This past spring, Livingston resident John Harrell completed his Eagle Project, the Orchard Trail Restoration Project. This involved restoring the trail located outside the Livingston Community Center. For his project, Harrell and his fellow scouts worked together to rake the trail, remove large rocks and fallen trees, and line the pathway with large sticks and logs. Harrell and several scouts also constructed and installed ten birdhouses and three trail signs along the trail.
Harrell’s Eagle Court of Honor was held at the Livingston Senior/ Community Center on Saturday, January 11.
Harrell’s scouting journey began in first grade when his mother enrolled him in Cub Scouts, believing it would be a fun and engaging activity. Little did she know that this decision would greatly impact his life. Harrell scouting.
In Cub Scouts, he looked forward to competing in the Pinewood Derby each year and participating in the annual winter Taconic trips, where he learned knife skills by carving soap and learned how to navigate in the dark. After progressing through the ranks from Tiger to Wolf, Bear, and Webelos, and eventually earning the Arrow of Light, he transitioned into Boy Scouts.
Excited to join the “boy-led” Troop 12, Harrell embraced camping in cold temperatures and enjoyed bonding with his friends around the fire at places like Gettysburg, Nobebosco, and Allamuchy.As he progressed through middle school into high school, his involvement in Troop 12 deepened. He attended Camp Yawgoog many times, earning numerous merit badges including communications, kayaking, and swimming. He also excelled as a top popcorn seller, ranking in the top ten in the Northern New Jersey Council for multiple years in a row, with total sales of around $20,000 throughout the years.
During his time in Troop 12, Harrell served as a patrol leader for one and a half years for “the Dark Knight” and “Ruthless Rattlesnakes” patrols. During the summer after ninth grade, he participated in the National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT), where he developed leadership skills with other Scouts. His success at NYLT led to an invitation to return as staff, and this upcoming summer he will serve as a head youth staff member in his third year on staff. Continuing his scouting journey, Harrell became the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL) under Kaushik Mukkavilli and then under Zachary Melhorn for one year, before being promoted to Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) of Troop 12 this year.
In addition to his leadership roles, Harrell took on a new challenge this past summer at Philmont Scout Ranch. He took part in the Rayado trek, a 21day hiking experience in the southern Rockies of New Mexico, where he embraced the mantra “Expect the Unexpected.” He hiked 170 miles, summiting over ten peaks, learned survival skills, and created lasting memories and friendships.
Throughout his scouting career, Harrell has earned numerous awards: the Saint Peter’s Outstanding Scout Award twice; the Kean Award for demonstrating overall excellence in scouting; the John Pollock Citizenship Award for his outstanding service to his community; and the Robert Henry Carl Award and the Steve Amron Award for his exceptional leadership and scouting qualities.
Outside of scouting, Harrell is a senior at Livingston High School, where he has taken advanced courses such as AP Statistics, AP Economics, and calculus. He is also active in sports, having served as a captain of the cross-country team as well Shown at top, Harrell and his fellow Scouts worked on his Eagle Scout project, which included the construction and installation of ten bird houses along the Orchard Trail. Directly above, Harrell displays the three signs that he made as part of his project. Lauren Harrell Photos as having participated in winter track and baseball. He loves to be active, having participated in a few half marathons, daily running, and cycling, with hopes to participate in a triathlon in the future. After graduation, Harrell plans to study business in college and has already received acceptances from institutions including the University of Oregon, Michigan State, Purdue, and the University of Pittsburgh. He is currently undecided about where he is going.
Harrell’s journey through scouting has shaped him into a dedicated leader and passionate individual. From his early days in Cub Scouts to his current role as SPL of Troop 12, he has embraced every challenge and opportunity. His achievements, including earning numerous merit badges, excelling as a top popcorn seller, and completing the rigorous trek at Philmont, reflect his commitment to personal growth and teamwork.
