Connor Chavarria was born on July 19, 1993 in Chicago, Ill., the second child of Cris and Kim Chavarria. He moved to California when he was 4 years old. He began his scouting career as a Tiger Cub, continuing on through Cub Scouts and Webelos while living in the Linda Vista area of Pasadena. Connor joined Troop 509 in March 2004. During his time in Troop 509, he served as an Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, and Senior Patrol Leader while earning Scout, Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, First Class, Star, and Life Ranks. Connor loves the outdoors and camping. He is an accomplished skim boarder, surfer, and snowboarder. He enjoys bike riding, hiking, camping, hunting, and fishing. His most memorable outing was a 10-day, 80-mile hike in New Mexico at the Philmont Scout Ranch. Other memorable outings were multiple trips to Camp Cherry Valley and Joshua Tree, as well as white water rafting on the kern river. Connor has been awarded 23 merit badges. The merit badges he has enjoyed earning the most are water sports, first aid, lifesaving, camping, and veterinary medicine.

For his Eagle Leadership Service Project, he led a team of Scouts and high school friends in re-finishing the outdoor playhouses at the Mother’s Club of Pasadena. Connor and his team sanded and stained the redwood play structures so they were safe for the children to use. They also re-landscaped the entire playground area and surrounding grounds, and planted a vegetable garden.

Connor is currently a senior at St Francis High School in La Cañada where he is the president of the school’s rugby club. Connor is an avid rugby enthusiast and plays for the Los Angeles Cougars Rugby Club. He was appointed captain of the 16 and under team last year for several games, and was part of the 19 and under team that played in last year’s Southern California Championship game.

Connor attends the La Cañada Presbyterian Church and volunteers at Hillsides Home for Children in Pasadena. He volunteers his time as a student mentor, working one-on-one with an individual student, helping them with their studies. He is a Red Cross certified lifeguard and works part-time at the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center. When he’s not playing rugby or going on troop outings, Connor spends his weekends at the Los Angeles Zoo as a volunteer member of their Eco-Corp team. The Eco-Corp is the student docent group at the L.A. Zoo where he leads tours, answers questions about the animals and their habitats, assists with the training of new student docents, and helps make sure all guests enjoy their day at the zoo.

Connor is also a professional actor and union member of the Screen Actor’s Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists (AFTRA).

Scouting has taught Connor valuable lessons over the years and has provided him with the leadership experience he needs to attain all of his future goals. He will be attending college in the fall of 2011, pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine.