Great River Boy Scout Earns His Eagle Scout Badge

Press release from Troop 205:

April 25, 2021

Lucas Erhard, Great River, New York, successfully completed his Eagle Board of Review on November 18, 2020, officially making him the 93rd Eagle Scout of Troop 205 of Great River, East Islip, and Islip Terrace, NY. Lucas’ Eagle Court of Honor will be held on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, starting at 7:00PM at Troop 205’s Sponsoring Organization – the Great River Fire Department, 108 River Road, Great River, NY 11739. Any New York State COVID related safety rules in effect at that time such as guest limits and masks will be implemented for the ceremony.

Lucas is a member of Troop 205, sponsored by the Great River Fire Department, under the direction of Scoutmaster Mark Businski. On his “Road to Eagle,” Lucas has served Troop 205 as Patrol Leader, Assistant Patrol Leader, and Troop Guide – working with his younger Scouts on their Rank Advancements.

Lucas has had many unique Scouting experiences, with 60 camping nights with the Troop. Some of his favorite camping experiences included being a Boy Scout Camp Wakpominee Camper for four summer seasons, the 2017 National Boy Scout Jamboree at the Bechtel Summit in West Virginia, a 2019 Crew Member The Florida Seabase – living on a sailboat for a week and scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, swimming in the Florida Keys, The Montauk Fishing Trip, Camp Wakpominee Ski Trips, Harriman State Park Hiking Trip, Washington, D.C, Gettysburg Historical Trails, Camp Hero – Long Island, Mystic Seaport, Cedar Point County Park Camping, Indian Island County Park Bike Hike, and the Suffolk County Council Camporee.

To become an Eagle Scout, a Scout must earn 21 merit badges, of which 13 are specifically Eagle required, progress through six rank advancements – from Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, then Eagle, and also plan, develop, and implement a major service project for the community. Lucas has actually earned 23 merit badges. Lucas has also been elected by his fellow Troop Scouts to be a member of The Order of the Arrow, the Boy Scout’s Honorary Camping Society.

The Service Project that Lucas developed, planned, and implemented with the assistance of his immediate family and Troop 205 Scouts and Leaders, was planning, purchasing, and installing a planter, restoring benches, and scraping and painting the Fellowship Hall at the Immanuel Episcopal Church, Great River, NY.

Lucas has also earned the following awards and achievement in Scouts: Webelos Arrow of Light, Firem’n Chit, Tot’in Chit, Cyber Chip, Scuba BSA, Kayaking BSA, and the NOA Camping Gold Award.

Lucas recently said this about his Scouting experiences and career: “The moment I went on all the Scout camping trips and enjoying nature and being outdoors, I realized what I wanted to do with my life. I want to be in the Environmental Science field, which I directly credit to the Boy Scouts, gaining the various skills from Scouts that I have also acquired a group of lifelong friends.”

He went on to say, “All in all, Scouts has been an absolute blessing to my life, and I know that with the lessons it has taught me, that I will always be successful no matter what happens. Having this background will help me in college, in my professional career, and will help me throughout the rest of my life – not only because of the skills learned along the way, but the countless amazing opportunities I have had.”

Lucas is currently a senior at East Islip High School, East Islip, NY, where he has achieved Honor Roll and High Honor status all through high school and middle school, where he is a member of the National Junior Honor Society and the East Islip Mock Trial Team. He has also been a member of the Honors Symphony Orchestra, the 2019 New York State Mock Trial Team, the Chess Club, and Stage Crew. Lucas was also a member of the 2018 and 2019 Mock Trial Empire World Championships.

Lucas was a member of the JV Golf Team in 2017, 2018, and 2019, the JV Track and Field team in 2018, the JV Wrestling Team in 2016 and 2017, the Town of Islip Soccer team for six fall seasons, and the Town of Islip Baseball League for eight spring seasons.

He has also been a member of the East Islip Junior Fire Department for the past six full years of service, where he is a Lieutenant and a member of the East Islip Fire Department Junior Racing Team.

Volunteering has been a way of life for Lucas as he has worked on many Eagle Scout Projects and has logged in 93.8 community Service Hours through Troop 205.

Upon his high school graduation, Lucas will be attending the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where he was part of the 13% out of state applicants accepted. Lucas has been accepted into the Coastal Engineering Program, and plans to minor in Environmental Science.

Lucas is the son of a very supportive Scouting family with his Mother, Martina, along with his father, Troop 205 Assistant Scoutmaster and Eagle Scout Al Erhard. His Father, Al, is also a member of the Great River Fire Department.

This press release was produced by Troop 205. The views expressed here are the author's own.