FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Fifteen-year-old Ethan M. Webb became an Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America, during a Court of Honor ceremony Nov. 15 at Remington Park on Fort Drum.
The requirements to become an Eagle Scout include earning a set of 21 specific merit badges, performing volunteer work, and organizing and completing a service project helpful to any religious institution, school or the Scout's community.
As a grandson of Theodore Webb and a stepson of Correll Walbroehl, both of whom are Army retirees and Fort Drum Civilian Employees; a sophomore at Carthage Central High School and a member of Boy Scout Troop 33, Black River, Ethan's community is large.
He chose to help Fort Drum's wood turtles, which are deemed endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to many threats, including predation.
Working alongside Fred Ossman of the Fort Drum Directorate of Public Works' Environmental Division, Ethan planned, developed and led others in a project to build cage-like devices to protect wood turtle nests from predators.
"They're called artificial anti-predator wood turtle nesting structures," Ossman said. "Fort Drum wood turtle numbers have been declining dramatically in the past 45 years. I am thankful for Ethan and his crew for their help, which will help repopulate the turtle in Fort Drum."
Ethan and other Boy Scouts used teamwork, communication, leadership and other values that the Army and the Boy Scouts of America share during his project.
"We put these cages together," Ethan said. "We placed them on mounds that we made in the (Fort Drum) training areas."
The structures should last a decade, according to Ossman, and they are meant to allow for the greatest possible reproduction rate by protecting wood turtle eggs and hatchlings from predators such as bears, crows, skunks and raccoons.
Protecting those who cannot protect themselves is a value that Boy Scouts and Soldiers share.
Among the values important to Ethan are public service and reciprocating his Boy Scout experience.
"A career in the military has crossed my mind, but I plan on going to college to become an engineer," he said. "I plan on being a junior assistant Scoutmaster wherever I am for college."
He made the decision that he wanted to attain the rank of Eagle Scout when he was 9 or 10 years old, said his mother, Destini Walbroehl.
Ethan is the third Eagle Scout in his family, having two uncles who share the rank. He is the youngest Eagle Scout in Troop 33, and he has earned 34 merit badges. In his spare time, he enjoys working on engines.
Social Sharing