By Kathy Brown.
Killingworth Scouts BSA Troop #18 has gained another Eagle Scout. Evan Kamoen, who is a Senior at Marine Science Magnet High School in Groton, completed his Eagle project, Mossback fishing structures for Forster’s Pond, in August, and made Eagle Scout on January 8, 2021.
Evan is the son of Jennifer and Clement Kamoen of Killingworth. Evan has spent 12 years in Scouts, beginning as a Tiger Scout in first grade. He has been a Patrol Leader, as well as serving a year as his troop’s Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, also known as the ASPL.
“I’ve known Evan since he joined Cub Scout Pack 18, nearly 12 years ago,” said Paul Pitts, Scoutmaster of Troop #18. “I eventually became his Scoutmaster and have seen his growth the last four years. He has grown and matured into a fine young man, living and following the tenets of the Scout law in and out of the troop.”
Evan, with the help of his troop, built ten Mossback fishing structures which were put into Forster’s Pond in Killingworth, at the Connecticut Aquatic Resource Education (CARE) Center. The Connecticut DEEP runs the CARE Center, which is used to teach people from the inner cities how to fish. Evan is an instructor there; their youngest.
According to his mother, Jennifer, Evan is an avid fisherman, who fishes on a high school bass team, and holds numerous saltwater records. He works at Black Hall Outfitters in Westbrook, and plans to attend college for Marine Biology in the Fall. “This project took many of his different connections and brought them all together into one project,” said Jennifer.
The Mossback fishing structures will give the fish a place to spawn and reproduce in the pond, which was lacking such an area. Two of the structures are nursery kits which give the small fish a safe place to grow, as well as promote algae growth. The structures are specially designed so that anglers won’t become entangled in the structures.
Evan received a grant from AFTCO, as well as a donation from Mohawk Valley Basscasters, which covered the cost of the structures. He also received a donation of crushed stone from Premier Stone in Killingworth, which was used to help sink the structures to the bottom of the pond.
“The final stages of Eagle become very challenging due to time, school and work constraints,” explained Scoutmaster Pitts. “Evan is a full time student, which requires a significant commute early each morning as well as works nearly full time. Fitting in the final requirements, meetings, work parties, and the significant application and review process was a challenge. Many people with his workload and schedule could not handle this. But that is the difference between Evan and most kids, and exactly why he is an Eagle.”
“The pandemic made the process more challenging with delays every step of the way,” said Evan, “but with the proper planning and the help of my Scouting community, I was able to accomplish my goal.”
Photos provided by Jennifer Kamoen.
