Westborough – Boy Scout Troop 100 awarded the rank of Eagle Scout to Alex Barnhart. The ceremony was held March 11 at the Evangelical Congregational Church of Westborough, which is the chartering organization for Troop 100. The rank of Eagle, Scouting's highest, is recognized throughout the world as an especially significant achievement.
Alex crossed over to Boy Scouts in March 2004 from Cub Scout Pack 33 of Westborough, where he earned all 20 activity badges, the Arrow of Light Award and the Religious emblem. As a Boy Scout, he earned 30 merit badges as well as the “100 nights of camping” patch. And as summer camp's Honor Camper, he was elected into the Order of Taunkacoo; Honor Campers are those Scouts who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law.
He has held important leadership positions for Troop 100, including patrol leader, instructor, librarian and troop guide. Alex has also been an active camper on monthly trips in the region, as well as national trips. These include trips to Hemenway State Park, Maine High Adventure, merit trips to Acadia National Park and to Quebec, Canada, as well as rafting trips, a Coast Guard Academy trip and many others.
The Troop's High Adventure trip to Philmont Scout Ranch, however, is Alex's favorite. In the summer of 2009, a crew of 12 Scouts and adults traveled to Cimarron, N.M., for the ultimate backpacking expedition. Alex was voted the crew leader, serving as the key person responsible for the overall success of the trek.
For his Eagle Project, Alex led a team of volunteers to create a new hiking trail through Westborough Wildlife Management Area property near Chauncy Pond in Westborough. The new trail transverses varied terrain from restoration of a heavily overgrown farmer's access road, through a stretch of hardwood forest, to a rolling pine grove. The new trail covers approximately two-thirds of a mile. Alex and his team of volunteers worked over 200 hours restoring and establishing the new trail. The sponsoring organization, Westborough Community Land Trust, was so pleased with the outcome of the trail that they changed the location of a planned community hike to showcase it. Over 75 town residents participated in the community hike.
In addition to his love of the outdoors, Alex's true passion is music. He enjoys music performance and composition (guitar, drums, piano, singing). He is a member of and composer for the “Buried Electric” band.
The son of Brian and Susan Barnhart of Westborough, Alex is the brother of Chris Barnhart (also an Eagle Scout in Troop 100). Alex graduated from Westborough High School in June 2011 and is currently attending the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, R.I., where he is studying music composition. He also plays in the school's jazz ensemble and sings in the chorus.
