Wetlands Centre project earns Stavroplus his Eagle Scout rank

By Audrey Posten, Times-Register

Nicholas Stavroplus recently participated in his official Eagle Scout Court of Honor, recognizing the attainment of Scouting’s highest rank. His Eagle Scout project included construction of a flag pole and associated landscaping at the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre in Marquette, and was completed nearly a year ago.

Stavroplus is the second Eagle Scout to tackle a project at the Wetlands Centre. Tim Henkels put in stepping stones to the wetland, mulched the nature play area and built some Leopold benches to put along the nature trail several years ago.

For Stavroplus, the location was a perfect fit: his mom Jan works at the facility, and he’s visited often.

“I really saw what could be done around here,” he said.

According to Wetlands Centre Director Alicia Mullarkey, the flag pole had been on her to-do list for awhile. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic hit as Stavroplus was preparing to start the project. 

“It shut down my troop,” he said. 

Luckily, he was granted a three-month extension that would allow him to complete the flag pole past his 18th birthday, the Eagle Scout age cut-off. 

But that’s when another delay occurred. The city of Marquette had to repair the sewer system right in the area the flag pole would be located.

“We didn’t want to put something in then have to dig it up,” Mullarkey said, “but he was patient with us.”

Stavroplus applied for another extension, making it six months in total.

“I started when I was 16, turning 17, and finished when I was almost 19. It took quite a bit of time to do something not as extravagant. But we got it done,” he reflected.

Once started, the project took about a week to complete. According to Stavroplus, it consisted of building the flag pole, concrete work, setting up the flag pole, cutting out the grass in the area, cleaning up and moving big rocks from one section of the wetland over to create a makeshift trail. Eight Boy Scouts and four Cub Scouts helped. 

“It was mid-week when we dug the hole and had everything shaved out for concrete. That’s when we had the most Scouts,” he explained. “The younger kids helped with landscaping around the flag pole. It was cool watching them because they were lifting heavier rocks than some of the older kids.”

The goal of doing an Eagle Scout project is to show you’ve mastered leadership skills throughout Scouting, said Stavroplus. The prospective Eagle Scout sets up the project and leads kids through it using the “EDGE” method: explain, demonstrate, guide and enable. 

“That’s the philosophy you want to use—explain how to use a tool and how to do this, demonstrate it for a little while, guide them through it and enable them so they can do it by themselves,” he shared.

Earning Scouting’s highest rank is especially meaningful for Stavroplus, who’s continuing a family tradition. His two older brothers are both Eagle Scouts, with one re-doing the concrete pad in the Marquette City Park shelter and the other creating fish net catchers for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Stavroplus is also continuing a tradition for McGregor’s Troop 32, which has turned out a prolific number of Eagle Scouts over the years.

“Two percent of Boy Scouts make it to Eagle Scouts. But in our troop, around 90 percent have made it to Eagle. That’s pretty rare,” Stavroplus said.

He credits older Scouts for inspiring him to continue with the organization.

“Those older Scouts are the ones who help lead your troop and say, ‘This is what’s going to happen this week. We’re going to teach you this.’ That inspires the younger Scouts to keep on pushing and makes them want to be true Boy Scouts and follow the oath, because they see these older Scouts doing that exact thing,” Stavroplus said.

Mullarkey, who’s a Cub Scout leader, sees how Stavroplus is now inspiring the younger generation.

“The Webelos who recently transitioned into the Boy Scout troop have been doing their meetings here at the Wetlands Centre since they were in second grade. Some helped out with the project and they use the flag to practice different ceremonies. It’s cool to see those younger kids look up to Nicholas and the Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts as they come up,” she said. “We’ve got a really active Cub Scout pack, and I think it really helps to see that community involvement to keep them excited.”

For Stavroplus, it’s important to see his Eagle Scout project live on for years to come. That’s one of the best things about the projects: they are community oriented.

“In Scouting, friendly service is the goal, and sharing that with the community,” he said. “You can do a lot of different things, and a lot of the projects that have been done are continuational projects—there are a bunch of other projects to do with them.”

The lessons Stavroplus has learned through Scouting will also stick with him for years to come. He attributes much of that to Troop 32 leaders Tom Sinclair and Jim Farnsworth.

“They are friendly, outgoing leaders and really pride themselves on keeping us together as a family. Without their help and support, this troop wouldn’t progress,” Stavroplus said. “Now, I’ll go to camp outs and find myself picking up trash out of habit, or I can look at a plant and say, ‘Yes, I know what that is.’ Simple things like that stick with you.”

He’ll put that to use as an instructor at Scout camp this summer and as ecology director next year.

“Scouts is something you can keep in your life, and it’s going to help very greatly. It’s led to a lot of opportunities for me,” Stavroplus reflected.