East County Boy Scout leaves a lasting impact

Every year, between 40,000 and 50,000 Boy Scouts become Eagle Scouts. But only a rare few will go on to earn the Distinguished Conservation Service Award.

According to the Boy Scouts of America, on average, only 18 Eagle Scouts earn the coveted award each year. 

Braden River High School senior Alex den Boggende was given the honor on Sept. 7 at the Manatee district's monthly roundtable meeting held at the Salvation Army. He earned the award after completing two service projects at Camp Flying Eagle, the Boy Scout campground located on Upper Manatee River Road. 

“The Distinguished Conservation Award replaced what was the Hornaday Award for years in the BSA. The award was named for William T. Hornaday, the first director of the New York Zoological Society and one of the most earnest pioneers of conservation in our national history,” den Boggende’s BSA advisor Rick Langford said. “The project that Alex did was very involved with planning and execution. To my knowledge, he may be one of the first to complete this award in the state. Alex has truly set an example of the importance of conservation.”

To earn the award, scouts must complete two large scale conservation projects that leave a lasting impact on Mother Nature. A beach cleanup won’t fulfill the requirement because the effects can be reversed too quickly and easily. 

Den Boggende has been part of scouting since before he was old enough to join. He brought home a flier from school in first grade. 

“Boy Scouts has been foundational for our family, and we’re so grateful,” said his mother, Alison den Boggende said. “It shores up that family unit in a very special way.” 

Both of den Boggende’s parents have been active in the group. His mom serves as the Manatee District advancement chair, and his dad, Gerry den Boggende, has been both a cub master and den leader. The couple said they’ll stay active past their own children's involvement to “pay it forward” to other families.

The conservation award wasn’t the first time den Boggende beat the Boy Scout odds. He became an Eagle Scout at only 13 years old. Most scouts don’t make Eagle rank until they’re at least 15, some, not until 17. 

Eagle is the pinnacle of scouting, when most of the scouts’ badges have been earned and their goals have been met. Oftentimes, it’s when scouts stop participating in troop activities.

“I didn’t want to do that, so I did my own research and looked through the awards and different programs and activities that I could do,” den Boggende said. “I was able to earn a bunch of awards and cool patches for my uniform. When I found the Distinguished Service Award, I knew it would be difficult, but I knew it would also keep me involved with scouting.” 

The two projects he chose targeted invasive species and shoreline erosion. The first was more labor intensive while the latter took more planning. 

For his first project, den Boggende identified the campsite within Flying Eagle where invasive plants were the most abundant. Brazilian peppers and air potatoes were the top two offenders. His team dug them up by the roots and tilled the ground to prevent regrowth.

Den Boggende’s second project was much more involved. Hidden Lake is located on the Flying Eagle campus. The Foundation for Dreams uses it for canoeing. 

“The shoreline is falling into the lake. It’s polluting the lake and decreasing the water quality,” den Boggende said. 

To stop the erosion, den Boggende made a plan to resurface the gravel path that’s used as a canoe launch and install a sea wall. The project cost under $200. 

Courtesy photo

Den Boggende was able to get scraps of sea wall sheets donated, and Flying Eagle has a backhoe on site. The only thing he and the park ranger paid for was 7,000 pounds of gravel. 

While he’ll retain the character and ethics he gained while in the club, den Boggende can’t remain a scout forever. He will age out of the program when he turns 18 in October. 

“It’s a phase of my life. It happens to everyone,” he said. "I’m glad that I was able to accomplish what I have accomplished in scouting.”

He added that he’ll take the leadership skills he learned with him and will continue to give back to his community long beyond the Boy Scouts. 

Den Boggende’s next challenge is to earn a degree in industrial engineering after graduating from Braden River High.