TRR photo by David Hulse New Troop 102 Eagle Scout Michael Swope is pictured at Court of Honor ceremonies at Camp Champion on September 24. (Click for larger image)

By DAVID HULSE

GLEN SPEY - More than a hundred friends and neighbors gathered at the scenic shore of Lake Champion Sunday afternoon as a young man culminated years of Boy Scout training by attaining its highest rank, that of Eagle Scout. Michael Swope, it was said, was the first from Troop 102 to win the honor in 17 years.

Swope's achievement was discussed for weeks prior to the event as he received formal recognition from the Lumberland Town Board and the Eldred Central School Board of Education earlier in the month. On Sunday, Congressman Ben Gilman and state Senator John Bonacic were on hand at Camp Champion's lakeside auditorium.

Also on hand was Ann Danuff , chair of the Lumberland Environmental Council , who advised Swope at the beginnings of the project that won the award. With the council's endorsement, Swope contacted property owners surrounding Lumberland's larger lakes and ponds and won their approval to install nesting sites for wild wood ducks. He solicited donation of the wood and other materials needed to construct 44 of the nests, then found adult volunteers to cut the raw materials to size for other scouts and their families to assemble the nesting boxes. The finished boxes were installed on 16 different ponds and lakes. The project involved 158 hours of service time.

Judy McLaughlin of the Boy Scouts Eagle Review Board said Michael had prepared a beautiful presentation of his work, which was accepted by the scout council in June of this year, some 14 months after he began.

Swope has a long career in scouting, starting as a Cub Scout in Pack 102 in 1990. He went on to earn 20 WEBELOS achievement pins, and numerous other honors leading to his earning the highest Cub Scout award, the Arrow of Light in 1995.

As a Boy Scout, Swope has served Troop 102 in a variety of positions, winning 31 merit badges and the BSA Lifesaving badge. He was inducted into the Order of the Arrow in May of this year.

Michael Swope is a junior at Eldred high school, where he is an honor student, a member of the National Honor Society and a trained Student Mentor for younger students. He plays varsity soccer and golf and, as ECS Athletic Director Al Wojstazek put it, "He's [Eldred's] Alpine Ski Team."