Troop 21

Life Scout Lucas Errico planned and planted a sensory garden as his Eagle Scout project at Willard Elementary School in Pasadena. A sensory garden is a place the students can visit to explore nature using their senses. Volunteers from Troop 21 helped plant the garden, including some Scouts who attended Willard. Thanks to all who helped.

Trask is a special place for T21. Scouts have had many good times at Camporees, Trail to Eagle classes and more at the Scout reservation. So when the camp needed our help after a close call with the Bobcat Fire and then mudslides, T21 stepped up.

According to BSA statistics, fewer than 5% of those who join Scouting in a given year will make it all the way to Eagle. Troop 21 has exceeded that number in recent years, and nothing illustrates that more than this photo of a group of newbies ready to embark on their first backpacking trip to Gould Mesa, in September 2013, with former Scoutmaster Dwight Equitz. Remarkably, all 11 boys persevered and, six years later, each has made it to Eagle. From left to right: Ethan Coe-Renner (Eagle Class of 2019), Michael Matthews (2019), Jason Turner (2019), Michael Ayranian (2020), Maxwell Johnson (2020), Ian Wang (2020), Graham Anich (2020), Ben Cronin (2020), Holden Nash (2019), Kevin Young (2020), and Nico Symons-Galassi (2020). You Scouts make T21 proud.

On a very rainy day, Troop 21 honored Scouts who earned rank advancements and awards at a drive-through Court of Honor. Even though we cannot meet in-person T21 Scouts were presented with a total of 10 rank advancements and 40 merit badges. Some Scouts also earned the Messengers of Peace Award and Outdoor Ethics Awareness Awards. Congratulations!

On December 9, 2020, Troop 21 welcomed our two new Eagles. Michael Ayranian and Dylan McGaharn both completed their virtual Eagle Board of Review. They demonstrated excellent leadership, experience and creativity in especially challenging times. Due to the pandemic, both had their original approved project plans canceled and they had to come up with brand new projects that could be conducted following all safety protocols. Congratulations, Michael and Dylan, job well done!

Community service is important to Troop 21. Even though we are virtual at this time we can continue to make a difference in our community. Click here to find virtual volunteering opportunities.

As Troop Guide, Scout Adrianna has created a series of videos teaching knot tying. You can find them all at: https://troop21pasadena.org/links-and-resources/learn-your-knots/

Troop 21 likes to get together to celebrate rank advancements, merit badges earned and other notable achievements, but this August we had to go virtual. Despite all the obstacles the young men and women of Troop 21 still earned an impressive haul, including:

• 29 rank advancements, from Scout to Eagle
• 8 Eagle palms
• 104 merit badges
• 36 Greater Los Angeles Area Council high adventure awards
• 1 Messenger of Peace award
• 1 National Certificate of Merit

Everyone also received a very special COVID merit badge. Congratulations to all!

Congratulations to Life Scout Zacky Culver who became the first T21 scout (and first scout in the Rose Bowl District) in recent memory to earn a National Certificate of Merit after leaping into action to help another scout in distress. Great work, Zacky. We’re very proud of you.

Life Scout Christian Ortega organized a donation drive as his Eagle project to help get much needed personal safety supplies to the health-care workers at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. It was a huge success. He collected face shields, shoe covers, hair covers, plastic bags, goggles, hand sanitizer, over 200 hand-made masks and 1,000 pairs of gloves. The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department even helped out by donating more than 500 N95 masks. He not only helped his community but he really demonstrated what being a scout is all about.

Graham Anich, one of T21’s only two-term SPLs, attained the rank of Eagle on July 31, 2020. His Eagle Board of Review included former Troop 21 Scoutmaster John Holmes. For his Eagle project, Graham developed a community website with information on the Coronavirus. Check it out here.

Troop 21 Eagle Scout Ethan Coe-Renner was highlighted in the “Bryan on Scouting” blog on the Scouting Magazine website. Ethan was one of four T21 Eagle Scouts selected to march in the 2020 Rose Parade as part of the honor guard. Congratulations, Ethan!

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