West Chicago teen becomes Eagle Scout with horse jump project

Hampton Gryniewicz of West Chicago is the newest Eagle Scout for Wheaton’s Scouting Troop 34 (formerly BSA Troop 34).

Hampton joined Scouting in grade school as a Cub Scout, crossing over into Boy Scouts Troop 34 in fifth grade. He remained active in the Troop throughout high school, following in his older brother Payton’s footsteps in becoming an Eagle Scout, Scouting’s highest rank.

For his Eagle project, Hampton built a horse jump for the Danada Equestrian Center in Wheaton. This project including researching the rules and regulations of the major governing bodies for horse jumping, designing the jump, fundraising, gathering materials, organizing volunteers and building the jump. It took over a year for him to complete the project with the help of his family, eight Scouts from his Troop and three Scout leaders, and several hours of labor. He celebrated his achievement at a ceremony called an Eagle Court of Honor in December 2024.

Hampton is a 2024 graduate of Wheaton Academy High School in West Chicago where he played football all four years. As a freshman and sophomore, he was on the junior varsity team and from sophomore through senior year played varsity football where he was both an offensive lineman and defensive tackle. He also played varsity volleyball as a junior and senior.

He is currently attending Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana, where he is on the offensive line for their football team. He is a double major in mathematics and data science. His younger brother is a Star Scout and plans on also becoming an Eagle Scout in the future.

Since its inception in 1911, only 4% of Scouts earn the Eagle Scout rank, the highest rank attainable for a Scout. In order to become an Eagle Scout, youth must advance through several ranks first, earn at least 21 merit badges including 14 specific Eagle required badges such as first aid, serve in a leadership position for their troop, obtain several letters of recommendation and complete a service project that benefits the community or an organization other than Scouting.

For the project, the scout is expected to fundraise, keep a budget, organize a group of volunteers, keep a log of hours worked and see the project to completion before their 18th birthday. The scout then undergoes an Eagle Scout Board of Review in order to be approved for the Eagle Scout rank.

Troop 34 received its original charter in 1921, making it one of the longest continuously chartered troops in Illinois.

Currently chartered by the Wheaton VFW Post 2164, the troop has approximately 12-20 Scouts at any one time and draws boys from Wheaton, Warrenville, Winfield and surrounding communities.

Despite its smaller size, Troop 34 has helped over 115 Scouts achieve the rank of Eagle since 1980. They meet weekly, camp monthly, and attend a full week of summer camp in Rhinelander, Wis. annually. Youth can join a Cub Scout Pack from kindergarten through fifth grade.

Older youth can join a Scout Troop between the ages of 10-17 years old and need not have been a Cub Scout to join. Youth are welcome to join Scouting at any age.

For more information about Scouting Troop 34, visit www.wheatontroop34.org. You can also find the troop on Facebook at BSA Troop 34 or Instagram at troop34wheaton.