St. Charles native Zac Kwasniewski, 15, of Bethlehem Lutheran Troop 13, recently became an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America on Dec.16 at a ceremony.

Kwasniewski is the son of Brian and Janis Kwasniewski. He has an older brother, Nic Kwasniewski. He is a sophomore taking AP and honors classes at St. Charles East High School, where he is involved in Canoe Club and Gamers Club. He plans to further his education  by studying criminal justice and criminology in college.

Kwasniewski began Scouting in Cub Scouts as a Tiger Scout, working his way up to Webelos II earning his faith’s religious emblems and achieving the Cub Scouts’ distinction of Arrow of Light before crossing over into Boy Scouts.

As a Boy Scout, he moved up through the ranks toward Eagle Scout.

Throughout his time in Scouting, Kwasniewski has had leadership positions within the troop, and was selected by his troop to attend the National Youth Leadership Training program offered by the Boy Scouts of America.

He has also earned 33 merit badges along the trail to Eagle ,including the 100-year anniversary historic merit badges of tracking and pathfinding. 

He has participated in a variety of weekend campouts, week long summer camps, and high adventure camps throughout his Scouting experiences.   

For his Eagle Scout project, Kwasniewski – with a group of Scouts, family and friends  – constructed, sanded, stained and placed updated furniture at Anderson Animal Shelter in South Elgin. The items included benches, a display table,  a bookcase and a cage table.   
 
Kwasniewski’s numerous Scouting awards include archery, art, aviation, bird study, camping, canoeing, citizenship in the community, citizenship in the nation, citizenship in the world, climbing, communications, cooking, cycling, emergency preparedness, environmental science, family life, finger printing, fire safety, first aid, fish and wildlife management, oceanography, pathfinding (2010 historical), personal fitness, personal management, photography, railroading, reading, safety, scholarship, snow sports, swimming, tracking (2010 historical), and traffic safety.

His awards include the Special Youth Award (kayaking BSA), World Conservation Award and National Youth Leadership Training.