For Kevin Motylinski, being an Eagle Scout will be a great source of great pride.
The 17-year-old junior at St. Augustine Prep High School in Richland has one step left — board of review — before officially becoming an Eagle Scout.
The Shamong native has been a Scout for five years with Troop 20 in Medford, and he was a Cub Scout from first- to fifth-grades.
His Eagle Scout project was to build a walkway at Birchwood Lakes Colony Club in Medford. Motylinski converted the 4’ x 96’ path from a stone-gravel driveway to a brick driveway.
He was helped by locals who donated a backhoe and a clay compactor.
Motylinski said he was guided to the project by his Scoutmaster.
“It gives you a step up in life, I think,” Motylinski said of being a Scout. “Overall, the leadership skills I’ve gained, the knowledge I’ve gained — it could help save someone’s life.”
He said he likes the unity between Scouts.
“Once you’re a Scout, you’re always in that kind of family,” Motylinski said. “They know what you’ve gone through.”
He pointed out activities such as camping that are typically not done with non-Scout friends.
Motylinski wants to attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and he hopes being a Scout helps to get him admitted.
While there, he would look to study some kind of engineering.
Motylinski said his parents have been very supportive.
“My mom has endured a lot and my father has definitely inspired me and kept me on the right path,” he said, noting things gained in Scouts cannot be attained in school or in sports. “It develops leadership and great character.”
He said he remembers a Scout he looked up to, Sean Prior, who died from a brain tumor and who was essential in Motylinski’s progress with Scouts.
He also said he has learned how to work with others.
Motylinski backpacked in New Mexico for two weeks with other Scouts.
“By about day three, you wanted to take off their heads,” he said.
They would hike for six to eight hours a day.
“You’re going through it and it doesn’t seem you’re gaining anything, but then you get on top of the mountain and the view is just breathtaking,” Motylinski said, noting he took a picture but it didn’t do it justice.
He said the group of Scouts on that trip are now all friends.
“I won’t forget them,” Motylinski said, adding they helped him through a couple of rough days.
And, while there are distractions from Scouting, like girls, sports and school, Motylinski thinks keeping an eye on the prize is worthwhile.
“But then, those kids who come back, they’re going to bounce back — they’re going to go to a leadership position in the troop and excel at that and then they’ll eventually work their way up the totem pole and they’ll become Eagle Scouts,” he said.
