Michael Liebig can light a fire without a match, bake chocolate-chip cookies using a box and tin foil, and sleep soundly between two inconveniently placed rocks.
In January, he had to go scuba diving. In Missouri.
Scuba was merit badge No. 121 for Liebig, an 18-year-old Eagle Scout who has earned every merit badge in the book, plus two that have been retired since he earned them.
Liebig learned about the scuba badge only three months before his 18th birthday deadline, so he and his dad dived into the water of a flooded mine.
Badge No. 122 was the hardest. Bugling isn’t Liebig’s thing, but he now can toot 15 songs.
Liebig received his final merit badges in a ceremony Monday night at Lee’s Summit Christian Church.
For reference, it takes only 21 badges to become an Eagle Scout, a milestone Liebig achieved when he was 13.
In this school year at least one other local scout, Conor Killen of Platte City, earned every merit badge, said Randy Kidder, a spokesman for the Heart of America Council.
Only 4 percent of Boy Scouts reach Eagle status. Fewer than 1 percent earn all the badges available, said Renee Fairrer, a spokeswoman for the national Boy Scouts office.
Read the complete story at kansascity.com