A milestone more than a decade in the making, Schuylerville High School senior Ethan Passage earned the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement in the Boy Scouts of America and an honor attained by only a small percentage of all Scouts nationwide. For Passage, the journey began in first grade as a young Cub Scout. By fifth grade, he had advanced into Boy Scouts, where he began working steadily toward merit badges, leadership milestones, and the ultimate goal he set for himself early on: Eagle Scout.
“It’s been seven years of hard work,” said Passage. “Being able to finish what I started means everything to me,” Passage said. “I gained a lot of friendships, and it was really about the people around me who helped me get there.”
To earn Eagle Scout, candidates must complete a capstone service project that demonstrates leadership, project management, community engagement, and perseverance. Passage knew he wanted his project to connect with his long-standing interest in animals, the environment, and public health. The inspiration struck during horseback rides along the Saratoga Siege Trail, a flat, half-mile walking trail that runs beside Fish Creek and connects Route 4 and Evans Street.
“I was riding the trail on my horses and getting eaten alive by mosquitoes,” Passage said. “It made me think—maybe there’s a way to help both the trail and the environment.”
Passage’s answer was bat houses, also the title of his project. He says New York’s bat population has been struggling in recent years, and lower numbers contribute to increased mosquito activity. Passage realized that providing safe nesting spaces could help support the bat population while also making the trail more enjoyable for residents and visitors. He proposed, planned, organized, and led the installation of 15 bat houses along the Saratoga Siege Trail.
Passage secured funding from donations—including contributions from his grandparents and mother—and used tools his family already had in their garage. The Village of Victory also played a key role, offering support as the project aligned with the village’s ongoing restoration efforts on the trail.
“It makes me very proud,” he said. “Seeing this project get done is definitely rewarding. When I walk down the trail and see the bat houses, I say to myself, ‘Wow, I did that!’”
Passage’s successful board of review is now complete and he is expected to be officially awarded the Eagle Scout rank by the beginning of the next calendar year. After graduating from Schuylerville, he plans to pursue a pre-veterinary bachelor of science degree, with the long-term goal of working in emergency veterinary care.