These 4 teens gave back to their hometowns, sparked change through service projects

Connie McKinney
·4 min read

Students with disabilities who attend the Maine-Endwell Central School District can eat at adaptive picnic tables thanks to the efforts of Boy Scout Evan Beard.

In Endicott, softball players can enjoy two new dugouts built by Boy Scout Tristan Huff and other volunteers.

Also in Endicott, visitors to a local museum can admire large antique clocks on display thanks to the hard work of Boy Scout Nathan Lerche, who built display cases for them with the help of other volunteers.

And in Windsor, visitors to Sky Lake Camp and Retreat Center can rest on new benches built by Boy Scout Ian Perry and other volunteers.

These four community service projects helped the four teens earn the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest award in Boy Scouting. They received their awards last year but the community service projects they completed should continue to help people for many years.

Here’s a closer look at the new Eagle Scouts and their community service projects.

Evan Beard, left, pictured with his father, David Beard, was one of four local scouts named Eagle Scouts recently and the third generation in his family to do so. He built adaptive picnic tables for students in the Maine-Endwell Central School District.
Evan Beard, left, pictured with his father, David Beard, was one of four local scouts named Eagle Scouts recently and the third generation in his family to do so. He built adaptive picnic tables for students in the Maine-Endwell Central School District.

Evan Beard

Age: 18

Family: Parents, David and Julie Beard, and one older sister

Education: Freshman at Ithaca College studying sports media. 2023 graduate of Johnson City High School

Hometown: Johnson City

When Evan Beard was in second grade, he broke his ankle. He couldn’t sit at the lunch table with his classmates because the table didn’t have enough room for a wheelchair.

While his ankle healed, the experience stuck with him. That’s why he created adaptive picnic tables for his community service project. The tables are wide enough to allow a wheelchair user to roll up to them, he said.

A member of Troop 110 in Johnson City, he joined Scouts to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

“It speaks for itself,” he said of getting the award. “You know this person is dependable. They’re super flexible and super adaptive."

Tristan Huff was one of four local scouts named Eagle Scouts recently. He helped build dugouts at an Endicott softball field as part of his community service project.
Tristan Huff was one of four local scouts named Eagle Scouts recently. He helped build dugouts at an Endicott softball field as part of his community service project.

Tristan Huff

Age: 16

Family: Parents, Stacey and Mike Huff, and one younger sister

Education: Junior at Union-Endicott High School. Plans to study engineering in college.

Hometown: Endicott

A member of Troop 284 in Endicott, Huff has been a Boy Scout for nine years. Scouting has enabled him to travel around the country, make new friends and learn valuable skills, he said.

“I’ve learned leadership skills,” he said.

He’s also learned outdoor skills including how to use a compass.

“They don’t teach you those skills in school,” he said.

His community service project was to help build two dugouts for the softball field at Davis Field in Endicott. He had to plan the project, obtain permits and approvals, raise money, buy materials and organize volunteers.

Nathan Lerche was one of four local scouts named Eagle Scouts recently. He helped build cases to display large antique clocks in the Endicott History and Heritage Center in Endicott.
Nathan Lerche was one of four local scouts named Eagle Scouts recently. He helped build cases to display large antique clocks in the Endicott History and Heritage Center in Endicott.

Nathan Lerche

Age: 18

Family: Parents, Steve and Kelly Lerche, one brother and one sister.

Education: Engineering technology student at SUNY Broome. 2023 graduate of Union-Endicott High School and Broome-Tioga BOCES where he studied computer-assisted design

Hometown: Endicott

A member of Troop 202 in Endicott, Lerche joined the Scouts back in 2012.

His community service project was to build large display cases for antique Bundy time clocks at the Endicott History and Heritage Center. The clocks weigh between 40 and 90 pounds, he said.

“We had to make them very strong and durable,” he said.

More: This Broome County support group unites parents who've lost children

Lerche said becoming an Eagle Scout is one of his biggest accomplishments.

“It’s about hard work and perseverance,” he said. “Scouts has taught me a lot about leadership and how to become the best version of yourself. I’ve used some of these skills in the real world.”

Ian Perry and his scoutmaster, Dan Perkins. Perry was one of four local scouts named Eagle Scouts recently. Ian Perry replaced benches at Sky Lake Camp and Retreat Center for his community service project.
Ian Perry and his scoutmaster, Dan Perkins. Perry was one of four local scouts named Eagle Scouts recently. Ian Perry replaced benches at Sky Lake Camp and Retreat Center for his community service project.

Ian Perry

Age: 17

Family: Parents, Lin and Brian Perry, and two brothers and one sister.

Education: Senior at Johnson City High School. Plans to attend college to study game design

Hometown: Johnson City

Scouting is a family affair for Ian Perry of Johnson City. His older brother, Aedan Perry, is also an Eagle Scout while his sister, Erin; earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouts.

A member of Troop 110, Perry helped replace 18 benches at Sky Lake Camp and Retreat Center in Windsor. He goes to summer camp there, he said.

For Perry, being a Boy Scout is more than just going on camping trips.

“One of the most important parts of scouting isn’t the outdoor skills,” he said. “It’s the character. It teaches you to give back to your community. A lot of the lessons in Scouts are life lessons.”

For more information on the local Boy Scouts of America council:  Go to https://www.bpcouncil.org/

This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Binghamton-area Boy Scouts spearheaded 4 community service projects