Ethan Warren achieves Eagle Scout Rank, with a little help from his friend

Ethan Warren, 16, recently earned his Eagle Scout rank.

Ethan Warren, 16, of Manchester, achieved his Eagle Scout rank in Troop 426 on July 9. This elite status, achieved by only about 4 percent of all Scouts, is the highest honor in all of Boy Scouting.

The rank of Eagle may be earned by a Scout who has been a Life Scout for at least six months, is at least 16 years old, has earned a minimum of 21 merit badges, has demonstrated Scout Spirit, and leadership within the troop. Additionally he must plan, develop, and lead the Eagle Project, a service project that demonstrates both leadership and a commitment to duty. After all requirements are met, he must complete an Eagle Scout board of review. All requirements except the board of review must be completed before the Scout's 18th birthday.

Presenting Ranger with his special award. "I couldn't have done it all without him," Ethan says.

While normally, Scouts are required to attend their board of review alone, Ethan, who is home-schooled, was granted an exception. As an individual with Asperger's, he has a service dog, Ranger, who accompanied him to his board of review to help him stay calm and focused. Ranger is not just "any" service dog--he's a four year old, 190-pound Great Dane. He's also basically self-trained.

The Warrens realized there was something special about Ranger when they got him at the age of 13 weeks; but when he was about two, they noticed that Ranger had developed a unique connection with Ethan and could apparently sense when he was about to display symptoms. He figured out ways to calm Ethan and could often keep the symptoms at bay. They also noticed that when Ethan was with Ranger, he was noticeably calmer and more outwardly-focused.

As Ethan began to work toward his goal of becoming an Eagle Scout, he selected and carried out his project, filled out all the paperwork, but he and his parents were still concerned about the board of review. They sought and received permission for Ranger to attend the board of review with Ethan while presenting his project.

"I couldn't have done it all without him," Ethan says.

Ethan, who has been involved in 4-H for many years, chose as his Eagle project to repair and add to the 36 seating benches located throughout the Washtenaw Farm Council grounds. He had noticed over the years while showing animals and spending time at the grounds that many of the benches required some TLC.

"A lot of them were uncomfortable, faded, and one was actually beyond repair," he explains. "We built six additional benches, so there are now 41 benches." The new benches are flip-top style, so a pair of them can be converted into picnic tables as needed.

Ethan also considered how the benches could be personalized by using symbols of the Washtenaw Farm Council, Boy Scouts, and 4-H.

"Plan A" was to router each of the logos on each bench, said Ethan's mom, Christie. "But we realized that would be a whole lot of router-ing."

One of the benches, branded with the Washtenaw Farm Council and the 4-H Clover logos. The completed benches also have the Boy Scouts of America logo on them.

As a fan of the History Channel's program, "Forged by Fire," Ethan then came up with the idea of fire-branding the symbols on each bench. Enter Pinnacle Engineering and Rare Tool, two local Manchester companies, who stepped up and helped out with creating and donating the brands. Lowe's donated the use of a charcoal grill, and other businesses donated the charcoal.

As overseer, Ethan was responsible for seeking out donations, budgeting, purchasing, planning, directing, and getting the work done. All of this had to be documented and presented at his board of review.

On March 30, it all came together with Ethan as "overseer of the operation," and assisted by several scouts, leaders, and parents from Troop 426. "I got a lot of congratulations and a lot of positive reactions to my organization of the project," he says. "I basically set it up like an assembly line so every area had a specific job to do before sending it on to the next station."

At Ethan's Court of Honor, Ranger was recognized as an integral part of Ethan's success, and presented with a special bandanna and a patch for his service dog vest.

Ethan also wishes to recognize his Scout leader Jeff Elliott, as well as Scoutmasters David Roberts and Bill Kwolek, for their mentorship; as well as his mother and his grandfather, "Poppa," for their support.

Next time you are at any event at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, and need to find a spot to take a quick break, you will know whom to thank for the newly-restored benches.

Ethan branding one of the benches. Being able to utilize skills and ideas that intrigue him in other areas of his life, was also helpful in the success of the project.

The completed benches in a barn at the Farm Council Grounds

Ethan at his court of honor with Scoutmaster Bill Kwolek and his mom, Christie Warren.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.