DeKALB – Joseph Ryan recently received the Eagle Award, the highest award the Boy Scouts of America presents, as a member of Boy Scout Troop 33 in DeKalb.
A 2013 graduate of DeKalb High School, he is the son of DaRin Ryan.
His journey in scouting began as a Tiger Cub in Pack 173, where he earned the Arrow of Light, the highest award in Cub Scouts.
In 2007, he joined Boy Scout Troop 33. He enjoyed summer camp many years at Camp Lowden, where he earned many of his 27 merit badges and participated in swimming, canoeing, rifle shooting, archery, handicrafts, nature study, and climbing.
Ryan’s most exciting Scouting adventure was touring Central America with Troop 33. In Panama he enjoyed visiting Boca del Toro, snorkeling coral reefs, an island jungle, wilderness island beach, and dolphin watching. Activities inCosta Rica included zip lines, jungle hiking, jungle river cruise, whitewater rafting, volcano rim hike, waterfall hike, night nature hike in a rain forest, local family homestay, and touring museums and sites in San Jose.
More recently he worked in disaster relief projects following Hurricane Sandy. He worked on multiple trips with his family, collecting donations and cooking meals for hundreds of storm victims.
His Eagle Project took place at Oaken Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, where he supervised the construction and installation of 19 bluebird houses in 2013. He collected lumber and materials from the community and put Scouts to work in the process.
He has provided leadership in many positions including Junior Assistant Scoutmaster.
Ryan is a student attending Kishwaukee College.
.
