Interview with Andrew Campbell

What troop are you a part of?

I am a member of Troop 51 in Greenport.

Have you completed any training opportunities within Boy Scouts? 

I have attended National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) which is a week-long program where the foremost leaders in scouting learn leadership skills that they can take back to their troops. I have also completed Den Chief Training which means that I am certified to assist the Cub SCouts with their scout outings.

What does it mean to become an Eagle Scout?

As an Eagle Scout, you have achieved the highest rank in ScoutsBSA. It is a culmination of lots of requirements such as earning at least 21 merit badges, completing a service project, and having already achieved every prior rank.

How old were you when you joined?

I originally joined Cub Scouts (the junior version of Boy Scouts) at the age of 8. Then, I aged out of Cub Scouts when I was 11 and moved into Boy Scouts. 

What is the uniform like?

The uniform consists of a khaki button up shirt, coupled with a dark green trouser. The uniform is oftentimes worn with a traditional neckerchief and slide, but a bolo could be worn instead. 

How often do you meet?

We meet weekly at Holy Trinity Episcipol Church.

What has been the most exciting moment of being a scout?

One of the most exciting parts of being a Boy Scout is going to large scale camps. The troop that I am a part of attends a camp called Camp Yawgoog in Rhode Island every summer. The experience of hiking vast trails and partaking in water activities are some of the most exciting aspects of Boy Scouts.

What is your Eagle Scout project?

For my Eagle Scout project, I chose to help out the Opportunity Shop in Greenport. After meeting with the representatives there, I decided on building nautical themed planter boxes to sit atop the concrete wall to help beautify the exterior. These planters are in the shape of boats to help continue the nautical theme of the town.

How did you come up with this idea?

This idea was brought to me originally by the Opportunity Shop. They were looking for someone to help out with the project and I was up to the task. I was personally the one who chose a nautical shape due to the fact that I wanted to elevate my work from just a standard rectangular planter. I was thrilled to hear that many people wanted to purchase planters of the same design due to how gorgeous they turned out. While I have no intentions of selling them, the idea of people being willing to pay money for my work ensured that I had created an outstanding design.

What do you want people to know about the Boy Scouts?

While the perception of Boy Scouts is that the scouts themselves are nerdy and for a lack of better terms weird, that is not exactly the case. While many troops consist of scouts of such morals, our troop is composed of many individuals who you would not consider this. While we do partake in learning activities, we also spend time enjoying different games and having vast amounts of fun.

How many merit badges do you have?

Over the course of my Boy Scout career, I have amassed a total of 47 merit badges. A large amount of these I earned during Covid 19, by participating in multiple zoom meetings per day.

What is your favorite merit badge? 

One of my favorite merit badges that I have earned is Wilderness Survival. This merit badge has a special place in my heart due to how much of an annoyance it is to complete. First you need to earn the camping merit badge. From there, you need to build your own shelter out of materials you find in the woods, and then stay in it for the duration of the night. While this merit badge may have been a pain to earn, the skills that are learned in the class could help me survive in a situation that would otherwise lead to my termination.

Are there any other programs like Boy Scouts that you are a part of?

Within Boy Scouts, I have become a member of the Order of the Arrow. This organization can be summed up in being referred to as an honor society for scouting. While this is a secret organization that is not to be disclosed, some of the requirements are a day of service, fasting for the day, not speaking to anyone, and laying out in the woods for the duration of the night with no shelter.

What camps have you attended for Boy Scouts?

Over the course of Boy Scouts, I have attended two major scout camps with those being Camp Yawgoog and Baiting Hollow Scout Camp. I have also been on various other outings all across the northeast quadrant of the United States. Another fond location that I visited was Battleship Cove in Massachusetts where we were able to stay the night on the USS Massachusetts.

Would you do it all again?

Yes I most certainly would. I would ideally hope that I could be a part of the National Jamboree which I missed due to the pandemic. I would also like to attend the National Order of the Arrow Conference. I also would go back and try to work on more exclusive merit badges that take a long time to complete such as the hiking merit badge and the backpacking merit badge.