For over a century, the Boys Scouts of America — now known as Scouts BSA — has been teaching kids new skills, such as music.

Alexander Pattison is an Eagle Scout, the highest rank someone can achieve, and a member of Troop 75 in Delmar.

“There are some badges, definitely, the experience you get from them is like, 'Oh, I definitely want to try scuba diving or water skiing. Who wouldn’t want to try that?” Pattison said.

Twenty-one badges are required to become an Eagle Scout.

But Pattison didn’t stop there.

He’s earned all of the 137 merit badges that exist, an achievement accomplished by less than 500 people in the organization’s more than 100-year history.

"There are badges that will take you three months, or even years to complete," Pattison said. "It definitely makes me feel like I have an advantage over a lot of other people in terms of having already experienced these things.”

He says earning these badges has given him an idea of what he wants to study in college, and being an Eagle Scout is not about earning the most badges. It’s about living the life that you want, and equipping yourself with skills that will help you. 

His advice to other scouts is simple: “If you don’t challenge yourself, you never grow. If you don’t push yourself past your limits, you never get stronger.”