East Islip Boy Scout Earns Eagle Scout Badge

EAST ISLIP, NY - John William Camlet, of East Islip, recently completed his Eagle Board of Review, officially making him the 78th Eagle Scout of Troop 205 of Great River, East Islip, and Islip Terrace.

Camlet’s Eagle Court of Honor will be held on Saturday, March 23 starting at 11 a.m. at the Timber Point Elementary School on 200 Timber Point Road in East Islip.

Camlet is a member of Troop 205, sponsored by the Great River Fire Department, under the direction of Scoutmaster Mark Businski.

"All throughout my life, I have proudly considered myself a Scout, and with Scouting comes helping others," he said. "It wasn’t until I got older that I realized that the things I did for fun was actually making a positive difference in people’s lives."

On his “Road to Eagle,” he has served Troop 205 as Assistant Senior Patrol Leader of Troop Guides, Patrol Leader, Assistant Patrol Leader, and a Troop Guide himself – where he has assisted his younger Scouts in their Rank Advancements.

He has had many unique Scouting experiences; including being a Crew Member for the 2017 Florida Sea Base Trip in the Florida Keys, where he and his crew sailed, scuba dived, snorkeled, and fished for a week over the February school break.

Camlet was also a summer camper for six summer seasons at the Boy Scout Camp Wakpominee in Ft. Ann, New York, in addition to being a Camp Counselor in 2017 for three weeks, working on the waterfront.

While he has had many fine weekend camping trips with Troop 205, his most memorable were the 2018 Washington, DC trip as he enjoyed the museums and monuments, as well as the many trips hiking and camping at Harriman State Park and Indian Island.

He has had 80 total camping nights with the Troop.

To become an Eagle Scout, a Scout must earn 21 merit badges, of which 13 are specifically Eagle required, progress through six rank advancements – from Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, then Eagle, and also plan, develop, and implement a major service project for the community. John has actually earned 26 merit badges.

The Service Project that Camlet developed, planned, and implemented with the assistance of his fellow Troop members, friends, and family members was building and installing of four planters and two benches in the courtyard of the East Islip High School.

He has also earned the following awards and achievement in Scouts: Webelos Arrow of Light, BSA Lifeguard, Snorkeling BSA, BSA Scuba Diving, Kayaking, Firem’n Chit, and Tot’in Chit.

"I would have never experienced all the great things I did if it weren’t for Scouting," he said. "I am incredibly grateful to the Scouting movement for all that it has done for me and I always will be."

Camlet is currently a freshman at SUNY New Paltz where he is already achieving a 3.75 grade point average and has been recently named to the Dean’s List for the fall, 2018 semester.

He graduated from the East Islip High School last spring where he was on the Honor Roll for academic excellence and received The Principals Award during his senior year.

He was the proud recipient of the following academic scholarships for college: Lifetouch Photography, East Islip Historical Society, and the East Islip Fire Department.

He was the Senior Class President both his senior and junior years, and was the Homecoming King during his senior year. He was also an active member of the Video Production, Stage Crew, and Robotics Club in high school.

As Senior Class President, Camlet made a very special presentation to his Graduating Class, families, faculty, and staff at his high school graduation this last June, 2018.

He also played the Saxophone for five years in the East Islip Middle School and East Islip High School, where he participated in NYSSMA from 2010 through 2015.

From his skills obtained in Scouting with his Lifeguard BSA achievement, Camlet has continued his training as Town of Islip Lifeguard for the past three years.

Volunteering has been a way of life for John as he has been a volunteer collecting canned goods for holiday food drives, collecting coats, gloves, scarves, boots, and blankets to help the homeless, and making sandwiches as part of the “Peanut Butter and Jelly Gang,” to feed the less fortunate in the community.

He has also worked with the “Keep Islip Clean” organization as a volunteer as well as working the 5K Run/Walk for the EJ Autism Foundation and serving youth at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Islip, Vacation Bible School.

In addition, Camlet worked on many Eagle Scout Service Projects for his fellow Scouts and has logged in over 27 community service hours through Troop 205.

He is the son of Elaine and John Camlet of East Islip, and brother to Robert, who is a 1st Class Scout with Troop 205. His father is also an Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 205.

Congratulations to John Camlet!

Photo courtesy of Troop 205