January 14, 2005

Troop 264 produces an Eagle Scout

Brandon Octavio reaches highest honor in Boy Scouts

Brandon Octavio, currently attending Bellarmine College Preparatory School in San Jose, recently finished all the requirements to earn Eagle Scout status—the highest honor achievable in Boy Scouts.

Brandon Octavio builds a monkey bridge at Boy Scout Camp.

Brandon started in Cub Scout Pack 264 in 1996 as a Wolf Cub. After four years of going through the ranks of Cub Scouts, Brandon crossed over to Boy Scout Troop 264 in February 2000.

Brandon recalls many memories in Boy Scouting, from 50-mile canoe trips to camping in the snow. Yet his favorite is when, “I went to the International Rendezvous Camp in the summer of 2004. International Rendezvous is where Boy Scouts from all over the world come to Camp High Sierra in the Sierra Mountains here in California to get together, hang out and do activities together. This Rendezvous was more memorable to me because there were 19 Irish Girl Scouts I got to meet and hang out with all week!”

This San Jose native also remembers one of his funniest memories of scouting. “When I first joined Boy Scouts, our troop went down the Russian River for a 50-miler in kayaks. On the trip there were several shallow spots along the way where every kayak would get stuck and they would have to drag their boats out, but for me—being the smallest and lightest kid in our troop—I floated on by everyone like a feather on water, and for that, our scoutmaster nicknamed me Stick Boy.”

Boy Scouts must earn 21 merit badges to achieve Eagle status, and Brandon has earned 40 so far. His favorite badge to date is the wilderness survival badge because, “it teaches you how to survive by yourself in the wilderness, and it’s a topic they don’t teach every day in a classroom.”

After earning the required merit badges, the final step before Eagle status is to complete an Eagle Project. “I created 100 personal aid kits for the homeless, including things for hygiene, first aid and reference cards for shelters that we delivered to the San Jose Family Shelter to distribute.”

Brandon has discovered a lot about himself in scouting. “I’ve learned not to be ashamed of who you are or what you are. Many kids in scouting, including myself at times, hide the fact you are a scout. You don’t have to boast or brag about it, but be proud of your accomplishments.”

Brandon became an Eagle Scout on July 22. He has received 15 congratulatory letters from Presidents George Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter; Pope John Paul II; Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer; Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren; Mayor Ron Gonzales; CEO of Disney, Michael Eisner; and more!