By Judith Dorato O’Gara

At the end of this month, on May 31st, Boy Scout Troop 126 will celebrate Sid Rao’s achievement of Eagle Scout in an Eagle Court of Honor to take place at St. Blaise Catholic Church in Bellingham. 

For his Eagle Scout project, Rao, 18, created new lifeguard chairs for Camp Haiastan, an Armenian summer camp located on Uncas Pond. He came up with the idea in late 2023 and was able to complete the project in April of 2024.

The camp, explained Rao, “is close with Troop 126. I asked the camp director how can I give back, and the lifeguard chairs were not suitable at all. The one on the dock was really old, both of them were past their life span. He said it would be great if someone was able to build another one, and I was able to build (them) from scratch.”

John Miller, Facilities Manager for Camp Haiastan, explains, “(Sid) came up with the idea, he planned it out, he led the project and a bunch of us helped him build it. He did great job. We used (the chairs) all last summer; the lifeguards loved them. They’re nice and solid, we’re very happy.”

With the Eagle Scout project, says Rao, “You design it, and you have the other scouts help and build it.” Rao’s father was an important advisor, he says, as well as Mr. Miller, and Sid fundraised for the supplies, which he got at a discount from the local Lowe’s.

“I reached out to my Troop and asked if any volunteers wanted to help me,” he says. Three other Scouts, Aarush Sao, Aidan Arnold, and Bhuvan Patchala stepped up, and Rao says, “I don’t think I’d have been able to do it without them.”

The effort, says Rao, “created a good feeling. Finally being able to complete that project and finish it felt good, like all my hard work paid off,” he says.

Rao has been a Scout with Troop 126, which is chartered by and meets Wednesday nights at VFW Post 3402 in Franklin, since he moved to town in third grade. “I was in (Cub Scout) Pack 126, then crossed over to (Boy Scout) Troop 126,” he says. Sid enjoyed some major campouts as a Scout, such as one in Philmont Scout Ranch and the National Jamboree. “What I like about Boy Scouts most is the trips, getting to know new people, and spending the time in the woods away from your phone,” says Sid, who became a Senior Patrol Leader (SPL). That, he says, built “my ability to lead and grow. I was able to create a lot of experiences and learn what it is to be a leader, and the ability to learn from other people.”

Rao’s Mom, Rashmi, is an Assistant Scout Leader for Troop 126, who encouraged both of her sons to take part in Boy Scouts after her own experience as a Girl Guide. 

“Sid has learned leadership skills at a super crucial time,” she says, “He led a group of 40 scouts, would run the camp, make sure everyone is safe and plan a meeting every month. I think he has really learned a lot from this scout experience. He learned to be independent, got the perseverance and endurance to really be out there in the world and open to new experiences, and he’s ready to go off to college.”

Right now, Sid is still deciding on which college to attend, having been accepted to Babson, Bentley and Michigan State. He plans to study accounting.