Amherst teen earns Eagle badge

By Phyllis Lehrer
Staff Writer

Published on September 14, 2007

A total of 39 people, 233 hours and gallons of white latex paint.

That's what it took for the makeover of the entry to the North Amherst Congregational Church Parish Hall.

With the project under wraps last summer, Eric Cochrane, 17, earned the Boy Scout Eagle rank at a Court of Honor this summer. The Eagle rank is scouting's highest award. Only 5 percent of all scouts achieve the rank. Cochrane is a member of Amherst Troop 504 sponsored by the North Amherst Congregational Church.

To earn the rank, a scout must perform a major community service project; the church project was his choice. During an interview at his North Amherst home, Cochrane, the son of Carol and Scott Cochrane, showed off the notebook that detailed the work complete with before and after photos that visibly demonstrated the difference.

"We at North Church are very grateful to Eric for his leadership on his painting project, and also for the support of his parents, the scout leaders, the other scouts and their parents. We hope all of them take great pride in their work every time they enter the building - they deserve it," said Barbara Jenkins, North Amherst Congregational Church moderator.

Cochrane said he recruited volunteers for the painting project via phone and email. The group scraped off the old paint, primed the surface then added two coats of paint. The latex paint was donated by a local business.

Besides painting the exterior, the scouts painted the interior stairs and doors. It was hot summer, Cochrane admitted. And when it rained, the volunteers did interior work. "At least it looks nice; people vote there," he said.

The collaborative effort is a scouting tradition. Scouts helped him with his Eagle project, and he in turn has helped others with their projects clearing trails, helping to box books for Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami and building bridges. Even though he has earned his rank he will stay involved. "I wouldn't mind helping scouts with their Eagle projects this year."

Cochrane said he can't remember when he joined the scouts. "It was kindergarten or first grade." He said he joined Pack 515 because friends and kids in the neighborhood were in the troop.

Over the years he has marched in parades, took field trips, went to the overnight Boy Scout Camp in Chesterfield, went canoeing, white water rafting and biking on Cape Cod.

The best camping experience occurred this past summer when he and 11 scouts and some dads, including his own, spent two weeks at Philmont, the large Boy Scout camp in New Mexico working on a conservation project.

At Philmont, the Scouts hiked up 10,000-foot mountains carrying 40-pound packs.

"If you are not used to it, it's heavy."

The group didn't see bears but did observe deer, chipmunks and snakes. He said he wasn't nervous, since they were not rattlers but regular snakes.

"I would go back in a heart beat," he said of the camp. His photos can be seen on facebook.com.

A Scout has to earn 21 merit badges for the Eagle rank. Cochrane's badges include archery, aviation, first aid, astronomy, personal fitness and emergency preparedness, as well as the required badges, such as citizenship in the community, nation and world.

"For fishing you have to catch a fish. I didn't catch anything at camp," he said. He said he was successful at the fishing pond at the Amherst-Sunderland line.

Activities beyond scouting include an internship at ACTV, Amherst's local cable station. He has filmed Bomba and Building Harmonies concerts, and edits the tapes, which are aired. He said he is looking at schools with good film departments, such as Keene and Fitchburg state colleges and Ithaca University.

The Amherst Regional High School senior is a "techie" who worked on the high school musicals, "Cats," "Urine Town" and Little Shop of Horrors." He will continue this year. He also runs track.

At the high school, he is a member of the Environmental Action Club that conducts school recycling. The club also worked on the Connecticut River.

"We pulled up a grill - it was probably not in working order, five shopping carts, tires and barrels," he said.

He recommends scouting. "You get out in the world. You learn important stuff you need later in life, such as first aid and emergency preparedness. I had a good time. It's fun get to do cool outdoor stuff that you don't do normally. It's a good group," he said.