PHOTO PROVIDED Eli Martin recently earned the Scouting America rank of Eagle. Martin is a member of Troop 66 in Pleasant Gap, Pa. As his Eagle project, Eli built a floating dock at the upper pond at Calvary Fields.

PLEASANT GAP — Pleasant Gap Troop 66 is pleased to announce Eli Martin has earned the rank of Eagle, the highest rank in Scouting America, formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America.

Eli, a freshman at Bellefonte Area High School, was recently awarded his Eagle at a court of honor assembled to celebrate his accomplishment at Calvary Baptist Church in Boalsburg, Pa. Eli is a member of the youth group at Calvary, and an avid outdoorsman. His project was to build a floating dock at the upper pond at Calvary Fields. The dock, according to Eli, would “make fishing more accessible to those wanting to fish as well as for those wanting to sit and enjoy the pond.” Eli coordinated this project with Mike Leach at Calvary.

Eli planned, designed, fundraised and coordinated the construction of the dock. In addition to the main project, Eli also directed his group of volunteers to complete several side projects including the removal of invasive plants around the lower pond, trimming overgrowth around a memorial bench and repairing several benches and a campfire area.

Pleasant Gap Troop 66 was founded in 1942 and is chartered by the American Legion Post 867 in Pleasant Gap. The troop currently has 11 boys. They meet Sunday evenings at 7 p.m. in the Scout Room of the Pleasant Gap United Methodist Church, 179 S. Main St., Pleasant Gap.

For more information on becoming a scout, visit www.beascout.org.