First published in the Feb. 2 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
Eric Bender of the St. Francis High School and St. Bede Troop 507 recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
His scouting career began almost 12 years ago. Bender has previously served as assistant senior patrol leader, quartermaster, chaplain aide, patrol leader and den chief.
Bender attended the National Scout Jamboree at Bechtel Summit in West Virginia, Emerald Bay Summer Camp, Hubert Eaton Summer Camp and Chawanakee Summer Camp. He also attended Camporee two times. He was a member of the winning patrol in 2019. Bender went on 18 trips that included 51 nights of camping. He earned all four Catholic Scouting awards and the Chi Rho award.
Bender’s Eagle Scout project entailed the installation of a grotto for an Our Lady of Lourdes Mary statue at St. Edward’s Retreat Center in Wrightwood, California. He began by digging a trench for the cement base of the grotto, built a rebar skeleton for the grotto, used rock and motor to build the grotto, and painted and installed a niche for the Mary statue.
He also built and installed two redwood benches near the grotto. The complex project, which took more than 397 hours to complete and was a great success.
At St. Francis, Bender is a member of the St. Francis High School Campus Ministry LIFE team. He enjoys hiking, backpacking, lifting weights and riding his bike.
Eric Bender is the son of Jennifer and Reed Bender.
