On Sunday, April 26th, eight scouts from Troop 5 and one scout from Troop 50 were honored and recognized for reaching the rank of Eagle Scout. The court of honor ceremony took place at First United Methodist Church on Lavaca Street, where both troops meet. The Troop 5 scouts were Case Callender, Eli Erickson, Gabe Fowler, Leo Matney, Rohan Sherwood Sharma, Zane Shieh, Dash Wilcox, and Lee Worsham. The Troop 50 scout was Juliet Key.
Troop 5 was founded in 1911 and is one of the oldest scouting troops in the United States. It is believed to be the oldest continuously chartered scout troop in Texas. The troop currently includes 57 scouts. Troop 50 was one of the first troops formed once girls were allowed to join scouting in 2019, and currently includes 30 members.
With only 6% of all scouts achieving the prestigious Eagle Scout rank, this is a monumental accomplishment that demands long-term commitment, experience camping and exploring in the great outdoors, and the development of leadership skills. All merit badge and rank requirements must be completed before the age of 18.
Case Callender
Case reconstructed a 20-foot inoperable and decaying foot bridge on the grounds of Camp Mabry. The bridge was composed of 3 telephone poles, over 70 wooden planks, and several wooden posts with rope threaded through as a guard rail. Case guided his crew to remove the old planks and handrail, discovered that he would be able to use the still intact base, and successfully rebuilt the bridge! The project took much longer than he anticipated, and he learned the fulfillment of completing a truly challenging project, and is grateful for the scout crew that worked on the project.
Juliet Key
Pease Park is a favorite spot for Juliet Key. She loves being able to experience nature so close to downtown Austin. When she learned about Pease Park Conservancy’s mission to increase biodiversity, she was inspired to install a chimney swift tower. Chimney swifts have lost many of their natural roosting sites and play an important role in pest management—each bird can eat over 2,000 mosquitoes a day. Juliet built the structure off-site, then spent two days with her troop installing the 15-foot tower. Through the process, she gained valuable experience in leading volunteers, managing time, and working with city officials.
Eli Erickson
As a member of the Austin High golf team, Eli walks Lions Municipal Golf Course every week, and he recognized that many of the signs in place were worn down or low quality. He designed and ordered nine permanent signs to be installed with concrete foundations that provide information and way-finding assistance for golfers. His team of volunteers dug foot-deep holes, mixed concrete around the base of the post, and then reset the grass. Eli learned that clear instructions for the volunteers were essential to ensure each sign was properly installed. The signs will provide directions for golfers for many years to come.
Rohan Sherwood Sharma
Rohan Sherwood Sharma’s project consisted of repairing wooden bleachers at the South Austin Optimist Little League baseball field with fresh wood so that people can sit safely and comfortably for years to come. Additionally, some of the retaining walls near the bleachers were in bad condition, so he graded the walls into a slope. Rohan is a member of the Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) baseball program and a former Little League player, making the project an easy choice. Rohan found that it is important to ensure every volunteer is on task by having more experienced people assist with leadership.
Lee Worsham
Lee’s Eagle project consisted of building benches and landscaping in front of the parking lot that the Austin High Marching Band uses to practice. The main purpose was to increase the efficiency of the rest times to keep people out of the heat when off the field. Lee copied the design of the few benches that already existed and developed a seating plan showing where each bench would be placed once built. The scouts also spread mulch around the trees to facilitate growth and increase shade during the summer.
Zane Shieh
For his Eagle Scout project, Project Full Measure, Zane Shieh brought together a group of talented musicians and artists to create original songs reflecting their experiences with mental health. As part of this project, Zane also spoke as a mental health advocate at Thrive Fest, an annual children’s mental health festival, and his band performed songs for the audience. Through this experience, Zane learned the importance of approaching sensitive topics with understanding and meeting people where they are. He also saw how powerful it is when teens support other teens, creating connections through shared experiences.
Dash Wilcox
While in Troop 5, Dash participated in several Eagle projects at the Helping Hand Home and enjoyed them while he developed an appreciation for the organization’s cause. During a tour of the facility, Dash saw the fences as an area for improvement. The repairs included replacing missing boards, power-washing weathered sections, and staining several hundred feet of fence with the help of dozens of volunteers. Dash would like to thank his parents and grandparents for funding the project, and the Helping Hand Home for making the project possible.
Leo Matney
Leo chose the Capitol School of Austin (CSA) for his Eagle Scout project to give back to the school that supported his early language development. CSA had a playground platform built by a previous Eagle project, but it lacked shade. To improve it, Leo designed and led the construction of a pergola with seating, coordinating volunteers over several weekends. His project created a shaded gathering space that enhances the school’s outdoor environment. Leo is proud that his work will benefit CSA’s students and community for years to come.
Gabe Fowler
Gabe Fowler planned and led the renovation of an outdoor area at Helping Hand Home. The goal was to make the space safer and cleaner for the children who live at the Home. Gabe organized volunteers to rebuild and stain a wooden fence as well as spread mulch in areas of the workspace.
