Scouts from Arlington Heights Troop 468 earn Eagle rank

There are three new Eagle Scouts in Arlington Heights Troop 468. Ryan Politzki, a Saint Viator High School senior; Will Snarski, a Wheeling High School senior; and James Meyer, a Hersey High School senior, were awarded their Eagle Scout Merit Badge during a Court of Honor at Old Orchard Country Club in Prospect Heights Sunday, July 21.

Since 1912, more than 2 million Boy Scouts have earned the Eagle Scout award - Scouting's highest rank advancement. Eagle Scouts exemplify the virtues of service, leadership and duty to God, using their training and influence to better their communities and the world.

These boys were in Prospect Heights Cub Scout Troop 333 together. They each crossed over to different Boy Scout troops. But after a year, all three boys found themselves together again in Arlington Heights Troop 468.

Although these three hardworking Scouts attend different high schools, they have spent many hours together over the years camping, training and leading fellow Scouts.

Together, they have attended two, weeklong summer camps at Camp Napowan in Wild Rose, Wisconsin, earning various merit badges. Later in their Scouting career, they tested their skills on a weeklong trip sailing the Caribbean on the high adventure trip to Bahamas Sea Base. Politzki and Snarski also canoed 50-plus miles in the Boundary Waters from Ely, Minnesota.

While a Life Scout, a Scout must plan, develop and provide leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, school, or community. The project must benefit an organization other than the Boy Scouts of America.

The project proposal must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, the unit leader and unit committee, and the council or district before the Scout gets started. Politzki, Snarski and Meyers have each demonstrated their ability to plan, develop and successfully lead an Eagle Scout service project.

Politzki's Eagle Scout project benefited Saint Alphonsus Ligouri Church in Prospect Heights, where Ryan has volunteered with the Garden Ministry since he was 8 years old. His project included mulching 5 acres of the church campus gardens and building a cedar split rail fence.

Ryan mobilized 39 Scout and parish volunteers, and raised in excess of $2,000 of project funds. He managed more than 400 hours of work to erect a fence and spread the 60-plus yards of premium mulch, improving the appearance and health of the church's already beautiful gardens.

"As I prepared and executed my Eagle Project, I have found I am not afraid of guiding and motivating fellow Scouts, approaching adults, speaking in front a church full of people, and preparing for different scenarios. These fears would have been hard to overcome if I had not participated in Scouting," Politzki said.

Snarski's Eagle Scout project took place at the Indian Trails Public Library in Wheeling. Will and the troop put together nine garden beds for a vegetable garden that was lost due to library renovations. The beds were filled with dirt, and mulch was spread around the area. Later in the season, Will returned to the library and participated in the planting of the vegetable seeds with the library's Youth Garden Club.

Meyers' Eagle Scout project involved completely reorganizing and revamping the storage facilities at Catholic Charities in Des Plaines. James and the troop built and installed shelving units in areas throughout the building to create more space for the donations they receive. Additionally, James created an inventory system for the staff at Catholic Charities to better track and monitor their inventory.

Becoming an Eagle Scout is a significant life achievement, with expectations of lifelong community, business and family responsibilities. The obligations as an Eagle Scout include honor, loyalty, courage, service and vision. By meeting these obligations, the Eagle Scout can lead their troop, their community and their nation toward a better tomorrow.

"The list of ways I have grown in Scouting is as long as my sash filled with merit badges that I have earned," Politzki said.

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