By MADDY VITALE
Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout is the highest honor bestowed upon a Boy Scout.
But to get to that rank is an arduous road, built through learning life skills, through mentors and perseverance.
For Dylan Kampf, 16, a junior at Ocean City High School, his Eagle Scout project took a little longer than he had hoped, a year, rather than months.
But when it was completed, fishing line recyclable containers to help protect wildlife and marine life were installed at 12th Street, 10th Street, Eighth Street and Second Street.
“They look like reusable PVC pipes. People can put fishing lines right into the containers and the Surfrider Foundation takes the lines out,” Dylan explained Sunday. “I thought it was a good project to do to help save the environment.”
He had his Eagle review on Feb. 4.
“That is when I learned I achieved the rank of Eagle,” Dylan noted. “It is a big honor. It has taken a while to get there, definitely. I had to work very hard to get to the rank of Eagle.”
On Sunday, Dylan, of Ocean City, had his Eagle Scout Court of Honor at the Ocean City Yacht Club. The presentation of the Eagle Award was done by Ocean City Troop 32 Scoutmaster Dean Mitzel. The Master of Ceremonies was Mark Faverzani.
His parents, Mark and Lee Ann Kampf, and sisters, Melissa, 19, and Julie Ann 22, attended.
“We are very proud of him,” Mark said, adding that his wife was also very proud. “She has been a big part of the Eagle accomplishment as well.”
A host of dignitaries were at the event to show their support for Dylan’s accomplishments. They included Congressman Jeff Van Drew, Assemblyman Antwan McClellan, Cape May County Freeholders E. Marie Hayes and Jeff Pierson, Former U.S. Marshal James Plousis, Cape May County Sheriff Bob Nolan and Cape May County Clerk Rita Marie Fulginiti.
Mark Kampf said the family was humbled by the attendance of the distinguished guests.
“It was humbling to see all the distinguished guests come to speak. (Boy Scout) Troop 32 in Ocean City is definitely special,” he noted.
The Kampf family was deeply grateful to City Councilman Tony Wilson for helping make Dylan’s project possible, Mark said.
“Councilman Wilson was a great help in donating supplies,” Mark said.
Dylan, who has been scouting since the first grade, said there are many reasons why he has remained a scout through his teens.
“It helps with daily life. It helps you talk in front of people and really get through life,” he said. “It has a lot of problem-solving and other good skills if you need them.”
Dylan knew when he was very young, he would become a scout. After all, his father was a member of the Boy Scouts of America.
But unlike Dylan’s accomplishment achieving the rank of Eagle, his dad did not have that honor.
“I never made Eagle,” Mark said.
Yet, he saw all of the positive experiences he learned through scouting and wanted to give his son the same opportunities.
“For me, it was an opportunity to invest time and share in the scouting experience with my son in the way my dad shared the scouting experience with me,” Mark pointed out.
Dylan, who is thinking about studying aerospace engineering in college, said he even though he has already achieved the highest rank he could in scouting, he is not finished.
He will always be an Eagle, but always continue to achieve by doing tasks that will earn him Eagle palms, which are accolades or awards.
Dylan added, “I plan on staying active in the troop and obtaining Eagle palms and continue the journey.”
