Maxwell Schrempp is first scout in King County to earn all 130 BSA badges

A bit of self-motivation can produce amazing results.

Eagle Scout, Maxwell Schrempp, 18, of Troop 572 from Kirkland, Washington reached his goal of earning every merit badge currently offered by the BSA, 130 badges total. Less than 200 Scouts have accomplished this feat, and Max is also the first Scout in King County to earn all of them.

“It’s been an exciting journey,” he says.

Max has been in Scouts since 2002, first as a Cub Scout, and then as a Boy Scout. He earned his Eagle in 2009, and has remained in the troop since. During these years, Max attended Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, kayaked up and down Ross Lake, biked around the San Juan Islands, and enjoyed countless other experiences. All the while, he completed merit badge after merit badge.

The purpose of the merit badges is to allow Scouts to explore a wide variety of subjects to determine if they would like to pursue them as a career or avocation. From Pioneering, to Medicine, to Nuclear Science, this program has exposed Max to a number of fields. He recently earned his Scuba Diving merit badge in the frigid waters of Puget Sound.

“It was cold, but as a first-time diver, the thrill of being underwater kept me distracted.”

Max’s first merit badge was Environmental Science which he earned almost seven years ago. His final merit badge, Archaeology, was completed a few days shy of his 18^thbirthday.

“Each one brought something new and exciting. I would complete one and then become interested in another. Finally, they started to add up.”

Max would like to take this opportunity to thank his family, friends, and all of the people in his troop. He stresses that without this support base, his goal could not have been attained.

“This was a collective effort. So many people provided inspiration and support. I am thankful to know so many wonderful people.”

So what’s next for this young man? Max plans to stay active in his troop until he goes off to college. Since he is no longer a Scout, he will be serving as the Troop’s youngest adult leader.

“For me, Scouting is all about trying new things, going on exciting adventures, and simply growing as an individual. This applies to people of all ages. It is an opportunity to build relationships with fellow Scouts and adults, learn new skills, and create memories that you will always treasure, even the small ones.”

A little self-motivation can go a long way. This is an experience which Max will cherish for the rest of his life.

For more information about Scouting, please see the Chief Seattle Council website at www.seattlebsa.org.