Kankakee Times

Rep. Jackie Haas recently attended an Eagle Scout ceremony.

“I had the pleasure of attending the Eagle Scout ceremony for Phillip and Ryan Koerner today,” Haas wrote on Facebook. “It was an honor to be invited to participate and present both Phillip and Ryan with certificates from the Illinois House of Representatives honoring their accomplishments. Congratulations to these two fine young men!”

The Boy Scouts have its Northeast Illinois Council at 850 Forest Edge Dr. in Vernon Hills, Illinois.

The Eagle Scout rank in Boy Scouts is a prestigious one.

Prospective Eagle Scouts must complete their requirements – including merit badges to badges of rank and Eagle Palms before they turn 18. 

The Hawk Eye reported Eagle Scout Maria Knutsen used her skills to create a playground that’s children-with-disabilities-friendly near 2410 Mount Pleasant St. in Burlington, Illinois. Her goal while creating the playground was to be mindful of children dealing with sensory challenges.

“(Knutsen) was responsible for planning the project, providing materials, fundraising, seeking donations for the supplies, recruiting the volunteers and building and constructing the components,” Gina Crabtree, CEO of the Burlington Area YMCA, said to The Hawk Eye. “She also donated funds to the YMCA to assist with future maintenance of the area.”

The prospective Eagle Scout must complete 21 merit badges, according to Boy Scouts of America.

These include first aid, citizenship in the community, citizenship in the nation, citizenship in society, citizenship in the world, communication, cooking, personal fitness, emergency preparedness or lifesaving, environmental science or sustainability, personal management, swimming or hiking or cycling, camping and family life.

Knutsen said to The Hawk Eye that children played in her project quickly after installation.

Scouting Smarts notes that in addition to earning 21 merit badges, a scout typically takes four to six years to progress through the ranks and earn those merit badges. In addition, prospective scouts must also complete an Eagle Service project.