Local Scout Presents FCCPS Secondary Schools with Outdoor Seating

Meridian High School Student Completes Project for Coveted Eagle Award

Falls Church City, VA -- Meridian High School student Daniel Fried this week earned his Eagle Scout award after completing a new outdoor seating area for Falls Church City's public schools. The seating area comprises five benches that sit on the campus outside Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School and Meridian High School cafeterias.

“My main idea was to create an outdoor learning space where students could get fresh air during their classes,” Fried said. He also wanted to provide more outdoor lunch space beyond the existing four picnic tables because “people always wanted that.”

Fried was inspired to undertake the project by another scout in his troop who recently renovated the outdoor classroom space at Mount Daniel Elementary School. “I realized there wasn’t anything like that in our secondary schools – and I wanted to change that,” Fried said.

Fried, 18, led construction of the benches as part of work he is doing to earn his Eagle Scout Award, the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank. To earn the award, each candidate must earn 22 merit badges and successfully complete a community, church, or synagogue-related service project. Only about 6 percent of all eligible boy scouts earn the distinction, according to a national scouting publication.

Fried earnd his award at a ceremony on June 4. Approximately 15 scouts affiliated with Boy Scout Troop 1996 of Falls Church City constructed the benches, under adult supervision. The project involved roughly 150 hours of work to complete. All told, it cost about $800, Fried said, noting that he raised money for the project from donations from family members and the local Home Depot.

A senior at Meridian High School, Fried is also involved in Scholastic Bowl and plays percussion in the Meridian High School wind ensemble and the Falls Church City community band. He is the son of Stewart and Annette Fried.

Boy Scouts of America Troop 1996 serves youth in Falls Church City and surrounding areas and is sponsored by the National Sherriff’s Association. The troop counts more than 30 youth as members and welcomes all interested in scouting.

Virginia Scout Presents Picnic Tables to New Park in Franklin, VA

Gonzaga College High School Student Completes Project for Coveted Eagle Award

Franklin, VA -- Virginia Boy Scout Hartwell Craig this week earned the highest award in scouting after completing a service project benefiting residents of The City of Franklin, VA. For the project, Craig led construction and delivery of five picnic tables, including three ADA-compliant tables, in the county’s new 203-acre Blackwater Park. 

Craig, 16, was inspired to undertake the project because the new park, called Blackwater Park, lacked sufficient seating for recreational use. He completed the project as part of his Eagle Scout Award, the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank. To earn the award, each candidate must earn 22 merit badges and successfully complete a community, church, or synagogue-related service project. Only about 6 percent of all eligible boy scouts earn the distinction, according to a national scouting publication.

Craig was recognized with his award at a Court of Honor ceremony on June 6, 2023. He was also recognized with two Silver Palms, representing an additional 30 merit badges earned.   Approximately 12 scouts affiliated with Boy Scout Troop 1996 of Falls Church City supported the project, which involved roughly 130 service hours. “All told, it cost about $$3,800”, Craig said, noting that “he financed the project through a grant from the City of Franklin Parks and Recreation Department.”  Franklin City Mayor Frank Rabil remarked, “We had a need and this young man stepped in and solved our problem, demonstrating real leadership in the process.  Our community appreciates the effort it took for him to help a city three hours away from his hometown.”

A rising junior at Gonzaga High School in Washington, D.C., Craig is a 2 year member of both Football and Lacrosse teams, on the yearbook staff and the photo club. He is the son of Jamie and Anne Craig. Craig joins three generations of his family as an Eagle Scout:  Grandfather, Jim Craig, Eagle Scout 1949, his father Jamie, Eagle Scout 1980, and his older Brother, Jameson, Eagle Scout 2022. 

Boy Scouts of America Troop 1996 serves youth in Falls Church City and surrounding areas and is sponsored by the National Sherriff’s Association. The troop counts more than 30 youth as members and welcomes all interested in scouting.

Franklin Mayor Frank Rabil accepts picnic table donation from Eagle Scout Hartwell Craig

Troop 1996 Scout Retrofits Toys for Kids with Disabilities and Gifts to Local Public Schools

Falls Church City, VA -- Local Boy Scout Wesley Sturgill this week earned the highest award in scouting after completing a public service project benefiting disabled youth in the area. For the project, Sturgill retrofitted remote control cars and other toys for children with severe motor disabilities and gifted them to the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Program, an Arlington school that serves kids with special needs.

“It’s like Christmas,” said Sarah Peters, a Shriver occupational therapist who received the toys last fall. The toys were also given to students in other Arlington schools including Drew Model Elementary and Barrett, and went to some homebound students.

Sturgill was inspired to undertake the project because “it’s hard for kids with severe motor disabilities to use a lot of standard electronic toys, and adapting them is really expensive.” Families could do it themselves, he added, “but it’s hard and takes time.”

To address that problem, Sturgill retrofitted about two dozen electronic toys, including remote control cars and toys that featured moving parts, toys that lit up, and toys that made noise. “Instead of toys with small buttons and levers that need to be switched or flipped, we created homemade buttons that kids could rest their hands on,” he said.

Sturgill, 17, completed the project as part of his Eagle Scout Award, the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank. To earn the award, each candidate must earn 22 merit badges and successfully complete a community, church, or synagogue-related service project. Only about 6 percent of all eligible boy scouts earn the distinction, according to a national scouting publication.

Sturgill earned his award at a Court of Honor ceremony in June. Approximately 12 scouts affiliated with Boy Scout Troop 1996 of Falls Church City and two friends supported the project, which involved roughly 130 service hours. All told, it cost about $400, Sturgill said, noting that he financed the project with his own savings and donations from friends and family to an Amazon toy “wish list.”

A senior at Meridian High School, Sturgill is also a leader in the Fellowship of Christian athletes and swims for Meridian High School, which won the state championship this year. The son of Chris and Renee Sturgill, he plans to go to Virginia Tech this fall to study economics.

Boy Scouts of America Troop 1996 serves youth in Falls Church City and surrounding areas and is sponsored by the National Sherriff’s Association. The troop counts more than 30 youth as members and welcomes all interested in scouting.

Our new Troop badges have arrived!

Our new Troop 1996 badges have arrived and they look fantastic!