Jacob Schnabl, son of Leanne and Brad Schnabl, Merrill, achieved the rank of Eagle Scout on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. Jacob is a member of Boy Scout Troop 599, of Merrill.
Jacob’s Eagle Project consisted of organizing collection sites and volunteers to collect personal hygiene items. Jacob also organized the collection of monetary donations to purchase additional items for his initial goal to assemble 100 health kits. The health kits consisted of 5-6 items per kit and contained such items as bar soap, shampoo, deodorant, lotion, sun screen, baby shampoo, cotton swabs, tooth paste, tooth brushes and mouthwash.
Jacob and his volunteers collected enough items and monetary donations to assemble 177 individual health kits that were distributed to two area food pantries in Merrill. Jacob enlisted assistance from the friends, family and members of Troop 599; parishioners of St. Stephens United Church of Christ, Merrill; Oak Park Dental, Merrill; and Lincoln Community Bank, Merrill. Jacob’s Life to Eagle Coach was Jared DeJong, who is also the troop’s Scout Master.
Jacob has held the positions of Chaplain’s Aide, Patrol Leader, Assistant Patrol Leader, Troop Guide and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader in his troop. He attended National Youth Leadership training in 2015 and earned his leadership pin. This past summer, Jacob worked as a counselor-in-training at Camp Tesomas in Rhinelander. He also attended the 2017 National Boy Scout Jamboree as part of the Samoset Council contingent, held at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, in Glen Jean, West Virginia.
Jacob was elected to the Order of the Arrow, Tom Kita Chara Lodge #96 in 2015. He obtained his Brotherhood in 2016.
Jacob is a member of St. Stephens United Church of Christ, where he is active in the Chime Choir. Jacob participates in the Fall Play as an actor and in Spring Musical as part of the stage crew at Merrill Senior High School, where he is a sophomore.