A senior at Stafford High School is the latest member of Boy Scout Troop 907 to receive his Eagle Scout award.

Benjamin Carl Raines, 17, received the award at a recent honor ceremony. He is the son of Jimmy and Becky Raines.

The Eagle Scout award is the highest honor in the Boy Scouts of America.

He began his career in Scouts in 2000 with Cub Scout Pack 907 at Winding Creek Elementary School.

He earned his Arrow of Light award in 2005.

In March 2005, he joined Boy Scout Troop 907, which is sponsored by the Ebenezer Methodist Church in Stafford.

In his Scout career, Raines has earned 26 merit badges and attended several summer camps, including Cub Scout Camp Tuckahoe twice, and Boy Scout camps T. Brady Saunders, Bay Shore and Goshen. At Boy Scout Summer Camp Bayport he participated in the Riverbase High Adventure Camp.

For his Eagle Scout project, Raines helped with the construction of a playground at Ramoth Baptist Church in Stafford County.

Raines grew up at Ramoth, as his mother did before him. There was a single "monkey bar" in the parking lot in the 1960s and '70s, but nothing for children during his childhood.

He discussed the idea of the playground with the church's director of children's ministries, who agreed to help with the project.

Raines was able to obtain the donation of a swing set, Bigfoot slide and monkey bars. He then found additional playground equipment on sale.

He organized the men of the church to construct the large playground at the corner of Ramoth Church Road and Kellogg Mill Road.

Raines was recognized by the Stafford County Board of Supervisors for receiving the President's Volunteer Service Award; is a member of the Mountain View Volunteer Rescue Squad Inc., where he is certified in CPR and first aid; and is currently enrolled in Emergency Medical Technician class.

He also is a member with the Mountain View Fire and Safety Association, where he is certified in firefighter I, hazardous materials operations, and Mayday, and he is nearing completion of firefighter II.

Raines is a member of Ramoth Baptist, where he participates in Instruments of Praise and various activities. And he is a member of Health Occupations Students of America at Stafford High.