NORTH SMITHFIELD – A new area of Camp Phoenix is more accessible, and Troop 1139 Slatersville has added another name to the long list of local Eagle Scouts hailing from their ranks.
Evan Asfour became the troop’s 82nd Eagle Scout following completion of a service project that saw a new pathway built inside the town-run summer camp behind North Smithfield Elementary School.
Asfour, a senior at North Smithfield High School, started his scouting journey with Pack 7, Slatersville where he completed his Arrow of Light, joining Troop 1139 seven years ago.
For his Eagle service project, Asfour worked with the staff at Camp Phoenix to develop a plan for the creation of a new pathway from the existing center of the camp to a new expansion called “The Hive,” which opened in summer 2024. The facility offers a traditional, full-day summer camp experience for children in North Smithfield and surrounding communities.
Since its inception in 2006, Camp Phoenix’s enrollment has continually grown, resulting in the need for expansion. But while the camp had the land to expand, there was no convenient means to access it prior to the project. Asfour cleared a 500-foot-long by 6-foot-wide pathway through the woods, leveling the trail with wood chips and spreading crushed stone at the entrance.
“Evan was able to provide a well-constructed, safe pathway allowing for camp expansion and the opportunity for more and more kids of all ages to enjoy an enriching and fun summer camp experience for years to come,” said Troop 1139 Eagle Court of Honor Representative Kayla Baillargeon. “Evan recognizes that all of this was achievable thanks to the help of his fellow Scouts and adults of Troop 1139, Slatersville, and his family.”
“We always try to have our Eagle Scout prospects, when they are on their journey to Eagle, we encourage them to find something in our own community that will enhance the community and help the community,” said Scoutmaster Russ Wright. “Evan continued that tradition and did a great job. We’re super proud of him. He has continued that legacy and set a good example for others that are on that journey.”
Asfour technically completed the requirements for the rank last fall, but the troop just recently celebrated the achievement with an Eagle Court of Honor on Sunday, March 16. Also marking the achievement was the addition of his name to the troop’s Eagle Scout honor wall and on the troop’s trailer, alongside the 81 Scouts from 1139 Slatersville who came before him in achieving the program’s highest rank.
“Troop 1139, Slatersville it has a solid history of helping Scouts achieve their goals of Eagle Scout Rank,” said Baillargeon. “We have a long history of having very involved adult leadership, from our current and former scoutmasters to assistant scoutmasters and committee members who all have the same goal in mind, to have a successful Scout-led troop.”
“This allows our Scouts to learn life skills while taking initiative, making good choices, and learning leadership skills with minimal guidance from adults in a safe environment,” she said. “It has proven successful for Troop 1139, Slatersville as the Scouts push each other to achieve their goals, complete requirements, and ultimately earn the rank of Eagle Scout.”
Baillargeon noted that another six or seven Scouts from the troop are currently in the process of either planning or working on their Eagle projects, with anticipation they will achieve the rank in the year to come.
Asked why he thinks so many Scouts stick with the troop through high school and ultimately achieve the rank, Wright, who has served as Scoutmaster for the past year and a half, also pointed to solid and consistent leadership.
“I take only a sliver of credit,” Wright said. “If you have a good program and its healthy, and vibrant, and energetic, you keep them engaged.”
He noted that nationwide, only 4 percent of Scouts ultimately achieve the Eagle rank.
“We have a higher percent because we encourage them all along the way to make that their goal,” Wright said, adding that troop activities consistently work toward the requirements. “A lot of it is just being present and engaged – and keeping it fun and challenging.”
A father of three sons, the Scoutmaster’s youngest started in the Slatersville troop in 2014. When the family later moved to Glocester, they opted to stay in Troop 1139.
“You’ve just got to have a healthy program,” said Wright.
He noted that achieving the Eagle rank is no easy task.
“Our young men – if they’ve made it that far, they’ve earned it,” said Wright. “They have to be disciplined, committed and engaged, year after year.”
The projects, the final requirement to earn the title, are vetted by Scouting America, and the organization frequently adds notes and additional tasks to the original submissions.
“The really make them earn it,” Wright said.
Even as he spoke this week, another Eagle project was underway in town, and Asfour, Wright noted, was there to help out.
“He is still involved, and engaged, and mentoring and giving back,” Wright said. “That’s what we encourage.”
As a leader of the Troop since 2017, Wright noted he’s known many of the Scouts since they were in first grade.
“To see them on that journey and that transformation is pretty amazing,” he said. “It’s a labor of love.”
