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Eagle Scout Aaron Maynard soars
Aaron Maynard and his Eagle project
By JoAnn Talkington
Fewer than 2 percent of all Scouts reach the rank of Eagle. Even fewer accomplish as much as this Eagle Scout from Coppell, Texas. Aaron Maynard will be recognized on Feb. 19, but his Board of Review was on Nov. 20, 2012 -- making him a Centennial Eagle Scout. 2012 was the 100th Anniversary of the Eagle Scout.
Aaron Travis Maynard began his Scouting journey as a Tiger Cub in El Paso, Texas, with Pack 86 of St. Raphael’s Parish. As a Bear Cub, Aaron relocated from El Paso to Coppell,Texas.
He continued along the Cub Scout path through Pack 846 of Mockingbird Elementary. Then after moving into our current home, Aaron transferred to Pack 850 at Town Center Elementary. He received the Arrow of Light Award in Cub Scouts and then crossed over to Boy Scout Troop 841 at St. Ann’s Parish in April 2008.
With the the summer so busy and playing football in fall 2009, Scouting fell off of Aaron’s radar. After Gregory Ludden invited Aaron to visit Troop 842, Aaron joined on Sept. 9, 2010. Aaron decided he wanted to continue along his Scouting path, thus making it a goal to reach Eagle by his 16th birthday.
He reached the rank of 2nd Class in October 2010, 1st Class in November 2010, Star in June 2011 and Life in January 2012. After completing NYLT, the National Youth Leadership Training, Aaron became the Senior Patrol Leader for Troop 842. Aaron was honored to be called out for the OA, Order of the Arrow, in March 2012. His membership was acquired through completion of the OA Ordeal in May 2012. As a new member of the Order of the Arrow, Aaron attended NOAC, the National Order of the Arrow Convention with the Circle Ten Council. He was the only Scout from Coppell, Texas, to attend NOAC 2012.
As a Life Scout, Aaron began planning his Eagle project and completing his Eagle required merit badges. Aaron finished his last required Eagle merit badge in May 2012 and his Eagle project in October 2012. Aaron celebrated his 16th birthday on Nov. 9 and reached the rank of Eagle as he passed his Eagle Board of Review on Nov. 20, 2012. He couldn’t schedule things any faster, but he made the rank of EAGLE and “once an Eagle, always an EAGLE.”
Aaron is now working on the Eagle Palms. There are three of them, Bronze, Gold and Silver. His First Palm can be earned after three months as an Eagle, thus just following this ceremony he is scheduled for his Eagle Bronze Palm Board of Review.
Each palm requires an additional five merit badges and three months of Scouting before your 18th birthday. Since Aaron just recently turned 16 and has 27 extra merit badges, he just needs to stay active in Scouting, which he loves. He has participated in multiple campouts and special events throughout his Scouting experience; however, his best camping experience was backpacking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. This hike required months of training and preparation.
The Grand Canyon Team received a special permit allowing them to camp at the bottom. This remarkable trip will never be forgotten by Aaron. Aaron is currently the Den Chief for the Tiger Cubs from Pack 850 of Town Center Elementary. That is the same pack where Aaron earned his Arrow of Light Award. This month, Aaron performed at the Pack 850 Blue & Gold Banquet as a magician.
Aaron’s magic and Scouting have been entwined as he keeps challenging the National Scouting Office Innovations Team to consider a magic merit badge. This summer, the 2013 National Scout Jamboree will take place in its new home at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve. Aaron will be attending the Jamboree with a group of 36 youth members and four leaders from our area. Five Troop 842 members will be joining Aaron along with 50,000 other Scouts. Aaron will once again be in a leadership position during this exciting journey.
The Order of the Arrow (OA) has recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. This recognition provides encouragement for others to live these ideals as well. Arrowmen are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, promoting year-round and long term resident camping, and providing cheerful service to others. (From the National OA Web Site, www.oa-bsa.org)
May 3-5, 2012 Order of the Arrow Ordeal. 1) Aaron Maynard and 2) Andy Lautzenheiser, Aaron Maynard, Joey Mungo, Justin Samuels and Kenneth Cole.
After Aaron had been inducted into the Order of the Arrow, he went with his lodge to NOAC 2012, the National Order of the Arrow Convention at Michigan State. 7,000 Arrowmen attended the Convention. The week was filled with various types of leadership, skills and activity programs.
The Mikanwawa Lodge 101 did a sightseeing, fun road trip to NOAC 2012.
NYLT trains Good Scouts to be Great Leaders!
Aaron completing National Youth Leadership Training (Winter 2011)
National Youth Leadership Training is an intense, 5 1/2-day, outdoor leadership training experience for youth troop, team, and crew leaders. The course goal is to prepare young men and women to become superior leaders in their troop, crew, district, council, and other organizations they belong to now, and in the future.
Participants learn to use current corporate leadership skills within the framework of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. BSA National carefully developed the NYLT curriculum with the input from current corporate trainers, the United States Air Force Academy, and others in the training community. When regional pilot courses of NYLT were completed, Wood Badge for the 21st Century (advanced adult leadership training), was aligned to the NYLT Course Syllabus. Graduates of this program become senior leadership in their troop, team, crew as well as leaders in their Schools, Churches and Communities.
The course is led and taught by some of the best youth leaders in the Council; all of whom are graduates of the NYLT program and typically have staffed multiple courses. The adult advisors who assist the Youth Staff are Wood Badge-trained with extensive experience in training programs.
(From the Circle Ten NYLT website, www.c10nylt.org)
After completing NYLT, Aaron served his Troop as their Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) for two terms.
48 Merit Badges Earned
American Cultures
American Heritage
Archaeology
Archery
Architecture
Astronomy
Aviation
Bird Study
Camping*
Canoeing
Carpentry
Chemistry
Chess
Citizenship in the Community*
Citizenship in the Nation*
Citizenship in the World*
Climbing
Collections
Communication*
Computers
Dentistry
Emergency Preparedness*
Engineering
Environmental Science*
Family Life*
Fingerprinting
First Aid*
Fishing
Genealogy
Indian Lore
Law
Mammal Study
Music
Pathfinding
Personal Fitness*
Personal Management*
Photography
Public Speaking
Railroading
Rifle Shooting
Robotics
Salesmanship
Shotgun Shooting
Space Exploration
Sports
Swimming*
Theater
Wilderness Survival
* Eagle Required
Plus Earned Two Top Story Awards from Circle Ten Council
Aaron’s Eagle Scout Project
Aaron, with the help of mentor Scoutmaster David Lautzenheiser, designed and led the building of two TREX picnic tables for the Coppell Nature Park. The tables were placed at the trailhead near the bridge that divides Wagon Wheel Park. The table legs and structures were made out of more durable, long-lasting cedar. The bench and the tabletops were made out of 2-inch TREX. The TREX tables are aesthetic to the trailhead in their wood veneer and outdoor design. Families and groups that are hiking will benefit from being able to enjoy their picnic lunch there after trail hikes.
The tables were expensive and Aaron held three fundraisers to raise funds to build the tables. First, Aaron had a car wash at the 7-Eleven. Second, he sold hot dogs at Ace Hardware.
Lastly, he did some strolling magic at a table located at the front of the Coppell Farmers Market.
Aaron would like to give a special thanks to all of those who helped with the fundraising and construction of his Eagle project:
Nathan Arispe, Nicholas Arispe, Mr. Gilbert Arispe, Zak Cassidy, Kenneth Cole, Dominic Gaffney, Chris Goldman,Mr. Jeff Hallberg, Connor Halverson, Mark Jeska, Samir Jiwani, Andrew Lautzenheiser, Mr. David Lautzenheiser, Peyton LeBlanc, Avery McAnelly, Shashwath Murthy, Bryce Quonoey, Logan Quonoey, AJ Schuh, Aditya Sudha (Troop 840), Chandru Sundarrajan, Mr. Darren White, Joshua White and my parents Michael & JoAnn Talkington. Dad & Mom, I love you!
Aaron is a sophomore at Coppell High School in the STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) Academy. He plans to pursue a degree in engineering. Aaron loves performing magic, playing baseball or his guitar. He volunteers his magical talents for the BNSF Make-A-Wish Train Ride and CookChildrens Hospital. He also loves hanging out with his friends, his nephew Zak and his dog Jake!
Aaron Maynard will be confirmed at St. Ann's Parish on May 19, 2013.
Eagle Scout Court of Honor
in recognition of
Aaron Travis Maynard
February 19, 2013
First United Methodist Church
Coppell, Texas
Scout Oath
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
And to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake,
and morally straight.
Scout Law
A Scout is
trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
Scout Motto
Be Prepared
Scout Slogan
Do a good turn daily
Training
Junior Leadership Training
National Youth Leadership Training
National Order of the Arrow Convention 2012
Leadership Positions
Patrol Leader
Senior Patrol Leader
Den Chief
Quartermaster
Camping
Mineral Wells State Park, TX
Camp Cherokee, TX
Daingerfield State Park, TX
Dinosaur Valley Primitive Camp, TX
Enchanted Rock State Park, TX
Camp Wisdom, TX
Camp James Ray, TX
Comanche Springs Astronomy Camp, TX
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, OK
Camp Constantine, TX
Grand Canyon, AZ
Camp Tahosa, CO
Camp Alexander 2013*, CO
High Adventure
Hiking Sandia Peak, NM
Backpacking the Grand Canyon, AZ
White Water Rafting, CO
National Order of the Arrow Convention 2012, MI
National Scout Jamboree 2013*, VA
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