Two earn Eagle Scout rank from Cal-Mum Troop 4027

   Respect for the outdoors and a desire to serve the community, ideals two Cal-Mum Boy Scouts say their scouting experience taught them and were the foundation for their goal of earning the Eagle rank. To earn the Eagle Scout rank, a Boy Scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills.

   Benjamin Little and Cameron Houser, both of Cal-Mum Troop 4027, earned Boy Scouts highest advanced ranking, the Eagle Award in spring 2009. The scouts’ accomplishments were recognized at an Eagle court of honor ceremony held at Stone Presbyterian Church in Caledonia.

   Little became a Tiger Cub when he was in kindergarten. He says the camping trips were his favorite part of scouting and the reason he continued with the troop throughout elementary, middle and high school. His favorite memory is a one-week camping trip in the Adirondack Mountains. Rafting with his troop is another of Ben’s favorite outdoor activities. In all, he completed 23 merit badges, which qualified him to begin the Eagle rank process.

   Beyond the fun and adventure of learning to love the outdoors, Little learned many leadership qualities that led him to decide on an Eagle project that would benefit others for many years to come. Along with his family, Ben is a member of Stone Presbyterian Church. For his Eagle project, Ben designed and created a meditation garden on the side lawn of the church that includes a bench for sitting, a boulder, flowers and a cross.

   "I wanted to do something for the church," he said. "They all seem to like it."

   Little says Boy Scouting made him a leader. He’ll fine tune those leadership skills next fall as he enters Roberts Wesleyan College to study biology. He plans to continue his studies at SUNY’s College of Environmental Science and Forestry to become a conservation biologist.

   He is the son of Bryan and Tina Little of Caledonia.

   Houser, a junior at Cal-Mum High School, has also been involved with his scout troop since he was in first grade. He too says camping and learning to enjoy the outdoors was a big reason for his staying active in scouting all these years. But, he says, he also enjoyed participating in service projects such as clearing trails at the Genesee Country Nature Center.

   "I just like being outdoors, camping and learning to be prepared," Houser said.

   He says scouting has taught him good values and character. He, in turn, passes those qualities on by volunteering his time with the younger scouts. He also works with young children through his job at the Genesee Country Nature Center where he helps kids to appreciate nature and the outdoors.

   After earning 21 merit badges, Houser decided to embark on his Eagle project. It wasn’t difficult for him to decide that he wanted to do something at the GCM Nature Center where hundreds of children would benefit from his efforts. He chose to build a wood picnic pavilion with a shingled roof at the nature center to be used by children attending the day camp there.

   Houser is the son of Tim and Lorie Houser. He plans to attend college after high school to study political science.

   Both of the Eagle Scouts give credit to their parents and Scoutmaster Mike Wyble for supporting their activities throughout the years and, they say, they are not finished yet. The young men say they plan to continue their involvement with scouting and volunteering to work with the younger troop members.