Canyon Lake teen named Boy Scout of the Year

Canyon Lake resident Ryan Hosking receives the Boy Scout of the Year Award. Photo provided by Patti Hosking.

Canyon Laker Ryan Hosking, Pack 346 alumni and member of Troop 444 of Menifee, was awarded the 2017 Boy Scout of the Year for the Three Peaks District at the annual banquet in January. Each year, Scout leaders throughout the district are asked to nominate an outstanding Scout for this achievement. Ryan was nominated by his scoutmaster due to his outstanding achievements within and outside of Scouting and was chosen by the district to receive this high honor.

Ryan joined Canyon Lake’s Cub Scout Pack 346 in 2009. He achieved the highest rank in Cub Scouts, the Arrow of Light rank, and was a Super Achiever earning all 20 Webelos pins. He bridged to Troop 444 in Menifee. He has been very active in leadership in his troop including the roles of den chief, patrol leader, Order of the Arrow representative and senior patrol leader. He is an active member of the Order of The Arrow, Cahuilla Lodge.

Ryan has attended both National Youth Leadership Training and Foxfire Leadership Training. Currently, he is the junior scoutmaster for Troop 444.

In addition to serving in his troop, Ryan attended the 2015 World Scout Jamboree in Japan and served as senior patrol leader for the troop from the California Inland Empire Council at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree in Virginia. He has also served as a ranger at the BSA Camp Emerald Bay on Catalina Island for the past three years.

At the age of 14, Ryan earned the Eagle rank in December 2015. His project was aimed to educate the public on the impact of litter on the environment. His project was the building and placement of 3D shadow boxes at the Santa Ana River Watershed in the City of Norco. These boxes displayed information regarding how long specific trash items takes to decompose naturally.

Since this watershed flows into the ocean, Ryan’s project was aimed to deter the dumping of trash and littering in the area. Ryan received the Glen A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Project of the Year Award for the California Inland Empire Council and was recognized by the City of Norco for his project.

He has a goal of completing all merit badges offered by Boy Scouts of America. He has earned over 100 merit badges, OA Centuries of Service Award and International Spirit Award as Messenger of Peace.

Messengers of Peace is a global initiative designed to inspire millions of young men and women in more than 220 countries and territories to work toward peace. The initiative is inspired by the World Scout Committee, administered by the World Scout Bureau and driven by youth volunteers worldwide.

Outside of Scouts, Ryan is captain of NJROTC Orienteering Team and earned Distinguished Cadet Ribbon. The ribbon is given out yearly to one cadet that has the highest scholastic and aptitude in NJROTC activities such as academics, physical fitness, and drill.

At Murrieta Mesa High School, Ryan competes on the water polo, mountain biking and the NJROTC armed drill team and cyber patriots teams. He received the Coaches Award for mountain biking in 2015 and MVP for water polo in 2017.

“The Spirit is there in every boy; it has to be discovered and brought to light,” said Robert Baden Powell, soldier, writer and founder of the world Scouting movement.