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Berndt earns Eagle Scout rank

Clintonville’s Austin H. Berndt earned the rank of Eagle Scout Thursday March 21.

His Board of Review was conducted by the Gathering Waters District Advancement Committee of Bay Lakes Council at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Appleton.

Austin is the 14-year-old son of Linette and Ray Berndt of Clintonville. After working his way through the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, and Life, Austin earned the highest award of the Boy Scouts of America by completing at least 21 Merit Badges, holding a leadership position and leading a service project.

Austin’s Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project was to reconstruct the Vesper Trail at Christus Memorial Church Camp, between Clintonville and Marion. Austin spent over 100 hours designing and leading other scouts and adult volunteers in cutting brush, removing stumps and building edges for a new wider and wheelchair accessible wood chip walking path. The path goes from the cabin’s playground area to the council fire bowl.

Along the path are twelve signs, each lit by a candle that list the points of the Boy Scout Laws: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent. This trail would be used by scouts and others as they walked down the trail for a camp fire.

The board of review was organized by Kathy Croff, who is the District Advancement Chairman. The review of Austin’s scouting career is conducted by at least four people. They make sure all the dates are accurate on the rank and badges he has earned since the age of 11 when he crossed over from Cub Scouts. They review his letters of recommendation, the report he wrote at the completion of his project. And examine his moral character to see if he has lived up to the Scout Oath and Law and will continue to do so.

Austin’s board of review was conducted by Will Croff and Kelly Jorgensen from the District Advancement Committee, along with Carl Keller, Frank Urbanz and Kraig Kauth who traveled with Austin from Clintonville. Kraig is a leader in both Cub Scout Pack 3028 and Troop 23. Carl and Frank represent Christus Memorial Church Camp and the Christus Brotherhood who sponsor the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts at Christus.

Austin is a member or Troop 23 sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.

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