Teen Sings His Way to Eagle Scout

There are merit badges for community service, for water safety and compass reading, but Bill Steigelman, a 16-year-old local Boy Scout, has earned his badge in a unique way--through caroling.

Bill, a Scout since second grade, didn’t know what to do to advance from Life Scout to Eagle Scout--the highest rank in the Boy Scouts. But as a music lover with a compassionate heart, he wondered, “Why don’t I do something for the elderly . . . I know this is a time when people can be lonely.”

This thought led him to ask several friends to join him in making the rounds of area elderly care facilities to sing Christmas carols.

“I had never really done caroling before and thought it might be a fun thing to do,” Bill said.

Thus, earlier this month, Bill and 12 fellow Camarillo High School students found themselves singing “Deck the Halls” in elderly care facilities in Camarillo.

Through the course of the day, they entertained residents at four facilities.

The group consisted of service-oriented teenage Scouts and Key Club members, as well as music lovers.

“They’re just really good friends and wanted to be part of this kind of outreach to the community,” said Bill’s mother, Chris Steigelman, who helped chaperon the event.

The effort fulfilled the requirement for advancing Bill to Eagle Scout, and he conceded that it didn’t take much prompting to get the others to help out.

“We already have some sort of affinity or liking for music,” said Bill, a two-year member of the Kiwanis-sponsored Key Club and trombone player.

“No one really cared if we could sing or not. We were just concerned with trying to sound the best that we could and make the residents happier.”