By Viktoria Nasteva
A quest to explore and learn led Cade Parkhurst to join Boy Scouts, but the strong bond he established with his troop and the organization’s rich history motivated him to become an Eagle Scout, Scouting’s highest rank.
A Carmel High School senior, Parkhurst has been a Scout for 11 years. His fondest memories are from his troop camping trips, where he gained respect for his fellow Scouts and discovered that his friends are always there to support him.
“I believe that learning the Scouting skills required for Eagle becomes even more important when you do it with your friends,” Parkhurst said.
Only 4 percent of Scouting’s national membership attains the rank of Eagle, according to Gina Strati, a spokesperson for the organization. To become an Eagle Scout, Parkhurst earned 22 merit badges and was a Patrol Leader and Webmaster while maintaining high grades, participating in marching band and planning and fundraising for his Eagle service project.
Parkhurst and eight volunteers constructed an adjustable exercise bench to help physical therapy patients recover from injuries. Ensuring the bench was completely level was imperative, he said. Sympathetic for those struggling with mobility, Parkhurst loved the idea of building something that would help people regain movement, which is vital for a happy life, he said.
Managing his time was a challenge, but knowing how to lead and that failure is OK were the two most valuable lessons Parkhurst learned in Scouting that helped him successfully complete his project and achieve the highest rank.
