Eagle Scout project adds element of comfort to Jasper varsity soccer field

Quentin Harmon, the 14-year-old project manager, oversaw the construction of the shelter houses at the Jasper High School varsity soccer field Saturday morning.

Despite Quentin bringing the project to fruition, his age relegated him to only non-power tool-related construction jobs at the site, so he spent most of day humping materials, hammering nails and handing out bottles of water.

But no one would have been there had it not been for his initiative to become an Eagle Scout and his love for soccer.

Quentin, a scout with Holy Family Troop 185, decided to pursue building the shelters after he learned about the need at the recent soccer player call-out. “They were talking about doing this but they said that nobody would manage it,” he said. “I was looking for an Eagle Scout project, so I thought it would be a cool idea since I would hopefully be joining the team.”

Eagle Scout candidates usually choose a project they are connected to or feel strongly about. Quentin has played soccer since the 5th grade.

The Eagle Scout designation can only be obtained by completing an approved project for the benefit of the community. Eagle Scout is the highest rank a scout can reach and it must be completed by the time the scout is 18 years old. On average, only about 5 percent of Boy Scouts achieve the rank.

To pursue the shelter house idea, Quentin had to attend meetings with the school superintendent and school board to present his plans and seek approval to complete the project on school grounds. Once that was complete and the Eagle Scout board gave the project the go-ahead, Quentin began meeting with potential donors and seeking volunteers. He was able to land help from Krempp Lumber who offered a  large discount on all the materials for the project.

Home Depot also decided to get involved.

Quentin originally only planned on building shelters at the varsity field, but Larry Horsting, who serves as the Jasper Boys Soccer Boosters vice president, works part-time at Home Depot in Jasper and he thought the project might be a good one for them to get involved in. This led to 10 Home Depot employees showing up Saturday with plans to construct two two additional shelters on the practice field while the scouts, volunteers and family-members worked on the varsity field shelters.

“It has gotten a little bigger than what it started as, but it has worked out really well” Toby Harmon, Quentin’s dad, said.

Toby and his wife Sheila both volunteered to help with the construction. In addition to Quentin, the couple have three daughters. Toby volunteers as an assistant scout leader because it has been a way to grow in his relationship with his son.

Jasper Boys Soccer Varsity Coach Kyle Kendall already had ideas for what he envisioned for the shelters. Not many of the fields the team plays on have shelter houses, but of the ones that do, Kendall took note of how they were built. When it came time, Quentin had these ideas to draw from in creating plans for the construction.

After 14  years on the field without, Kendall is ecstatic about the shelters.

“It’s a dream come true,” Kendall said. “We have talked about this since we moved into this facility 14 years ago. It is amazing what can happen when you get the right people involved.”

Although the shelter houses on the varsity field are important come game time, the additional shelters on the practice field will see more use for the team. “We are over here (varsity field) eight to 10 times a year; we are over here (practice field) four or five days a week. Getting both fields done at the same time is huge for us,” Kendall said. “Every time it rains, we are grabbing backpacks and throwing them in trash bags.”

Quentin has never played on the varsity field but the culmination of months of preparation for the project built on top of the years of commitment to the Boy Scouts will ensure players and coaches have shelter in the coming season.

Kendall marvelled at what the potential Eagle Scout was able to do. “If every Eagle Scout project has a beneficiary standing behind it as happy as I am,” he said. “Holy cow, this is an amazing organization.”

He is also excited to see what the 6 foot 2 inch incoming freshman can do on the field.

“It’s not every day you get a full-grown freshman trying out,” he added.

Quentin will likely receive his Eagle Scout rank at a special ceremony before the end of the year.

The varsity field shelters were completed Saturday and the practice field shelters will be completed later this week.