Eagle Scout earns prestigious conservation award

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The time Nicholas Storm has spent in Boy Scouts has been a memorable one, and as he transitions to the next phase of his life, the Eagle Scout earned the prestigious Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Conservation Service Award during Troop 277’s January Court of Honor on Jan. 27.

Storm is receiving the award due to his numerous hours of service to the community through a pair of conservation-based projects.

The award is so prestigious that it has only been given to 1,200 troops throughout the 110-year history of the award.

He became a scout when he was 13 years old, which was later than most, but he quickly found a love for conservation and quickly moved up the ranks to Eagle Scout.

During that time, he discovered all the possibilities that being a Boy Scout presented, and it will be values that he will carry with him for the rest of his life.

“While a core to scouting is earning merit badges and advancing in rank, don’t be without enjoying scouting because there are tons that can capture your interest,” Storm said. “You need to find something you’re interested in, whether that’s aquatics, high adventure, being a summer camping counselor, delving into conservation or discovering the religious opportunities scouting offers. The main thing is finding something in scouting to better yourself, the community and the world.”

Ginger Feagle with Boy Scouts of America, served as Storm’s mentor during the process and was on hand to present him with the award during the ceremony.

According to Feagle, she first got a phone call from Storm in November 2021 where he expressed his interest in the award and they devised the two community projects, which included working with a professional advisor, a conservation committee and with a local organization in order to provide conservation back to the community.

By the end of the projects Storm had accumulated more than 700 hours of community service.

The first project involved building a prayer garden at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Ponte Vedra Beach that was full of all native plant species.

“Not only did he just put the flowers in, but he had an outreach event where he invited the entire community out to come out along with local conservation organizations to come out and talk about the importance of local species,” Feagle said.

The second project focused on removing invasive Chinese Tallow trees that were harming local species on the church property as well.

“This is a national award, and Nicholas is only the fifth scout that I’ve worked with who has actually completed the project through its completion, which is an effort in itself,” Feagle said.

Storm will also transition to the Venturing program with Boy Scouts of America, which is a program intended to keep scouts involved through the age of 20 and offers different opportunities and a change in uniform from the classic, tan-colored Boy Scout shirt to one that is colored green.

“I’m just so very grateful for everyone who has supported me throughout my time in the Boy Scouts of America, and I look forward to future experiences as a venturer, as I have to say goodbye to this uniform,” Storm said. “I’m just excited to continue to help out and be an assistant scout master at this troop for whenever they need help with anything.”