Hale joined Troop 17 April 2012 coming from Pack 344 and steadily advanced through his ranks. He achieved the First Class rank within 16 months.

Hale’s first opportunity for leadership came when he served as Patrol Leader of Moose Patrol – from May 2014 thru October 2015 where he led his patrol to second place overall in the district camporee.

After his patrol leadership, Hale became an instructor and also troop quartermaster. From September 2016 to October 2017 he served as Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. In this position he stepped in as substitute Senior Patrol Leader when needed and acted as the patrol leader for the Junior Leadership Corps. Hale was promoted to Senior Patrol Leader and served in that position until August 2018 at which time he was appointed an Assistant Scoutmaster.

Hale earned the Ner Tamid, the Jewish religious award. Hale earned two other special awards – Complete Angler and World Conservation. These badges require certain merit badges on the road to Eagle.

Hale had also been an active participant in the troop’s outdoor program — including campouts, camporees, hikes, and years at summer camp. In recognition of his camping abilities and leadership skills, Hale was elected by his fellow campers in 2014 to the Order of the Arrow, scouting’s national society for Scout honor campers. Also, that year, he joined the OA’s Ceremonial Team which conducts Arrow of Light, Crossover and other ceremonies for Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops. In 2015. Hale was part of Troop Seventeen’s contingent to Philmont — BSA’s national high-adventure camp in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico.  He achieved his OA Brotherhood Honor in 2016. Hale also served on the National Jamboree staff in 2017, playing bass as a member of the National Jamboree Band.

For his Eagle service project, Hale planned and supervised the improvement of the outdoor classroom at the Shirlee Green Preschool by building two tree stump paths, two storage containers, a musical wall, a bamboo hut, and by coating several wooden benches. 

While Hale had a successful scouting career, he was also active outside of scouting. He attended Ladue’s Horton Watkins High School. Hale was President of the Speech and Debate Team, served as captain of the Ultimate Frisbee team, played tuba player in symphonic band, and the bass in jazz band and symphonic orchestra. Hale was Founder and Director of Ladue’s Jazz Combo, and was Senior Class President. He was a caddy at Westwood Country Club, participated in the International Policy Public Forum and Tomodachi Exchange Program. He also played bass during Friday night Shabbat services at Congregation Shaare Emeth.

Academically, Hale is a member of the National Honor Society and in 2016 was name the recipient of the  Daniel K. Bruns scholarship for outstanding performance within the Ladue high school band.

Hale Masaki —

Leader… Musician… Honor Patrol… Order of the Arrow… Outdoorsman… Teacher… Scholar… Eagle Scout

TROOP SEVENTEEN IS MIGHTY PROUD OF HALE MASAKI