Youth helping youth

Fellow Scout Troop 18 members Gavyn Eising and Nathan Hickman, top, are shown as they repair a playset with Eagle Scout candidate Nathan Simpson, lower right, during a workday for his community service project at Fort King Presbyterian Church. [Photo by Andy Fillmore]

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Posted March 19, 2024 | By Andy Fillmore, andy@ocalagazette.com

Nathan Simpson’s Eagle Scout project of making improvements in the playground at Fort King Presbyterian Church will benefit scores of kids for years to come.

Nathan, 15, had to present a project plan to a church official, obtain materials and organize and oversee the work of about 16 fellow members of his Boy Scout of America Troop 18, which is chartered by the southeast Ocala church.

“I’ve learned leadership skills,” the Eagle Scout candidate said of working on the project.

Bob Schlegel, a charter organization representative with the church, said Nathan approached him with a well-organized plan to make needed upgrades to the church’s playground equipment for his Eagle project.

The playground has been an ongoing effort, with previous Eagle Scout candidates also contributing to the improvements.

Stephen Hickman, scoutmaster of Troop 18, said Nathan did an “excellent job” of presenting, organizing and carrying out his project.

Hickman explained that the Eagle candidates’ required project must benefit the community at large outside of the troop. The upgraded and durable playground equipment will serve the church’s youth, scouts meeting at the church, vacation Bible school attendees and children hosted by the church who are involved in the Pearl Project, he said.

The Pearl Project is a nonprofit with an Ocala office that is focused on healing, support and education for foster and adoptive youth from “hard places,” the website states.

The church’s playground includes an elaborate wooden playset with a large slide and multiple climbing bars and also a three chair A-frame style swing set.

Hickman stated in an email that recent Eagle projects by other scouts have added a pit for playing “gaga-ball,” a type of dodge ball game, and contributed to acquiring or reconditioning the equipment and fixtures in the playground.

“Also, due to structural concerns (rust) on some old support brackets, we are replacing the overhead connecting braces with new ones,” he wrote. “Safety is always a top concern and (Nathan’s) planning allows us time to make this modification to complete the project properly. Adjusting the plan and overcoming obstacles is part of the Eagle project and process of learning.”

Nathan’s project plan included erecting a new 6-foot picnic table with benches. The playset and swing set were rebuilt. He obtained lumber donations from a local Lowe’s Home Improvement store, and his aunt, Pamela Cunningham, and his uncle, Dana Brown, contributed toward materials.

Gavyn Eising and Nathan Hickman, scoutmaster Stephen Hickman‘s son, were among the Troop 18 volunteers who worked on Nathan’s project, which will encompass 75 to 100 volunteer hours overall.

Nathan has earned 28 merit badges and said woodcarving, kayaking, swimming and fishing are among his favorites.

According to beascout.scouting.org, an Eagle Scout candidate must earn 14 specific merit badges and acquire 21 merit badges overall.

Completion of a project of community benefit is one of the primary requirements to attain scouting’s top rank. Following a series of reviews, Nathan said he he expects to receive the award in about three months.

Nathan, a sophomore at West Port High School, moved here with his family five years ago from New Windsor, New York. He has been involved in scouting since the age of 5 and is currently at Life Scout rank. His mother, Dannielle Specht, is an adult leader with Troop 18 and has supported his project efforts.

Specht said her son has served in several leadership positions in the troop, including twice as Senior Patrol Leader, and that he “works with the younger scouts.”

“The other scouts look up to him,” she said.

To learn more about the Boy Scout of America North Florida Council, go to nfcscouting.org; for the Boy Scouts of America – Marion District FL, visit FB.com/bsamariondistrict