Josh Paton, Whiz Kid and Eagle Scout

Fifteen-year-old Josh Paton is a freshman at Jonathan Law High School and a great deal more. Sure, he is in all honors classes and has maintained his place on the honor roll from semester to semester. Sure, he loves snowboarding and soccer and is on the swimming team. But that isn’t all.

While most Boy Scouts work to attain the position of Eagle Scout at the age of 18, Josh reached that goal when he was only 14 years old. His scouting career started when, as a student at Meadowside School, he joined Cub Scout Pack 712. He enjoyed scouting and moved into Boy Scouts Troop 1 in Milford when he was of age. Winning merit badges was one of the rewards for some of the projects he spearheaded; the other reward was a feeling of accomplishment.

For example, he noticed that the so-called “Bunny Trail” behind Meadowside School was in disrepair as were the bridges running over the river bed along the trail. Josh contacted the city and got the appropriate permits to work on the wetlands and restore the trail. He garnered the help of friends and family and, with a crew that grew to approximately 60 people, Josh sanded the bridges, cleaned the trails and restored the Bunny Trail. With funding provided by the Meadowside PTA, and assistance from Milford’s Public Works Department, more work was done. Josh and his crew mulched the area, restored benches, eliminated fungus and moved to curb vandalism on the path by shifting the entrance to allow video surveillance of the area.

Requirements for Eagle Scout include 12 merit badges. By the time he was 14, Josh had earned 22 merit badges and he was inducted into the ranks of Eagle Scout. Now, his enthusiasm for scouting and the standards it sets for young men continues. He currently is a Junior Assistant Scout Master in Troop 1, the first in 10 years. He works with scouts who want to rise through the ranks as he did. As a member of the “Order of the Arrow Honor Society” he represents the troop in activities throughout the state.

Josh’s parents, Chris and Shauna Paton, acknowledge their son’s achievement with pride.  “He's a really great kid,” they say, “and we're proud of his accomplishments, as any parent would [be].” Shauna added that their daughter, Jackie, a Senior at Jonathan Law, is another source of pride for the family. “Overall,” she said, “They are great kids.”

Along with all this, Josh enjoys sailing with the Milford Yacht Club, fishing and riding his bicycle. His favorite classes at school are math and science, and, when asked about his career goal, he quickly responded, “venture capitalist.” This is a boy who usually reaches his goals.