Eddie Small Earns Eagle Scout Rank

By Laurie Borst

It was a busy week in June for one Sandy Hook young man. Eddie Small graduated in the Top Ten students in the Class of 2006 and five days later was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout.

Becoming an Eagle Scout is no easy task. There are six requirements that must be completed to earn the rank. The scout must be active in his troop for at least six months after attaining the rank of Life Scout. The scout must demonstrate that he lives by the principles of the Scout Oath and Law. He must have earned a total of 21 merit badges.

As a Life Scout, he must actively serve in a position of responsibility for a minimum of six months. The scout must write a statement of ambitions and life purpose and hold a Scoutmasters’ conference. And, he must plan, develop, and lead others in a service project.

Eddie began his scouting career as a third grader at Sandy Hook Elementary School when he joined Cub Scouts. In sixth grade, he moved up to Boy Scouts. In September 2003, Eddie completed the requirements for Life Scout. Life Scout is the rank below Eagle Scout and requirements include earning 11 merit badges, holding a leadership position for six months, and completing a service project.

For that project, Eddie worked with fellow scouts Ethan Breitling and Drew Firmender. They cleared an area in the woods near the middle school that is now used by Project Adventure, an outdoor challenge course offered at the school.

When Eddie was filling out his application for National Honor Society, he had to compile all his volunteer hours. When he saw the number of hours he had all ready put in, he decided he would continue on and reach for the Eagle Scout Award.

To decide on a service project, Eddie sat down with his scoutmaster, Rick Camejo, and brainstormed ideas. When Mr Camejo mentioned the amphitheater at Cullens Memorial needed repair, it caught Eddie’s attention.

Eddie and a cohort of volunteers replaced old benches, built steps and placed gravel between them, spread mulch, and moved the fire pit. Volunteers were recruited from younger scouts, Eddie’s friends, and, of course, his parents, Steve and Sue Small. Eddie solicited local businesses for donations of materials.

The service project required extensive documentation. Eddie organized the paperwork in a binder. This included a project description, list of methods, list of materials, a time schedule, list of helpers, safety hazards to be considered, changes in the plans as the project progressed, diagrams of the space, pictures of the on-going work, materials costs, benefits to the organization, and a diary detailing each day’s events.

A total of 20.25 hours were spent on the planning stages. The total time Eddie and his volunteers put in on all aspects of the project was 129.25 hours.

Eddie credits several people with supporting and encouraging him throughout scouting and the project. “I wouldn’t have done it without my Dad and Mom.”

When Eddie felt like quitting scouts, friends and fellow scouts Matt Cole and Ethan Breitling encouraged him to stay with it. “And, I have to say, my scoutmasters, Ed Breitling, Sr, Rick Camejo, and Eugene Cox, have been very supportive.”

Eddie credits his own sense of humor with helping him reach his goal. “A lot of stupid things happened along the way,” he said. “It’s easier to laugh at them than get mad.”

Eddie lives in Sandy Hook with his parents. His sister, Sharon, is home for the summer. She will be a junior at Villanova in fall while Eddie will begin his studies at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Penn. This summer, he is working at Treadwell Park at the snack bar 25–30 hours per week.

Eddie likes to write. “But there’s not much time for that lately,” he said. He loves music. He played the trumpet, but prefers listening to music, particularly pop and “the old stuff.”

Reading is another pastime. He enjoys Dave Barry, Al Franken, PJ O’Rourke. “I’m currently reading One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” And, he finds a little time to play Ultimate Frisbee.