It took almost eight years, but Greenbelt resident Jaden Dirksen of Boy Scout Troop 214, chartered to the Prince George’s County Elks Lodge #1778 in Riverdale, reached a lifetime goal by earning his Eagle Scout badge, the highest rank awarded by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The fact that a youth is an Eagle Scout has always carried with it a special significance, not only in scouting but also for the young man as he enters higher education, business or industry and community service. Only about four percent of all Scouts earn the rank of Eagle Scout.
Jaden follows in the footsteps of his father Matt Dirksen who also earned his Eagle Scout badge and who shared with Jaden the Eagle charge (obligations) during the ceremony. The charge challenges Jaden to be the embodiment of the five Eagle obligations: Honor, Loyalty, Courage, Cheerfulness and Service. Jaden was joined by over 75 attendees including Mayor Emmett Jordan and Councilmember Judith Davis, members of his troop, over 10 Eagle Scout alumni as well as friends and family. Jaden’s family in attendance included his mother Lucy, father Matt, and sisters Raina and Linden, both of whom are founding members of the recently started Girls Troop 214.
Jaden started Scouts in Cub Scout Pack 1461 in Bethesda in the fall of first grade, where he earned his Bobcat and Wolf badges before transferring to Pack 202 in Greenbelt, where he earned his Bear and Webelos badges. In 2010 he earned his Arrow of Light and joined Boy Scout Troop 214. Since that time he has held positions of increasing responsibility as assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader and troop scribe. He has earned 21 merit badges, and was also inducted into the Order of the Arrow, an honor society for campers who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Scout Law in their daily lives.
The final step in the process to earn his Eagle rank was his Eagle project, where he planned and built a pollinator garden at Greenbelt Lake in coordination with the City of Greenbelt.