Russell David Carpenter of La Canada’s Troop 502 was recently awarded the rank of Eagle Scout upon completion of his board of review. Carpenter logged over 234 hours planning, coordinating, and implementing the construction of a 10 x 20 foot storage facility requested for use by La Cañada Presbyterian Church.

Carpenter, 17, is a senior at Crescenta Valley High School where he has been a member of CSF, National Honor Society, varsity men’s soccer and swim teams.  Outside of school, he is a youth leader at First United Methodist Church, Pasadena where he has also participated in the handbell choir and video ministry for over six years. He is a certified lifeguard and has worked as a tutor at LearningWorks in Pasadena.

He began his Scouting career as a Cub Scout in Pack 507 and proceeded to continue in Boy Scouts with many of his Cub Scout friends. He earned 39 merit badges and some of his most significant experiences include 10 days backpacking in New Mexico‘s Philmont Reservation, being elected to Order of the Arrow, having the opportunity to complete National Youth Leadership Training at Holcomb Valley, and attending camps Kern and Cherry Valley. He especially enjoyed Camporees and the chance to use his knot-tying and lashing skills to construct bridges and other structures.

Carpenter has held leadership positions in the troop including patrol leader, troop instructor, and senior patrol leader.

Many people have figured into his achievement of the rank of Eagle and he is especially grateful to his granddad Dennis Carpenter, his friends in Scouting and school, and his Scout mentors Gordon Wulke, John Johnson, Dr. David Lourie and Dr. Dave Sivertsen for their guidance and support.

Carpenter is a third generation Eagle Scout and credits the inspiration and encouragement of his grandpa Dalen Horning (Troop 27, Pasadena) and father, Scott Carpenter (Troop 505, La Cañada).

Rick Farin was born in Vienna, Austria on March 6, 1995 to Heinrich and Rita Farin. He moved to California as an infant and has grown up in Eagle Rock, Ventura and Tujunga. He attended the California Virtual Academies until his senior year. He is now a student at Champs Charter High School in Van Nuys.

He became a Cub Scout with Pack 507 and then bridged over to Boy Scout Troop 502. In addition to being a very active Boy Scout, he has been a swimmer on the CCY Dragons, a PCC language student, an apprentice at Concordia University’s Waldsee Language Camp in Minnesota, a straight-A student and a Soundcloud.com musician. He plans to study architecture and is waiting to find out if he will be heading off to NYC or stay in California to pursue his B.Arch. degree.

During his tenure as a Boy Scout, he held the leadership positions of den chief, asst. patrol leader, patrol leader, asst. senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader and president of Venturing Crew 503. He earned 50 merit badges, attended numerous summer camps, completed a Philmont Scout Ranch trek in 2009 and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow during his Boy Scout career.

Farin’s Eagle Project benefited the Pasadena Roving Archers (PRA). He built and installed three benches and three bow racks for the range. PRA is an archery club that has been dedicated to the art of the bow and arrow in Pasadena’s Lower Arroyo Seco Park since 1935. There is an ongoing program of archery instruction classes for people interested in learning the sport of archery.

Farin thanks Jim and Terri Mac Quarrie from the PRA, Scoutmasters Gordon Wulke and John Johnson, Art Stack, Asst. Scoutmaster Scott Carpenter, Asst. Scoutmaster Belinda Randolph, the Scouts of Troop 502, Tom and Markus Klein, his parents and his sister Katja for all the help he received in reaching the rank of Eagle Scout.