Sam Wilkens can honestly say the most memorable time during his Boy Scout career has been working at the Lewis and Clark summer camp for the past three years.
Wilkens is the son of Gail and Brad Wilkens of Madison and a member of Troop 255. He earns his Eagle Scout rank in a ceremony at St. John's Lutheran Church at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
To earn the Eagle Scout rank, a scout must earn 21 merit badges, serve as a leader in his troop and complete a leadership project.
In his 12 years as a scout, Wilkens said, he's earned 34 merit badges. For his leadership project, Wilkens constructed arbors over three separate benches located along the recreational trail to Johnson's Point. Planning and implementation of that project took 210 hours.
Over the years, Wilkens said he's participated in several projects including a trip to Gettysburg and numerous camping trips. One trip that sticks in his memory is a 25-mile hike during a blizzard in January.
He's quick to say, however, that the most memorable time has been his time at Lewis and Clark.
"Without summer camp, I don't (think I'd) know half the people I do today," Wilkens said.
In 2007, he was a nature instructor; in 2008, he was a nature director and in 2009 he was a volunteer who helped with a variety of activities including merit badge instruction.
During those five weeks, he said, he met scouts from across the nation as well as some international representatives from places like Ireland and South Korea.
"It made me realize how educated we were here," he said.
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