Scouting ahead for the future

A Newton resident has reached the coveted rank of Eagle Scout through his dedication and hard work with his project.

Nicholas Tremel has been in the scouts since he was in third grade and throughout his time he has learned valuable lessons that have translated into success.

“I started with Cub Scouts. It was just a flyer they gave us at school, and I decided I was interested in some of the activities,” Tremel said.

Tremel’s Eagle Scout project centered around the Agnes Patterson soccer fields in Newton. Tremel has been involved in soccer throughout the majority of his life.

“I’m a longtime soccer player, and I have played at Agnes Patterson complex for a long time now and so I wanted to give back to it,” Tremel said.

To start this Tremel spoke with the Newton Area Soccer Association (NASA) and the Newton Parks Department to see what he could do to improve the complex he has spent his years enjoying.

“They said that they would really like some signs out here (Agnes Patterson) to indicate which field is which,” Tremel said.

Tremel said he worked with Sign Pro in Newton and figured out how much the signs would cost to purchase and have them installed at the park.

“I set up a little booth over by one of the soccer fields and as people walked by to go to the soccer games they stopped and asked what was going on and see what my cause was,” Tremel said.

Tremel said some of the people who stopped at his booth would donate money to the cause, but he also reached out to longtime NASA members and supporters to try and collect donations.

The scouts have taught Tremel more than how to tie knots and make tents, it has taught him skills to interact with others throughout the community and as he moves forward in life.

“The soft skills, communication, leadership, organization, collaboration things of that nature I think were really the biggest components of what I got out of scouting,” Tremel said.

Tremel’s mother Kelly added, “It is amazing to watch him ... Just seeing the maturity level that he has achieved, he has just done things that I couldn’t even imagine doing at his age.”

Kelly spoke about a time when Tremel was asked what part of the oath he felt he emulated with the most. Tremel felt he most closely related to being kind.

“You can be nice to anybody, you know on the surface, but he truly puts in the effort and is really kind,” Kelly Tremel said.

Contact Dustin Teays at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or dteays@newtondailynews.com