Some Eagles take wing sooner than others.

At only 14, Jordan Hoch of Clinton is zeroing in on the coveted top rung of Scouting, the Eagle rank.

“He’s very focused,” said Hoch’s Scoutmaster, Brian Christensen of Freeland. “It’s one of Jordan’s strengths.”

Christensen said Eagle Scout candidates typically are 16 or

17 years old.

Hoch, a freshman at South Whidbey High School, said he has participated in Scouting since he was 8 years old. He’s a member of Troop 14 of South Whidbey.

He started his quest for Eagle about a year ago, and said he has only three or four merit-badge requirements to earn, including family life and citizenship.

The focal point of his Eagle project is a kiosk he’s building at the north corner of South Whidbey Community Park, next to the skateboard area.

The kiosk features a bench and a display board for the posting of community notices. The display board will be covered by a roof.

Hoch has guided the entire project though the permission and permit process, the gathering of donated materials and the scheduling of volunteer assistance through the building stages.

Along the way, he has mustered and directed friends and relatives to help plan and build the kiosk.

He said the project is complete but for the installation of the display board.

“I learned how to do roofing, and I improved my overall building skills,” Hoch said. “It was really fun to do.”

Hoch and his family have lived on South Whidbey for about

11 years. His parents are Debbie and Glenn Hoch. She works for the South Whidbey School District, and he is a bank loan officer.

A sports enthusiast, Hoch played junior varsity football this year, is on the junior varsity basketball team and also plays golf. He said he’s interested in graphic design, but his future plans are far from set.

“He’s a fine young man, and the other boys like working with him,” said one of Hoch’s former Scoutmasters, Brent Hacking of Langley.

“He’s fun-loving, but he can keep his nose to the grindstone and get things done,” Hacking said.

“He’s very responsible, and the other boys look up to him,” agreed Christensen.

This past summer, he accompanied Hoch and other Scouts on a 10-day, 60-mile hike in New Mexico.

“I helped him with his paperwork,” added Christensen, who has put in eight years as a Scoutmaster, the past two or so on South Whidbey. “He did a good job of organizing.”

“I enjoyed working with him,” Christensen said. “He’s a good kid.”