cemetery.

The “headache” of the project? Realizing she couldn’t do it alone. “I had to learn it’s not a one-person show and ask the right adults for help,” she says. Much of that guidance came from her Eagle coach, Mr. Santorelli, who helped her navigate the process. On project day, Celia managed a large group of Scouting and non-Scouting friends by delegating teams to specific sections of the vast cemetery.

The Rewarding Moment: “We were working on project day and I was actually able to help a family find their loved one’s marker right then and there. That was the exact second I realized, ‘We actually did this.'”

Advice for the Next Generation

From left to right: Celia K, Samantha K, and Acadia M.

Celia points to Acadia M. and Samantha K., also from Troop 22 Whitman, as Scouts she looked up to in her early days, helping inspire her as she began working through the ranks. When the Eagle slump hit during her later years in Scouting, the Camp Norse staff encouraged her to stay involved and helped her push across the finish line.

If she could talk to her 12-year-old self, her advice would be simple: “Start early, enjoy the journey, and know that you can become part of the nest.”
As one of the first female Eagle Scouts many people meet, Celia takes the responsibility seriously.  

To her, “Once an Eagle, always an Eagle” means living by the Scouting ideals every day. Her Scouting journey has carried her to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, where she wears a ribbon daily to symbolize who she is as an Eagle Scout and the values she strives to live by. And if she had to sum up the whole experience in three words? “Buddy up, please!”

A Conversation with Molly F., Troop 1792 Duxbury

For Molly F., the path to Eagle hasn’t been a straight line—it’s been a rollercoaster. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we sat down with Molly to discuss how Scouting transformed her from an energetic recruit into a mature leader, Chaplain’s Aide, and a community-minded innovator.

From Energy to Influence

Looking back at her first meeting, Molly admits she was a different person. “I was very energetic,” she laughs. Today, she stands as a pillar of maturity and leadership in Troop 1792. That growth was fostered by mentors like Adam M. (Troop 64 Plymouth) and Alyssa B. (Troop 424 Marshfield), who showed her what a “cool,” experienced Scout looked like.

Her journey began at the Casoni Museum, earning the Scouting Heritage merit badge while decorating for Christmas—a moment she remembers fondly as more than just a “box to check,” but a genuine connection to the movement’s history.

Resilience in the Rain and on the Ice

Scouting is often about “productive failure.” For Molly, that meant mastering the “pop-up tent” during relentless rainstorms and learning to pivot so the fun never stopped. Physically, she pushed her limits at Base Camp in Milton, tackling her fear of heights while ice climbing —a challenge she lists as her hardest to date.

The Eagle Project: Backpacks for Discovery

Molly’s Eagle Project was born from a late-night spark of inspiration: Library Backpacks. These kits, filled with materials to encourage children to explore the outdoors, are available for free checkout. These are available at Plymouth, Pembroke, and Duxbury Public Libraries.

The process wasn’t without its “headaches.” Fundraising required Molly to cold-call organizations and companies, a task made easier by the support of local partners like Tiny and Sons Glass Company. On project day, Molly’s leadership skills were put to the test as she managed her peers by strategically separating “best friend groups” into smaller, focused teams to keep the momentum going.

“The most rewarding moment was testing the project with my brother’s Cub Scout Pack and seeing it actually work,” Molly shares.

Beyond the Badge

Molly’s Scouting skills have already bled into her “civilian” life. During a recent trip to a market in New York, she jumped into action to help a family whose child had a severe bloody nose. “I use First Aid all the time,” she says.

As she steps into a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster role with Troop 143 Pembroke, Molly’s advice to her 11-year-old self is simple: “You will do it. Enjoy the things you are doing in the moment. Don’t worry about the future.”