Carrying 141 merit badges and a slew of Cub Scout belt loops and pins may sound heavy, but it’s no burden. Just ask 17-year-old Joseph C. of the Utah National Parks Council who earned every merit badge, Cub Scout rank, and Cub Scout award available to him.

The Scout’s dedication to exploring every badge allowed him to sample more than one-hundred career fields and refine a variety of life and leadership skills. The ultimate merit badge quest didn’t come without challenges though.

“I am not a natural swimmer, so water merit badges were harder for me,” Joseph explained in a post on the Utah National Parks Council blog.

The son of immigrants who don’t swim and aren’t Scouts, Joseph had to rely on Scout
leaders for guidance. His parents, however, grew familiar with the program through their son’s dedication to Scouting.

“We asked his Scout and youth leaders and others to encourage him along the way,” Joseph’s father Felipe explained. “We reminded him of his commitment that he made to himself to take on this challenge, and to persevere and see it through.”

And in the process of gathering badges, a few emerged as favorites for the Eagle Scout. At the top of his list is the recently-released, innovative animation merit badge.

Part of the appeal of the badge for Joseph was that it was the last one to complete his tremendous collection. But he liked the modern appeal of what he learned garnering the achievement.

“I like seeing 3D animation done well, mainly in CGI movies,” he said of earning the animation merit badge.

Outside of Scouting, Joseph is an accomplished musician and set to graduate from high school with an associate degree from Utah County Academy of Sciences. After that, he’s headed on a mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Learn more about the victories and challenges faced by the extraordinary Eagle Scout as he reached his goal of earning every merit badge by reading the Utah National Parks Council post and KSL.com’s story.