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Hinsdale Scout digs in for Eagle rank
Henry Lang-VanDerLaan (far left) supervises volunteers who are helping him put in new soil and landscaping at a playground in Katherine Legge Memorial Park on Nov. 10. | Photo courtesy of family.
Updated: December 23, 2012 6:20AM
HINSDALE — Henry Lang-VanDerLaan, 17, a senior at Hinsdale Central High School and a Boy Scout with Troop 10 from Union Church of Hinsdale, recently worked on his Eagle Scout project at Katherine Legge Memorial Park in Hinsdale.
Q. What project did you tackle to earn the rank of Eagle Scout?
A.There’s a playground (in KLM park) with a retaining wall and we removed all the dirt and clay between the parking lot and the wall and planted from 40 to 50 new plants and shrubs. About 10 fellow Scouts helped me and then there were 10 to 15 other volunteers. We spent about five hours on it.
Q. How old were you when you started scouting?
A. 11.
Q. Did you think then that you would become an Eagle Scout?
A. That was the goal, but it’s a long road. I still have the Board of Review and the Scoutmaster Conference where you present what you did and answer questions if they have them. I have to do a write-up about the project.
Q. Do you still enjoy Scouting?
A. Yes, I remember when I started, a lot of older kids encouraged me to keep with Scouting and now I get to do the same.
Q. When do you interact with younger Scouts?
A. At meetings mostly, when they are working on merit badges or rank advancement.
Q. What was the hardest merit badge to earn?
A. Personal management. You had to keep a record and log of everything you purchased for a three-month period. You had to do a budget and plan out how much money you spent and how much money you had come in and what you could use it for.
Q. You weren’t at full strength when you were working at KLM Park, were you?
A. No, I injured my knee in the (Hinsdale Central) football game with (Oak Park River Forest High School). I made a catch and caught my foot and someone landed on it. (Henry was scheduled to have surgery on his knee five days after he was working on his Eagle project). I had the same surgery a year ago on the other knee. At least I got to play my last season and I got my college apps in.
