Six Boy Scouts from Troop 5 in Maplewood recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout and were honored on June 6 at the Court of Honor at Maplewood Middle School.
Corbin Berry, Miles Ben-Egypt, James Brier, Noel Donlan, Matthew Schilling and Edward Zarbetski have all had distinguished scouting careers with Troop 5 and were all Cub Scouts prior to becoming Boy Scouts.
The following are the stories of each Scout’s “Trail to Eagle,” courtesy of Scoutmaster Roger Brauchli.
CORBIN BERRY
Corbin joined Troop 5 in April 2009 from Pack 20 in South Orange, where he earned his Arrow of Light award. He has attended two-week summer encampments with Troop 5 at Massawepie Scout Camps in the Adirondack region of New York for the past six summers. While at camp, he has hiked in the Adirondack high-peak region, climbing Wright Mountain, Skylight Mountain and Mount Marcy. In 2013, Corbin took part in the troop’s high adventure trip to St. John, USVI. He was a member of Troop 5’s Philmont Scout Ranch Crew in 2014, backpacking over 90 miles. Corbin has earned 27 merit badges as well as his BSA religious award.
Corbin has served his troop as a Den Chief, Librarian, Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and will be Senior Patrol Leader for the 2015-2016 Scouting year.
He received the Harold Bork Memorial Rookie Scout of the Year Award for the 2009-2010 Scouting year and the Camping Award for the 2013-2014 Scouting year. He is an Ordeal member of the Order of the Arrow, Lenapehoking Lodge IX.
For his Eagle Scout Community Service Project, Corbin planned, organized and led a renovation of an affordable housing unit in Orange, New Jersey, for NewBridge, Inc., a non-profit organization. Corbin and his volunteers spent 228.5 hours repairing walls, windows, house shingles and porch steps. They also painted walls, ceilings doors and woodwork, landscaped the front yard and replaced blinds.
Corbin will begin his senior year in the fall at Chatham High School. He is a co-founder of the Chatham Cares club at the high school, a community based service club. Corbin is an active member of the Wyoming Presbyterian Church in Millburn where he has participated in choir, church musicals, youth group, Interfaith Hospitality Network and annual Mission fundraisers.
MILES BEN-EGYPT
Miles joined Troop 5 in March 2008 after earning his Arrow of Light in Pack 3, Maplewood.
He has attended Massawepie Scout Camps with the troop for two weeks each of the last seven summers. Miles has participated in the troop’s high peaks program, climbing Mt. Marcy, the highest Adirondack peak as well as Big Slide Mountain. He also took part in the troop’s weeklong high adventure trip to St. John, USVI in 2013. Miles has earned 28 merit badges.
Miles has served Troop 5 as Quartermaster, Instructor, Troop Guide and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. He recently became an Ordeal member of the Order of the Arrow, Lenapehoking Lodge IX.
Miles wanted to share his passion for soccer with others. His Eagle Scout Community Service Project accomplished this desire. Miles planned, organized and gave leadership to a wide ranging collection of gently used soccer equipment – balls, cleats, shin guards, uniforms and other soccer equipment to be donated to disadvantaged children. All of the donations were sorted, inspected and cleaned before being delivered to the Newark YMCA. Miles and his volunteers spent 116 hours completing his project.
Miles, is a member of the Columbia High School class of 2015; in the fall he will attend Ramapo College, where he plans to major in business. At CHS, he played soccer for four years, his junior and senior years on varsity. He was also a member of the U.S. Parma Cavalieri soccer team for four years. Miles is a Minority Academic Committee scholar, mentoring underclassmen and has volunteered with “Reading Buddies,” a program that works with elementary school students. Miles is a member of Prospect Presbyterian Church and has been a member of the church’s youth group.
EDWARD ZARBETSKI
Edward was a Cub Scout in Pack 19 in Maplewood, where he earned his Arrow of Light award and joined Troop 5 in March 2008. Edward spent two weeks each of the last seven summers with the troop at Massawepie Scout Camps. He participated in Troop 5’s St. John, USVI high adventure trips in both 2009 and 2013. Edward has earned 31 merit badges.
Edward has served his fellow Scouts as a Den Chief, Librarian, Chaplain Aide, Newsletter Editor, Leave No Trace Trainer and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. He received the Harold Bork Memorial Rookie Scout of the Year Award for the 2008-2009 Scouting year.
An accomplished musician on the double bass, Edward’s Eagle Scout Community Service Project was a vehicle to give back to the South Orange Middle School music program, which had a large impact on his development. Edward and his volunteers refurbished the orchestra room by patching the walls and painting the entire room. He also raised the funding necessary to purchase materials and built a new trophy case for the music department. Edward and his volunteers spent a total of 55 hours to complete his project.
Edward, a member of the Columbia High School class of 2015, will continue his education in the fall at Montclair State University, majoring in Music Education. At CHS, he is a member of the Jazz Ensemble and has played in numerous school musicals. Edward was also a member of the Northern New Jersey Youth Orchestra and participated in the Manhattan School of Music’s precollege program.
JAMES BRIER
James joined Troop 5 in May of 2006 after graduating from Pack 3 where he earned his Arrow of Light. He spent eight, two-week summer encampments with the troop at Massawepie Scout Camps in the Adirondack region of New York State. While at camp, he hiked in the high peaks region, climbing Algonquin Mountain and Wright Peak. James participated in the troop’s week-long high adventure trip to St. John, USVI in 2013. In 2011, he was a member of Troop 5’s Philmont Scout Ranch Crew that backpacked 101 miles and climbed over 26,000 feet. James has earned 27 merit badges.
James served Troop 5 as Historian, Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and Senior Patrol Leader. He is an Ordeal member of the Order of the Arrow, Lenapehoking Lodge IX. James has earned to BSA’s 50 Miler Award.
For his Eagle Scout Community Service Project, James wanted to honor United States Armed Forces members who had given their lives for their country. He identified the World War I memorial in Maplewood’s Memorial Park as a project worthy of his efforts. The memorial had been neglected for years and James decided it was important to work on the memorial to honor those township soldiers who had made the ultimate sacrifice. James planned and organized the restoration of the memorial. He gave leadership to restoring the area including new benches, painting of the flagpole and landscaping. James also led his fellow Scouts in a fund raising effort to purchase the new benches. After 82 hours of volunteer work, the result was a memorial that all residents can be proud to visit.
James graduated in 2013 from Columbia High School, where he was a member of the Ultimate Frisbee team and captain of school’s fencing team. He recently completed his sophomore year at Tulane University, where he is majoring in Engineering Physics.
MATTHEW SCHILLING
Matthew became a member of Troop 5 in March, 2008, after graduating from Pack 3 where he earned his Arrow of Light. He has attended Massawepie Scout Camps for seven summers, each for two weeks. He has hiked in the Adirondack high peaks area with the troop, climbing Phelps Mountain and Mt. Marcy. In 2012 Matt participated in Troop 5’s Adirondack wilderness canoe trek, paddling 70 miles over a five day period. In 2013 he enjoyed being a part of the troop’s high adventure trip to St. John, USVI. Matt served as Crew Leader for one of the troop’s crews that hiked over 90 miles at Philmont Scout Ranch in 2014. Matt has earned 39 merit badges.
Matthew has held the leadership positions of Den Chief, Chaplain Aide, Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. In 2013, Matt’s patrol won the troop’s annual Patrol Cooking Competition. In 2014, he attended Northern New Jersey Council’s National Youth Leader Training course and will serve as an instructor this year.
Matt received Troop 5’s Will Shue Memorial Scout Spirit Award for the 2009-2010 Scouting year and the Elmer Menke Memorial Leadership Award for the 2012-2013 Scouting year. He has also earned his Ner Tamid Scouting religious award, the 50 Miler Award and the World Conservation Award.
For his Eagle Scout Community Service Project, Matthew planned, organized and led an effort to refurbish Columbia High School’s Music Suite. During 148.5 hours of effort, Matthew and his volunteers also added a new violin rack, created closet space for choir robes, painted the room and built a fully functional Music Library.
Matthew will graduate from Columbia High School later this month with high honors. He will continue his studies at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He plans to study biology and anthropology. At CHS, he has participated in the Honors Wind Ensemble as principal bass clarinetist, served as saxophone section leader in the marching band and performed in the pit orchestra for school musicals. He also performs with the Northern New Jersey Youth Orchestra, and has qualified for the Northern New Jersey Area wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band and the New Jersey Region 1 Symphonic Band and Chamber Ensembles. He has served as editor of Guildscript, Columbia’s arts and literature society magazine.
An active member of Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel in South Orange, Matt graduated from the religious school this year and has been a member of the temple’s Senior Youth Group.
NOEL DONLAN
Noel joined Troop 5 in March 2008 after earning his Arrow of Light award in Pack 3, Maplewood. He has camped with the troop for two weeks each of the last seven summers at Massawepie Scout Camps. In 2012, he completed the troop’s 70-mile Adirondack wilderness canoe trek, serving as Crew Leader for the high adventure experience. Last summer he climbed Big Slide Mountain in the Adirondack high peaks region. Noel is a two time participant of Troop 5’s St. John, USVI high adventure trip, both in 2009 and again in 2013. Noel has earned 27 merit badges.
Noel has had a successful history of leadership in Troop 5. He has served his troop as Historian, Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. In 2013, Noel attended and completed Northern New Jersey Council’s National Youth Leadership Training course.
Noel received Troop 5’s Advancement Award for the 2008-2009 Scouting year, the Camping Award for 2009-2010, the Elmer Menke Memorial Leadership Award in both 2010-2011 and 2011-2012, and Scout of the Year for the 2013-2014 Scouting year. He is an Ordeal member of the Order of the Arrow, Lenapehoking Lodge IX.
For his Eagle Scout Community Service Project, Noel partnered with the South Mountain Conservancy to create a pergola in South Mountain Reservation. The pergola, a covered archway, now sits directly in front of the reservation’s wildflower area, welcoming people in to explore the area. Noel planned, organized and provided the leadership to design and build the pergola as well as the fund raising to purchase all of the necessary materials and supplies. Noel and his volunteers spent a total of 430.5 hours completing his project.
Noel, soon to be a 2015 graduate of Columbia High School, will follow his passion for cooking and food by continuing his education at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Outside of Scouting, Noel has worked part-time the last few years at the Village Ice Cream Parlor in Maplewood.
