The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Area resident earns Eagle Scout rank
Former Ypsilanti resident finishes bio-friendly signs
By Christine Laughren, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 6, 2008
Becoming an Eagle Scout isn't an easy task.
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In fact, according to the Boy Scouts of America only about 5 percent of Boy Scouts become Eagle Scouts, which is the highest award.
This year Joshua Von Rotz, formally of Ypsilanti, will join the ranks of scouts who since 1912 have earned the status of Eagle Scout.
For Joshua, becoming an Eagle Scout proved to be a challenging yet rewarding experience that lasted for over two years.
The 16-year-old designed, manufactured and fund-raised for 10 bio-friendly signs. He also installed eight of them at various Project Grow Community Gardens throughout Ann Arbor.
Project Grow is a non-profit organization with an emphasis on community gardens and gardening education.
The entire project took more than 20 volunteers, 700 hours and $1,300 to complete.
"The most difficult part for me was the paperwork," Joshua said. "I could have done all the manual labor with my friends in a couple months."
In true Boy Scout fashion, Joshua said he raised a large amount of the funds he needed by collecting bottles and cans.
Joshua said traveling around in the family van collecting bottles and cans all day could be pretty messy work and his father Robert Rotz agreed.
"He had to clean up my garage afterwards and boy was it messy," Robert said.
Not only did Joshua amass piles of bottles and cans in his family's garage, but there ere also piles of dust, stacks of wood and whole staining operations.
But dirtying up the garage isn't the only thing Joshua did. According to his Father and the people around him, he matured.
"He definitely grew a lot," Robert said of his son. I'm very proud of him, it was a big task and he put it together."
Joshua's former Scout Master Nick McGuire said the troop could always count on Joshua.
"He's become a go-to guy," McGuire said.
Friends and family of Joshua said it was his hard work and determination that made his project so successful.
But Joshua said he would have never finished if it weren't for all the friends, family and volunteers who helped him.
"I really appreciate the amount of involvement from everyone," Joshua said.
But the Eagle Scout takes the time to pat himself on the back too.
"I feel like I accomplished something," he said.
Joshua recently moved to Maryland with his family. He said he misses Michigan and his friends but the high school junior is keeping busy with Takekwondo, the football team and maintaining a 3.9 GPA.
Although he hasn't committed to a troop in Maryland, Joshua said he is looking into one.
He is returning to Michigan next Saturday to see old friends and be presented with his Eagle Scout award during an Eagle Scout Court of Honor.
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