Scouts Soar to Eagle! Four Darien Boys Receive Scouting’s Highest Honor

On Saturday, June 7, Troop 35 held an Eagle Court of Honor at the Andrew Shaw Memorial Scout Cabin to celebrate four new Eagle Scouts that have been added to its honor roll, Nicholas Pennington Cohen, Arthur Fleming Doelp, Alexander Joseph Rayhill and Jacob David Rucquoi. They join the 6% of Boy Scouts nationwide who attain Scouting’s highest honor, the Eagle.

The Eagle rank in Scouting, requires demonstrated leadership in the troop, a minimum of 21 merit badges, and the completion of a community service project that benefits an organization outside of Boy Scouts.  Over the years, Eagle Scouts have dedicated thousands of community service hours and made lasting contributions to the Darien community. The recent accomplishments add to the more than 200 Eagle projects in Darien alone since 1928.

For over a year, Nicholas Cohen worked closely with the Darien Police Department as well as the Department of Public Works to plan and execute replacement of the current bike racks at four locations at the Darien and Noroton Heights train stations. The new racks are designed to promote double locking, a much safer way of securing bikes, and the intent is to prevent theft and encourage community members to bike; thus promoting good health, reducing traffic and Darien’s carbon footprint. He spent months on research and presented to and gained approval from the DPD, the town, and the state. He then led a group of Scouts, parents, and friends to complete the overhaul of the racks, including the relocation of potentially concealing landscape, and filming an educational video showing proper locking techniques. The project was completed in October of 2013 and the new racks were in use within hours of installation. Nicholas hopes they will benefit the community for years to come. Nicholas is a resident of Darien, CT and will be graduating this June from Darien High School. He passed his Eagle Board of Review on February 4, 2014. 

The objective of Arthur Doelp’s Eagle Scout service project in May 2013 was to improve the aesthetic appeal and functionality of the outdoor garden area surrounding the Darien Arts Center’s theater entrance that leases space from the Darien Town Hall.  Arthur led a team of over 40 volunteers during 2 days to completely strip, re-grade and replant a 25 ft X 50 ft garden and install mulch pathways. He sought approval from the Town of Darien and his sponsor, the Darien Arts Center, researched and acquired shade tolerant plant donations as well as tree trimming services, trucking and equipment loans. He arranged for 6 months of follow-up care until the garden was established. Because this highly visible and trafficked area adjoins an entrance to the Town Hall and the Arts Center’s theater entrance, Town Hall staff, visitors, Arts Center students and patrons enjoy the new garden. Arthur is a resident of Darien, CT and has just graduated from Greens Farms Academy, Westport, CT. He passed his Eagle Board of Review July 15, 2013. 

Alex Rayhill's Eagle Scout Project in May 2012 aimed to build a library for Part of the Solution, a Bronx Soup Kitchen and community center. In the midst of a multi-million dollar expansion project, the one need that POTS could not physically fit in the new facility was a reading room or library. Alex and his team of Scouts addressed this need by building a "rolling library" consisting of bookshelves on wheels that could be placed throughout the facility. With help from his fellow Scouts, the resources of the Darien High School woodshop, and the advice of expert carpenters, Alex saw his project through from precise design to final product and delivery. Months later, when the book supply ran low, Alex collected books from local organizations and his team assisted in sorting and packaging the books for delivery.  While waiting for hot meals, legal services, medical and dental checkups, or haircuts, POTS's patrons can now find a good book to read and spend their time waiting in a more meaningful way. Alex is a resident of Darien, CT and will be graduating this June from Darien High School. He passed his Eagle Board of Review on October 3, 2013. 

Jacob Rucquoi’s Eagle Scout service project, which was started in April 2013, was an initiative to increase the population of insect-consuming birds that are in rapid decline in the Northeast, especially targeting blue birds, an attractive song bird with a voracious appetite for low-flying insects.  Working with Wild Birds Unlimited, a Darien store that is dedicated to supporting the local bird population, The Connecticut Audubon Society and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Jacob worked through the winter and spring of 2013 on the construction, deployment and (in the summer) the evaluation of 26 birdhouses.  These houses were placed at three country clubs, several Darien Land Trust sites, Spring Grove Cemetery, and two private residences.  By the end of the summer, at least 21 of these houses contained nests of a variety of species, including bluebirds.  Jacob is a resident of Darien, CT and will be graduating from Darien High School this June. He passed his Eagle Board of Review on February 4, 2014. 

Scoutmaster Chris Hagen served as Master of Ceremonies at the Eagle Court of Honor on Saturday and former Scoutmaster, Tavo Reynoso and former Troop Committee Chair, Cathy Giorgio provided the Scoutmaster Minute, humorously illustrating, both figuratively and literally, the fruits of an Eagle Scout’s labor. Assistant Scoutmaster Kevin Granath, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader Andrew Winsch and Eagle Scout Marshall Huffman participated in the ceremony. Special guest presentations were made by CT State Representative, Terrie Wood, CT State Senators Bob Duff & Carlo Leone and Darien Selectman, Kip Hall. Pastor Paul Karus gave the Invocation and Sister Ann Gray the Benediction. Life Scout Andrew Aoyama led the audience in the National Anthem, Meaghan Hope Rayhill and Betsy Wilson performed God Bless America, and Eric Liu played Taps on the trumpet.

Troop 35 is sponsored by the Andrew Shaw Memorial Trust and meets Monday evenings at the Scout Cabin at 140 West Avenue. Information on joining the troop can be obtained at 203-656-1830 or www.darienscouts.org.