Riverview junior soars toward Eagle Scout rank

For about as long as he can remember, Boy Scouts has been a large part of Jacob Amontree’s life. He first joined the organization nearly 10 years ago, when he was in second grade. At first, he saw the organization as an opportunity to camp, earn badges and have fun with his friends. But, as he got older, his outlook matured.

“Scouts is a lot of fun, and it helps you develop a lot of skills and friendships,” he says. “But, I also wanted to become more of a leader and an upstanding citizen. I wanted to have an impact on my community, and Scouts became a good way to do that.”

Now, as a junior at Riverview High School, Amontree is working toward the final step of his nine-year Boy Scout career — earning the rank of Eagle Scout.

To earn the prestigious ranking, Scouts must plan and organize a community service project, and Amontree decided to approach his church leaders about opportunities.

“I’ve gone to Siesta Key Chapel since I was young,” he says. “I asked if they had any projects I could help with, and it turned out that the landscaping around their front sign was at the top of the list.”

After several months of planning and approval from Boy Scout leaders, Amontree assembled a group of five other Boy Scouts and led them in revamping the church’s landscaping. They replaced the existing mulch; cleaned up the retaining wall around the sign; and added new shrubs and trees, which will continue to grow and fill in the garden bed.

Throughout the project, Amontree says he gained valuable life lessons and leadership skills, which he hopes to carry with him into adulthood. Aside from general landscaping skills and knowledge of Florida plants, he learned how to lead a group and maintain morale throughout a project.

“It feels great to have this accomplished,” he says. “We gave the old landscaping a beautiful and natural look. I’m really proud of it — it’s been one of the most satisfying achievements in my life so far.”

After finishing the service project, Amontree is one merit badge and a final board of review away from officially becoming an Eagle Scout. He hopes to have the process completed by fall, before he begins his final year of high school.

“It’s something I’ve been working toward for almost 10 years, and I’ll be proud of it for the rest of my life,” he says.