SCRANTON — Timothy Ryan Walsh, 13, attained the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest earned rank in the Boy Scouts of America. Timothy is a Boy Scout with North Scranton Troop 57, chartered by Mary Mother of God Parish, Holy Rosary Church.

He is a son of Sheila and Shamus McDonough, of Olyphant and Patrick Walsh, of Dalton. He is a grandson of Edward and Barbara Petroski, of Scranton, Nancy and the late Robert Walsh, of Dalton and the late John and Margaret McDonough, of Scranton. He has two brothers, George Walsh, of Throop, and Sean McDonough, of Scranton.

The seventh grade Wyoming Seminary Lower School student plays the clarinet and is a member of the lacrosse team. He was previously on the Math Counts Scholastic Team and also held a See You at the Pole event at the school. He is a member of the Johns Hopkins Center For Talented Youth.

Timothy has his own nonprofit organization, Camera For A Cure, which he started when he was 5 years old. He takes photos and sells them with the profits being donated to the Lung Cancer Alliance and other nonprofit organizations. He is a lung cancer advocate through the Lung Cancer Alliance. He has advocated on Capitol Hill three times. He is a Youth Advocate with the Children’s Advocacy Center NEPA and earned the 2015 Youth Advocate Award. He is also a Junior Ambassador with Marley’s Mission. He has volunteered with the Keystone Rescue Mission since preschool. He is a regular artist at First Friday Scranton and won the Judith Youshock Youth Artist Award in the spring of 2015.

Timothy began his scouting career as a Bobcat with Cub Scout Pack 73 in September of 2009, transferring to Cub Pack 21 in 2012, under the leadership pf Cubmaster Jeffrey Allan. Timothy earned his God and Family religious award through the Dickson City First Primitive Methodist Church with the Rev. Scott McGrady on Feb. 11, 2013. He received his Arrow of Light on Feb. 14, 2013.

He crossed over into Boy Scout Troop 21, becoming a Scout on March 21, 2013, under the leadership of Scoutmaster Griff Lewis. He successfully completed the NEPA Council Great Expectations Leadership Training Workshop on Nov. 1, 2014 and his Den Chief Training on Nov. 15, 2014.

He transferred to North Scranton Troop 57 in July of 2015, under the leadership of Scoutmaster Eric Myers. He earned his Den Chief Service Award on Dec. 3, 2015. In addition to camping at Goose Pond Boy Scout Reserve numerous times, he also participated in camporees and weekend camping trips with his Troops.

The Scout is a Den Chief with both Cub Pack 21 and Cub Pack 57. He has attended Cub Scout camping trips, including a week at Camp Acahela, with his Cub Scouts. He has served on staff during Parent and Pal and Winter Fun Days. He has held the positions of Patrol Leader, Assistant Patrol Leader, and Den Chief. He has earned thirty three merit badges, at he time of obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout.

Timothy sat for his Board of Review for his Eagle Scout award on Dec. 16, 2015, achieving the prestigious rank. He plans on continuing with Troop 57, continuing his leadership training and adventures until he is too old to continue as a youth member. He plans on maintaining membership and one day becoming a Merit Badge Counselor.

In keeping with the requirement of completing and leading an Eagle project, Timothy worked in cooperation with the board and director of Pocono Mountain Bible Conference, Clifton Township. He planned and led his fellow scouts, friends, family and leaders in refurbishing their 18 hole miniature golf course. Spending 13 days on his project, Timothy and his crew scraped, sanded and painted the frames of each hole on the golf course. The greens were repaired where needed. Old obstacles were removed and many were replaced after being refurbished, rebuilt or constructed by the group. Mulch was laid and flowers were planted. Trenches were dug and wiring was laid, hard wiring the newly added obstacles. Timothy created a “Plinko” type board to determine the order of play. He also constructed a box to hold the newly created mini golf cards he made for the new golf course.

Timothy’s Eagle Court of Honor and reception will be held on April 24 at the Pocono Mountain Bible Conference.

He plans on continuing his education at Wyoming Seminary Upper School and attending college, with his goal of becoming an attorney at law. He would like to be able to graduate from high school also with an associate’s degree in criminal justice.

The rank of Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America. Since the rank began in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men. The title of Eagle Scout is held for life, thus giving rise to the phrase “Once an Eagle, always an Eagle.”

Requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout include earning a minimum of 21 merit badges, 13 required for Eagle. The Scout must demonstrate scout spirit, service, and leadership. This includes an extensive service project that the Scout plans, organizes, leads, and manages. Eagle Scouts are presented with a medal and a badge that visibly recognizes the accomplishments of the Scout. Additional recognition can be earned through Eagle Palms, awarded for completing additional tenure, leadership, and merit badge requirements. The rank of Eagle Scout and all Eagle Palms must be attained before the boy’s 18th birthday.

According to the Boy Scouts of America website, the average age Boy Scouts earn the rank of Eagle Scout is 17.

Walsh
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For Abington Journal

Information provided by Boy Scouts of America Troop 57.