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Five cousins from California, and their friend, earn Eagle Scout rank together

Six young men from Troop 746 became Eagle Scouts on the same day in January. The group of six includes five cousins (from right): Jeffrey Dangl, Tyler Gilmore, Caleb Wheeler, Brian Gilmore and Spencer Kettley. They’re joined by longtime family friend Elliott Streiff, left.

Every Scouting journey is unique.

A group of Scouts can go to the same meetings, enjoy the same camping trips and even earn the Eagle Scout Award at the same time, and still each young person will take away something different.

That was certainly the case with Troop 746 of Newport Beach, Calif., part of the BSA’s Orange County Council. Earlier this year, six young men from Troop 746 — five of them cousins! — became Eagle Scouts at the same court of honor. (The ceremony was held more than a month before the coronavirus began its spread across the country.)

Their experiences were similar — including an epic 50-mile hike through the Sierra Nevada mountain range — but Scouting changed these young men in distinctly different ways.

Below, you’ll get a chance to meet each of these young men.

Brian Gilmore

Eagle project: Built large equipment boxes for an elementary school’s playground.

Biggest lesson learned in Scouting: “Lots of hands makes light work.”

Favorite Scouting moment: 50-mile hike to Blackcap Basin in California.

Advice to other Scouts: “It’s better to have experiences instead of completing requirements in workbooks.”

What he’d tell his adult leaders: “Thank you for supporting me throughout my entire Scouting experience. You helped me out so much, and I appreciate it greatly.”

What’s after high school: Go on a church mission trip, attend BYU for college, get married.

Caleb Wheeler

Eagle project: Assembled 67 backpack kits filled with pillows, pillowcases, pajamas and toiletries to give to children in the foster system.

Biggest lesson learned in Scouting: “Don’t give up — even when the road is difficult.”

Favorite Scouting moment: Going to In-N-Out Burger after a week of camping.

Advice to other Scouts: “Be yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you are not something, because everyone has their own unique special abilities that make them who they are.”

What he’d tell his adult leaders: “Thanks for helping us understand what it means to be a Scout.”

What’s after high school: Hopes to get a college scholarship for wrestling.

Elliott Streiff

Eagle project: Built wooden cars for orphans.

Biggest lesson learned in Scouting: How to be a leader.

Favorite Scouting moment: The 50-mile hike, “because I was able to accomplish something I thought I could not do.”

Advice to other Scouts: “Even though all the requirements seem like a lot, achieving them while having fun makes it so much easier and enjoyable.”

Advice for adult leaders: “Get to know your Scouts and the things they like to do. Then do those things, and everyone will have a lot more fun.”

What’s after high school: Go to a good college and become a bail enforcement agent.

Special shoutout: “I was lucky enough to go through the whole Scouting program with my dad. I have many memories of this incredible time.”

Jeffrey Dangl

Eagle project: Built a ga-ga ball pit and installed three new tetherball stands at his local elementary school.

Biggest lesson learned in Scouting: Be prepared, be flexible and change your plans if you need to.

Favorite Scouting moment: Whitewater rafting on the Kern River.

Advice to other Scouts: “Keep going; it’s worth it!” And “be positive, and earn lots of merit badges.”

Advice for adult leaders: “Help your Scouts earn Eagle when they are young — before they get too busy with high school.”

What’s after high school: College and a mission for his church.

Spencer Kettley

Eagle project: Made 300 paracord bracelets to give to military members and first responders.

Biggest lesson learned in Scouting: “Go along with your troop and follow the Scout Law.”

Favorite Scouting moment: Camping at Crystal Cove State Park.

Advice to other Scouts: “If you’re trying to learn about nature, go hiking or camping in the woods.”

What he’d tell his adult leaders: “Thank you for helping me through the Scout program!”

What’s after high school: Attending Orange Coast College.

Tyler Gilmore

Eagle project: Collected, cleaned and donated more than 500 pairs of shoes to local families.

Biggest lesson learned in Scouting: “Everything you do makes a difference to someone.”

Favorite Scouting moment: 50-mile hike in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Advice to other Scouts: “Get your Eagle when you are younger, when you have the time to do it. Don’t wait until you are almost 18.”

What he’d tell his adult leaders: “Thanks for the support you have all given me. Without it, I probably wouldn’t have gotten to where I am today.”

What’s after high school: Mission trip for his church, BYU for acting and musical theater. “Once at college, I would like get married in the LDS Temple and have a family.”

Troop 746 photos

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