Words like trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent help guide an Eagle Scout through his life. The life skills and responsibility to complete tasks through managing others through example are traits that are revered by higher education and employers. It is the lifelong goal of many young men, only 4-5% of young men that join Boy Scouting ever reach the level of Eagle Scout. To achieve the rank a scout must complete a series of merit badges that represents life skills that are selected to give young men talents that are not addressed in standard education programs. Thirteen are mandatory eight are selected by the scout to meet his individual interests. He must also complete a service-management project of a grand scale that benefits his church or community. The purpose of the project is to allow the scout to show his ability to manage people and resources to complete something in a larger scale that they have ever done before. It also instills the good feeling that comes to one who commits to community service.
Todd Sweeney achieved an impressive 39 merit badges during his six years of scouting. He selected the renovation of the Hillside Avenue tennis courts as his service-management project. As a member of the Cranford Varsity Tennis team since freshman year, he saw a need for a better facility for the team’s home court. Hurricane winds had bent the fence poles, and tore down the wind screens from the fences. There was not ample seating for visiting spectators.
Working with Steve Robertazzi or the Cranford Recreation Department, Todd created a grand plan. Many thought it was possibly was a little too grand, but he felt it was possible. He submitted his plans to Patriots Path Council and was approved to start.
With the help of a local mason, Jose Dasilva, Todd and his team dug out and framed two 12 X 8 poured concrete patios for which they designed, constructed and attached two ten foot benches that were painted to match the existing benches. With the help of his dad he straightened 24 vertical fence poles using canvas straps attached to the back of the family minivan. He then designed and produced two 16 foot signs that marked the courts as Cranford Cougar’s home courts. The signs also act as sunshades to block the setting sun that is a factor to spectators during the late afternoon matches. The tattered wind screens were then replaced. In all Todd’s team logged over 400 man hours on the project that took 13 full days of hard work. The cost of the project was over $2000 and was completely funded by Todd’s efforts of collecting Christmas trees for recycling and selling plaques to attach to his benches with the names of present and former Cranford High School tennis team alumnus, coaches and local businesses.
Todd’s Boy Scout first aid training and his new love of service to his community has fueled his passion as a certified EMT volunteer of the Cranford First Aid Squad. His duty shift each Thursday has him on duty from 6:00 pm until 6 am at which time he goes to high school for his regular school day. He now plans to take his passion and make it a career as he will enter a 5 year master’s degree program in Physician’s Assistant Studies in the fall.
Todd’s scouting career was topped off by his election as Senior Patrol leader, a youth position of management within the troop. As SPL he is responsible for all activities in the organization.
When asked what his favorite adventure of scouting. Todd answered immediately, his trip to scouting’s ultimate destination, Philmont Scouting Ranch in Cimarron New Mexico. At age 14 as the youngest member of a crew of 9 scouts and three adults, Todd carried a sixty pound backpack for a 9 day trek of over 100 miles to the top of the revered Mt. Baldy at a height of over 12,000 feet. Trips like these are designed to push a young man past what he thinks is possible for him to complete. It helps him live the new scouting motto “Be prepared for life.”
For information about Boy Scouts in Cranford call Don Sweeney (908)272-0876.
(above l-r) Troop 80 crew with Todd’s friends take a break from the dig. Matt Capone, Todd Sweeney, Phil Halek, Chris Remley, Nate Halek, Bart Lahiff, Will Pritchett, Hunter remley, Shea Garcia, Sam Capone.
