By DEVIN WEEKS

Staff Writer

He hiked 50 miles through Yellowstone National Park, he earned all the necessary merit badges, he built a pavilion in Hayden.

Now, Coeur d'Alene 18-year-old Seth Francka has the prestigious title of "Eagle Scout."

"We're just very proud of his accomplishments," Seth's mom, Leah, said during a phone interview Thursday. "He’s really grown up into a fine young man, largely due to Boy Scouts and all the influences his leaders made on him during the Scouts."

Seth, his mom and his Dad, Dennis, were enjoying a family vacation in Mexico on Thursday following Seth's Eagle Scout ceremony Dec. 2.

"I can't tell you how proud I am," Dennis said. "There are so few who achieve this if you look at the percentage of how many boys are in Scouts and how many actually become Eagle Scouts."

To earn Eagle status, Scouts must achieve the rank of Life Scout and continue being active with their troops. They must demonstrate that they live by the Scout Oath and Scout Law, earn a total of 21 merit badges including first aid, citizenship, communication, emergency preparedness, camping and family life, take part in a unit leader conference, complete a service project and successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review.

For Seth's service project, he spent about 30 hours constructing a pavilion and bench in Pawfoot Dog Park in Croffoot Park in Hayden. He completed the project just before his birthday in February, when the days were cold, dark and snowy.

"I thought it would be really worthwhile for the city of Hayden," Seth said. "I'm very proud of myself for being able to get out of bed and finish that. It was hard to get up in the morning and do it but I'm really glad I was able to do it."

A senior in the online Richard McKenna Charter High School, Seth plans to attend North Idaho College and the University of Idaho to pursue an education in computer science. He's most interested in cyber security.

In a letter, Seth thanked everyone who helped and donated supplies for the project, including a few local businesses and Hayden city officials. He also thanked his family and colleagues who pitched in to assist.

"The project was a resounding success and I couldn't have done it without the boys who showed up to help on project day, and their dads," he wrote. "Most of all, I'd like to thank my parents, without whom I wouldn't have made it this far."