Teen receives Eagle Scout rank with ramp project

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February 22, 2012

By Shirley O'Shea Contributing Writer The Daily Star Wed Feb 22, 2012, 02:30 AM EST

Nathan Curtin of Sidney Center is certain he would not have attained the rank of Eagle Scout with BSA Troop 99 of Sidney if it had not been for his parents _ and the parents of fellow scouts.

Many of the adults he encountered who had been scouts told him that "the one thing they regretted was not getting Eagle," Curtin, 18, said Friday.

Curtin was elevated to the rank of Eagle Scout in a ceremony at the First Congregational Church in Sidney on Jan. 22.

Members of Curtin's family and troop, as well as William Davidson of the Sidney American Legion, Sidney Mayor Andrew Matviak, and Dennis Porter of the Sidney Rotary were in attendance as Curtin received scouting's highest honor.

New York state Assemblyman Peter Lopez, R-Schoharie, also an Eagle Scout and an Eagle Scout project advisor, according to his website, was present at the ceremony.

According to a media release, Curtin was a Cub Scout in Pack 59 of Masonville and then a Boy Scout with Troop 99.

While working toward the Eagle Scout rank, Curtin earned 36 merit badges and was elected to the Order of the Arrow, the BSA's honor society. He spent 86 nights camping and performed 83 hours of service to the local community, the release said.

While on a troop camp out at the Wolf Mountain Nature Center in Smyrna, Curtin became aware that the facility's education center and gift shop were not accessible to those unable to navigate stairs, according to the release.

For his Eagle Scout project, Curtin designed a ramp for the building that met Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

Curtin, with support from area businesses and organizations, also raised funds for materials and organized troop and adult volunteers, who, including Curtin, donated over 238 hours of time to construct the ramp.

Curtin said he estimates the project took a year from the designing of the ramp to its being ready for use.

In fact, he had to send back his plan twice for review at a national scouting office in Texas before he was given a go-ahead to start building, Curtin said.

David Fritzsch, of Sidney, is a member of Troop 99's Scout Committee and acted as Curtin's mentor during the project.

"I was kind of impressed that (Curtin) found the project by himself," Fritzsch said Thursday.

Curtin is a student at SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry in Syracuse, studying for associate's degree in applied science focusing on land surveying technology, he said.

Curtin said he likes to be in the outdoors whenever possible.

Curtin is also staying involved in scouting.

"I still help out with the troop when I'm home from school," Curtin said. "I feel more scouts should stay involved once they do Eagle. It sets a better example."