Eagle Scout: going above and beyond

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kristof J. Rixmann
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Louis Roscoe, a Boy Scouts of America Life Scout (second highest rank in BSA) and student at Kaiserslautern High School, moved one step closer to achieving the rank of Eagle Scout when he unveiled a sensory room for children with special needs at Vogelweh Elementary School on Vogelweh Military Complex, Germany, May 15, 2018.

With the help of fellow boy scouts, friends, and family, Roscoe built the sensory room for his Eagle Scout project, the final step before pinning on the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Boy Scouts. Only four percent of Boy Scouts ever attain this rank.

Roscoe decided on the sensory room as his final project because he saw the need for it within his community.

“It will help kids with disabilities because it will either calm them down in a stressful situation or cheer them up if they’re experiencing low energy,” said Roscoe. “The school also has the biggest number of kids with disabilities (in the Kaiserslautern Military Community). There are usually limited funds for schools to build these rooms, so it also helps teachers who sometimes buy equipment with their own money.”

A sensory room is a specially designed room which combines a range of stimuli to help individuals develop and engage their senses, and can assist those with learning disabilities in processing sensory information. These can include lights, colors, sounds, sensory soft play objects, and aromas all within a safe environment that allows the child using it to explore and interact without risk.

There are several benefits a sensory room can offer with its wide range of stimuli. These benefits include sensory stimulation, enhanced learning through play, improved balance, movement and spatial orientation, and allowing a child to become more conscientious of their behavior and actions.

At times, there were certain variables in the construction of the sensory room that threatened to slow the operation but Roscoe remained resilient throughout.

“I think at one point about three quarters of the way through the project, when (Roscoe) realized the enormity of it, he expressed some concern about being able to complete it,” said Terry Roscoe, Louis Roscoe’s mother. “Once we started talking our way through it and putting things on paper, however, he realized how much he had already accomplished and that there was a finish line in sight.”

To build the sensory room, Roscoe determined it would cost approximately $11,400.

“At first I was a bit concerned since it felt like a big project to do,” said Roscoe. “Eventually, I chose to accept the project, knowing that teachers, and my parents would support me if I needed it. I did a bake sale two days before Christmas and put up a GoFundMe site. We also had donations from family and friends as well as former Eagle Scouts. Our goal was to raise $11,400, but we instead raised over $13,000.”

It took just four months, from December to March, to attain these funds. After having the necessary money available, the team then purchased the equipment for the sensory room.

“The project took approximately one year to accomplish,” said Roscoe. “It took several months to order everything and to be delivered. Once we received all the equipment, however, it took just a few hours to assemble the equipment. The project was done through the help of a lot of people in our military and local communities, from within Europe and also from the United States.”

After completing the sensory room, Roscoe had many people to thank.

“I would like to thank all the scouts from Troop 166 that came to help as well as my scout leaders,” said Roscoe. “I also not only did the project to help Vogelweh Elementary School, but I finished it, in part, to pay tribute to Eric Cooley, who passed recently.”

Cooley, Transatlantic Council commissioner, was an avid supporter of Louis and his Eagle Scout project, explained Christopher Roscoe, Louis Roscoe’s father. Cooley was a positive role model and inspiration for the entire Transatlantic Scout organization.

With the completion of the sensory room, Roscoe is now waiting to pin on the rank of Eagle Scout.

“Louis passed his Eagle Board of Review,” said Mrs. Terry Roscoe. “His Eagle award application and credentials have been sent to the National Advancement Team where they will review and verify his packet before sending him the award.”