Whiz Kid: Laura Hunerberg

NAME: Laura Hunerberg

SCHOOL: 2011 graduate

GREAT DEED: Laura became the first girl in Marin to complete the Boy Scouts of America's annual National Youth Leadership training.

This was the first year the Boy Scouts training was open to Venture Scouts -- a co-ed scouting group for teenagers. Laura, as a Venture Scout for the last year-and-a-half, opted to participate in and complete the six day leadership training at Camp Tamarancho last week.

It wasn't always easy, though. Because she was the only girl (and the older person) in attendance at the training camp, Laura was housed on the other side of camp from everyone else with one advisor.

"But, it turned out really well," she said. 

The training taught the scouts how to be effective leaders, work with groups, solve problems and have a leadership presence, she said. Some of the skills she's already used as a camp counselor for the Cub Scouts at Tamarancho this summer.

KEY TO AWESOMENESS: Laura has previously participated in the leadership class at Drake and attended the Student Advisors to the Board of Education Conferences in Sacramento, the California Association of Student Councils Conference at Stanford University, and the California Activities Directors Association Leadership Camps at UC Santa Barbara.

Though her dad and brothers have always been involved in the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, it wasn't until January last year that Laura became a founding member (with her sister) in the Venture Scouts troop they belong to. The troop is focused primarily on shooting sports and goes to the firing range at the Richmond Rod and Gun Club and up at Black Point in Petaluma. 

"It was something totally new and different," said Laura.

Laura will do something else a little new when she heads off to Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz this fall. But, it won't be totally different. She plans to study education and hopes to become an elementary school teacher -- something she has plenty of experience with as a camp counselor and nanny.

And, she'll have even more experience after all the leadership training she just completed at Tamarancho.

If you know a Whiz Kid, nominate them by emailing kellyd@patch.com.