LITTLE SILVER – Red Bank Regional senior Eric Scharmann recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest honor in the Boy Scouts. With this major accomplishment, Eric and his dad, Christopher, become the first multigenerational Eagle Scouts in Red Bank Troop 67 history.
Eric’s dad has guided him through the scouting process since Eric joined the Scouts in the seventh grade. Christopher Scharmann still participates in Troop 67 as an assistant Scoutmaster. He also aided Eric with his construction expertise as Eric undertook the refurbishing of the Little Silver Little League ball fields as his Eagle Scout project.
“I had played on the same fields a few years earlier and now watch my little brother play,” Eric said. “I noticed its disrepair and some safety issues, and thought, ‘This would make a good project.’ ”
With nearly 40 volunteers and donations from local businesses, Eric planned and supervised several construction projects on the fields including preparing a gravel pad for a new set of bleachers. The Scouts also created a woodchip pad for a new picnic area. Safety hazards were removed from the fields and the old maintenance storage shed was emptied, and fitted with shelving to organize all equipment. Finally, all the dugout fencing was straightened and retied following years of cheering little leaguers climbing and pulling the fencing askew.
“The entire project was very gratifying especially since we managed to complete all of these tasks in just one day and at no cost to the town,” Eric said.
Scouting has always been a passion for Eric, who particularly enjoyed the outdoor camping opportunities. One winter, he recalls retrofitting a table to serve as an iceboat on a nearby shallow, long lake. “We got that boat up to 25 miles an hour! Although it was a two-minute run down the lake, it was a long, cold 45-minute walk back,” he said.
In addition to being a dedicated Scout, Eric is also an exceptional student at RBR where he studied in the Academy of Math and Science. He is a member of the National Honor Society and math and English national honor societies. His numerous technology courses also spurred his membership and activity in the Technology Student Association. He participates in the Science League and Computer Science Club.
He will be attending Stevens’ Institute of Technology’s very competitive 5-year program in the fall. In addition, he was awarded the prestigious Edwin A. Stevens and the Presidential Scholarships. He hopes to have a career someday in military technology.
Eric remains active in the Little Silver Community as a 2nd Lieutenant and First Responder on the Little Silver First Aid Cadet Squad. He hopes to continue his affiliation with the Boy Scouts as an assistant Scoutmaster, like his dad.
