08/29/2026
When parents ask us about the long-term impact of Scouting, this is exactly the kind of story we love to share.
We recently got a fantastic update from an Aloha Council dad, Michael, about where his two daughters, Aroha and Kana, are off to next:
🦅 His youngest daughter, Aroha "Ari" Walsh, completed her Eagle Scout project through a community science initiative with the Audubon Society. She joined the Stream Explorers program at Maine Audubon, which engages youth in conservation and water health. Because of her outstanding contributions, Aroha was recently selected for induction into The Explorer's Club! It is incredibly rare for a high school student to be admitted to the club, let alone a student who got her start in Scouting in Hawaii.
🎒 His oldest daughter, Kana Walsh, was just accepted to Columbia University! But before she hits the books, she’s heading out on a backpacking orientation trip through the Delaware Gap. As Michael shared, her deep love of the outdoors was fueled by her time in her BSA Scout Troop and Venturing Crew right here in Hawaii.
As a parent, Michael's reflection on their journey says it all: "Thank you for all that the Aloha Council did to set her on this path in life. If it wasn’t for the council, the pandemic would have had a negative impact on her development instead of a positive one."
This is exactly what it means to Dream Big. We are so incredibly proud of Aroha and Kana for the foundation they built here at home.
Want to learn more about Aroha's community science project? Read her guest blog post detailing her contributions to the Stream Explorers program here: https://maineaudubon.org/news/guest-blog-post-stream-explorers-opens-doors/
Join us in the comments to congratulate them on their next big adventures!