Islip Terrace Boy Scout Earns Eagle Badge

ISLIP TERRACE, NY - James Michael Norrby, of Islip Terrace, recently completed his Eagle Board of Review, officially making him the 77th Eagle Scout of Troop 205 of Great River, East Islip, and Islip Terrace.

The Eagle Court of Honor will be held on Saturday, Dec. 15 starting at 11 a.m. at the Early Childhood Learning Center on 1 Craig B Gariepy Avenue in Islip Terrace.

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

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

He was elected by his fellow Scouts in Troop 205 to be a member of the Order of the Arrow – the Boy Scout’s honorary camping organization, where he has been a member since 2016.

Norrby has had many unique Scouting experiences; including being a participant at the 2017 National Boy Scout Jamboree at the Bechtel Summit Boy Scout High Adventure Base in West Virginia.

He was also a summer camper for five summer seasons at the Boy Scout Camp Wakpominee in Ft. Ann, NY.

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 Mystic Seaport, CT trip.

He has had 68 total camping nights with the Troop.

To become an Eagle Scout, the 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.

He has actually earned 32 merit badges.

The Service Project that he developed, planned, and implemented with the assistance of his fellow Troop members, friends, and family members was supplying and assembling a Gaga Ball Pit at the Ruth C. Elementary School Playground in Islip Terrace.

As Norrby reflects on his Scouting experience, he recently said.

"Scouting has influenced my life significantly, teaching me skills I didn’t know, which I can now utilize to help myself and others," he said. "Scouting has helped expand my communication skills, leadership skills, and confidence, which has opened me up to trying new things and speaking with other people."

He went on to say, "Scouting has probably been the best thing to happen to me."

Norrby is currently a junior at East Islip High School where he has been on the academic honor roll from the start, including while at the East Islip Middle School.

He has also earned the State of New York Office of the Attorney General Triple “C” Award – for commitment, character, and courage in 2013 and the recipient of the American Citizenship Award the same year.

Norrby is a high school athlete, where he is a member of the Varsity Track Team since his freshman year in both the spring and winter, and on the Cross Country Varsity team in the fall.

He has been awarded “Breakfast of Champions in 2018. With his participation in Track along with his outstanding grades in the 90’s, he has earned the Scholar Athlete Award multiple times as well as the National Physical Fitness Award.

He currently holds the East Islip High School’s 110 meter hurdles record.

Volunteering has been a way of life for James as he has been a volunteer in Religious Education from 2017 to present at his home congregation of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in East Islip.

In addition, Norrby worked on many Eagle Scout Service Projects for his fellow Scouts and has logged in over 93 community service hours through Troop 205.

He has aspirations of being a college student after his high school graduation, studying homeland security and emergency management.

He is the son of Tamara and Michael Norrby of Islip Terrace and brother to Jenna, Joseph, and John.

Congratulations to James Michael Norrby!

Image via Boy Scout