Namuth Soars to Eagle Scout Rank

SIDNEY - Sunday afternoon was a milestone for young Jayce Namuth of Sidney, as he was honored at the Lodgepole Valley Youth Camp for advancing to the highest possible rank in Boy Scouts, Eagle Scout.

Only about 7% of Boy Scouts in the United States ever attain the rank of Eagle Scout. It is a long process to rise to the highest rank, filled with challenges and obstacles that an adolescent must master as he grows into manhood. The journey up through the ranks requires discipline and the ability to complete tasks, and is a path that well-prepares a young man for the challenges of career and family as an adult.

Earning the rank of Eagle Scout requires the earning of at least 21 merit badges, with a minimum of 14 coming from select Eagle-required merit badges. The required badges include the skills of First Aid, Citizenship, Camping and Family Life. The Merit Badge programs are designed to give the young person a solid understanding and basic mastery of certain skills that are deemed essential for a young man to know to navigate modern life. Additionally, the Scout must also complete a service project helpful to an organization or community other than the Boy Scouts. The Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook must be used to meet the requirement.

Namuth's Service Project came about when the Lodgepole Valley youth Camp Board approached Namuth and asked if he would be interested in building horseshoe pits for the camp.

"It seemed to be a very fun project to do and a lot of people would get to enjoy it when we finished, so I got all the scouts together and we put all the plans together, got all the resources we needed and went to work. It went pretty smoothly and we got the project done with a lot of teamwork," said Namuth.

The well-attended event started with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Scoutmaster Roland Broughton, and then Scout Oath was recited by the Court of Honor. The ceremony was completed with the awarding of the Eagle Rank to Jayce Namuth, followed by Namuth presenting the Parent Pins to his mother LaDonna, and then his father, Kevin. The ceremony concluded and refreshments were served.

After the ceremony, Jayce reflected on his accomplishment, saying "I started as a Cub Scout back in 5th grade I think, because I had friends that were involved with scouting and my father was an Eagle Scout. I loved camping and the outdoors, so after I joined I loved it." When asked if his father pressured him to attain the rank of Eagle Scout, Jayce said, "Well, he didn't pressure me too much and he gave me a lot of good guidance and help. He pushed me a little and I'm glad he did."

Jayce's mother LaDonna also had a scouting background when she was younger. "I was in the campfire girls during my school years. With his father being an Eagle Scout it really helped Jayce keep focused and keep going." Jayce will be a senior this fall at Sidney High School, and although he says he does not have any definite plans as of yet, he sees college in his future and is ready to start going through the college selection process. LaDonna said that Jayce has a talent for music and really enjoys it, and he's interested in becoming a music teacher.

Kevin Namuth was beaming after the ceremony, seeing the end result of his son's hard work and tenacity. Kevin was also an Eagle Scout himself, but got into scouting a little later than Jayce. "I didn't do Cub Scouts and I got into scouting a little later. I had friends that were scouts and I joined up and really got into it," he said. Namuth knows the benefits of scouting and especially going through and attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. "It really prepares you for life. It shows you that if you have a goal, especially a big goal, what you need to do is to chop it up into smaller tasks and go finish them. Sooner than you realize, you've finished all of the small tasks and you've achieved your big goal." Namuth noted that the ability to plan, implement plans and accomplish goals are the basic building blocks of success as an adult, and that he is proud and happy that his son has shown the dedication to accomplish all of the tasks necessary to achieve his goal. "This type of mentality and ability to plan and execute will help him succeed in whatever he does," said Namuth.

When asked which Merit Badge was the most difficult to attain, Jayce thought for a moment and said, "Environmental Science was the hardest. I love the environment and find it interesting, but I did that Merit Badge last summer when I was at camp in Laramie. It was a full week of 90 minute classes every day, and it was very technical. Then I was just glad to get it finished, but now I'm happy that I earned that badge as it taught me a lot." It also taught Jayce that many things we need to know may not be easy or seem important at the time, but you keep focused, do the work and finish the task.

Jayce has followed in his father's footsteps as an Eagle Scout, and will be ready to go out and make his own mark on the world. With his Eagle Scout discipline, he should soon be a young man of many accomplishments.