ARLINGTON When 18-year-old Arlington High School senior Larry Wyland went up for the Eagle Scout ranking, in Arlington Boy Scouts of America Troop 93, he couldnt say that he didnt have enough support from his family, since his mother Frances is a coordinator for the troop, and his father B.J. is the troops scoutmaster.
However, Wyland had been lacking the spare time to pursue the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts, and part of the reason why was because he was being called upon to demonstrate his leadership, which is one of the qualities that qualifies young men to be Eagle Scouts in the first place.
Wyland spent three years as a Life Scout, the second-highest of the six ranks below Eagle Scout, spending each summer serving as a leader and mentor at camp, which delayed him in earning his 21 required merit badges and moving on to the phase of coordinating and leading his own Eagle Scout project.
Wyland spent nearly two months creating six new campsites for the River Meadows Park, by coordinating a team of close to two-dozen members ranging in age from a nine-year-old to his own 75-year-old grandfather.
For Wyland, the greatest challenge of his leadership role came not from getting his crew to work, but from getting himself to stop working since his duties as a supervisor required him to take a step back, and it was really hard to let go of that shovel and do it myself.
Wyland was then interviewed by a three-member review board about how he planned to proceed if he attained the Eagle Scout rank before their recommendations were passed on the Boy Scouts National Council.
For all his family connections to the scouts, Wyland emphasized that it was his own desire to share the knowledge that hed received during his time as a scout that has kept him involved in the organization for all these years as well as giving him the drive to make Eagle Scout.
I like teaching other people, said Wyland, who officially received his Eagle Scout ranking during the last weekend in October. I like knowing that Im able to pass on whats true to another generation, whether theyre older or younger.
Wyland expects to pursue education as his career after high school, as well, with possible stints at Everett Community College and Western Washington University, and while he doesnt have any specific grade level in mind his experiences with youngsters who have disabilities have made him interested in the special education field.
As for Wylands father, hes proud not only of his sons achievements but also the degree to which theyve been recognized by fellow scoutmasters throughout the Puget Sound region.
Hes a great teacher and a lot of the kids that hes taught have gone on to mentor others, B.J. Wyland said. Thats the impact that Larry has had on their lives.