South Elgin Scout earns Eagle rank with St. Charles troop

Boy Scout Troop 10 of St. Patrick Catholic Church awarded Neil Griffin of South Elgin his Eagle Scout Rank at an Eagle Court of Honor June 5 at the St. Charles church.

Neil is the oldest son of Jack and Debbie Griffin and brother of Blake. He's a recent graduate of St. Charles North High School, and plans to major in architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology with an emphasis in environmental design. He's working as a lifeguard for Pool Guards Inc. and as an umpire for Wasco travel and recreational baseball. He just completed restoring and upgrading the engine of a 1965 Mustang while an auto shop student at St. Charles North. He enjoys snowboarding, playing baseball and backpacking.

Neil began in Scouts as a Tiger Cub in Pack 62 in Homer Glen. After moving to South Elgin in third grade, he transferred to Pack 108 at Davis Elementary School in St. Charles, where he completed all the requirements for the Cub Scout Arrow of Light award. In 2004, he moved up to Boy Scouts to Troop 10.

He earned three religious awards while in Scouting: Parvuli Dei as a Cub Scout, and Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII while in Boy Scouts.

Neil attended numerous weekend campouts with Troop 10 and also participated in a High Adventure trip every summer since he was 13. The HA destinations included Glacier National Park, Boundary Waters, Grand Teton National Park, Sea Base Fla., and Shawnee National Forest.

As a Troop 10 Scout, Neil earned 22 merit badges, most of which were earned while at summer camp every year. He also earned the kayaking and snorkeling activity patches. Neil served in many leadership capacities in the troop: patrol leader, librarian, assistant quartermaster, quartermaster, troop guide, scribe, and Senior Patrol Leader. To prepare for this last position he attended the weeklong National Youth Leadership Training in Rochelle, Ill. He also acted as crew chief for the Sea Base and Shawnee HA trips.

In summer of 2010, Neil was inducted into the Order of the Arrow, as an Ordeal member. This is a service organization within Scouting. He will continue to provide service hours to remain an active member.

For his Eagle project, Neil planned, supervised and helped in the construction of 14 new benches at the LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve's Fire Bowl. Since this area is used extensively by Scout groups, Neil felt this was a great way for him to give back to Scouting for all the benefits it has given to him over the years.