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Scouting kept Nicklas Harris focused during quest for Eagle rank

Posted 1/30/25

FLEMING ISLAND – Lucy Harris watched wonderfully as her son found ways to move past the roadblocks of his ADHD and autism spectrum to complete the rigorous steps to achieve the rank of Eagle …

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Scouting kept Nicklas Harris focused during quest for Eagle rank


Posted

FLEMING ISLAND – Lucy Harris watched wonderfully as her son found ways to move past the roadblocks of his ADHD and autism spectrum to complete the rigorous steps to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

When special schools, programs, and one-on-one training didn’t work, Nicklas felt grounded in Boy Scouts. When he stumbled, fellow scouts were there to help. Together, they found a path to success.

Saturday night at 6, Nicklas will join 37 other Eagle Scouts at their induction ceremony at Sullivan Hall on the Sacred Heart Catholic Church campus.

“He has had difficulties in all types of stuff, but Scouts has been the only thing that has helped him to stay focused and help him with different challenges that he's had,” Lucy said. “Troop 25 has really helped him in pitching in and helping him with the things to help him.”

In addition to being recognized, each Scout will receive an honorary white neckerchief and certificates of accomplishment from several public and private organizations.

“The best part has been the camping, helping others and having fun,” Nicklas said. “It was difficult at the end. They helped me. I learned how to cook outdoors, how to take care of myself outdoors, and how to survive out there. I also learned how to take care of other people.”

Nicklas started as a Scout in Oklahoma. Lucy said it’s one of the few things that captured his attention that he never let go.

“He started as a Wolf and slowly worked his way up,” Lucy said. “I think the merit badge for walking the trails was the hardest for him. The fitness part was really hard for him to keep up.”

A Scout must be proficient in the following areas: emergency first aid and CPR, fire building and safety, financial planning, clear communication, service project planning, time management, family togetherness, fundraising and sales, leadership and teamwork, camping safety and setup, blade sharpening and safety, civic responsibility, civic responsibility, health and personal fitness, environmental sustainability, personal integrity and camp and home cooking.

Along the way, Nicklas earned 44 merit badges.

They also must submit an idea for a community improvement project, secure funding and complete the job. Nicklas’ Eagle project was a cleanup of the pre-kindergarten playground at RideOut Elementary. He added and raked mulch, added landscaping fabric and power-washed the equipment.

Now that he’s completed the scouting requirements and is approaching graduation at Ridgeview High, Nicklas plans to concentrate on auto mechanics in the future.

Lucy can’t help but marvel at how much the Boy Scouts have helped her son.

“He had a lot of trials. I mean, through school, he did a lot of flapping. He did all types of stuff, bouncing, stuff that he couldn't communicate,” she said of his younger years.

Now, he is receiving Boy Scout's highest honor and planning his future.

(See the profiles of all of this year's Eagle Scouts, starting on Page 11.)