Scouts Support Troops, Community with Service Projects

Teenage boys are typically better known for pranks and homework avoidance than volunteering and charity work. Edina 13-year-olds Benjamin Fogg and TJ Barden truly shatter that mold.

Ben and TJ have been friends since 4th grade. Now both 8th-graders—Ben attends and TJ goes to —the boys do practically everything together. That includes birthday parties, music recitals, church and Boy Scouts. It’s that last activity, though, that’s garnering the duo attention.

Both belonging to Troop 3175, sponsored by the Lake Nokomis ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the two boys recently received the Boy Scouts’ highest rank. As of this summer, Ben and TJ are Eagle Scouts.

The accomplishment is notable not only because it’s the highest rank in Boy Scouts but because it’s one that only five percent of Boy Scouts ever reach. Along with earning 21 merit badges, Scouts seeking the Eagle rank must design and implement a service project. 

Going above and beyond the set requirements, Ben and TJ logged extensive hours with projects that were personally meaningful, helping each other along the way. 

Coming from a patriotic family that can trace its lineage to colonial times, TJ wanted to do something to support the U.S. He organized a comfort package drive for troops serving in the Middle East, working with , and, as well as the local community to put together hundreds of care packages for soldiers—logging a total of 250 service hours on the project.  

The effort was not without its challenges, but TJ said it was all worth it in the end.

"Being an Eagle Scout, you really get the feeling of accomplishment," he said. "You really did something good and important."

Ben, who comes from a family with a history of reaching the rank of Eagle Scout, designed a project that would help beautify Edina. After contacting Park Maintenance Superintendent Vince Cockriel, Ben learned that was in need of trees.

He set forth organizing a group and managed to plant 23 trees in the park, with the help and expertise of Edina Forester Tom Horwath. Horwath said it was a pleasure to work with Ben and his crew, noting the trees will benefit the park by helping to replace those lost to Dutch Elm Disease.

But Ben didn’t stop there. He also added a retaining wall, garden, flowers and a park bench. By the end of the project, Ben had spent some 300 hours improving the public space. Having organized the help of roughly 80 people to complete the project, Ben said he learned the importance of communication.

"Communication was the biggest thing," he said. "Some people like emails better than phone calls; some people like phone calls better than emails. I learned it was important to communicate with people."

Benjamin’s father, David Fogg, said he saw growth in Benjamin through the project. He and TJ’s father, Chris Barden, said they would recommend scouting for the positive effects it can have on the development of young men.

"As parents, you like to see your child do something constructive with their time," Chris Barden said. "It’s hard to imagine something more constructive and useful and helpful."

The nationally recognized honor will be something the boyss can note on college applications, Benjamin said–and college is something these two ambitious eighth-graders already have on their minds. Benjamin said he interested in engineering and space exploration; TJ entertains thoughts of being a lawyer or surgeon.

In the meantime, both boys plan to continue with their Boy Scout troop, going after some of the more fun merit badges now that they’ve put in all this hard work.