By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
They grew up together in Scouting, sharing campfires, hiking trails, summer camps and plenty of memories along the way. Now, six longtime friends from Boy Scout Troop 347 in Tontogany are reaching the same milestone together: earning the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout.
Crosby Brewer, Noah Ellerbrock, Jack Miles, Ben Nussbaum, Nolan Vollmar and Travis Vollmar will be recognized during an Eagle Court of Honor at Otsego High School on Sunday, Nov. 1. Their achievement marks the culmination of years of dedication, leadership, service and perseverance — and a friendship that began more than a decade ago in Cub Scouts.
“It really is a big achievement that not only did we become Eagle Scouts, but six of us at the exact same time,” Nolan Vollmar said.
The large class of Eagle Scouts is a phenomenon, especially for a small troop like Tontogany’s. However, this is the second time in two years that the troop has had a many scouts earning the honor. Two years ago, seven scouts were recognized during the Eagle Scout Court of Honor. In fact, three brothers of this 2026 cohort were part of the honorees in 2024.
The accomplishment is especially meaningful because earning Eagle Scout rank requires more than collecting merit badges or completing years of outdoor adventures. Scouts must demonstrate leadership, plan and carry out a substantial service project, and navigate extensive documentation and approval requirements.
For the six Tontogany scouts, that meant learning to raise money, organize volunteers, manage materials, solve unexpected problems and see their projects through to completion.
“It was tough and it was hard, and it took a lot of effort from us,” Nolan said. “It wasn’t something that you just run with the wind and see how it goes.”
Their individual projects reflect the different ways each scout chose to give back to the community.
Crosby Brewer improved public spaces in Tontogany by building a fence around four recycling bins near Town Hall and refurbishing three signs in Centennial Park. The work required careful measurements, routing letters into the signs and coordinating volunteers to complete the construction and painting.
Noah Ellerbrock designed and built an outdoor maintenance storage shed for the Montessori School of Bowling Green, where he attended school from third through ninth grade. The project involved framing, roofing, material planning and the detailed paperwork required to document the work.
Jack Miles constructed baseball helmet lockers for the Grand Rapids baseball diamonds, an organization that has played an important role in his baseball experience. Local businesses, including Home Depot, Carter Lumber and Sherwin-Williams, donated or discounted materials to help make the project possible.
On a suggestion by Tontogany Mayor Matt Shanahan, Ben Nussbaum built a Gaga ball pit for the town’s park, giving young people a new dodgeball-like game to enjoy. He raised money and recruited volunteers from Scouting and other activities he’s involved in to help complete the project.
Nolan Vollmar built a new kiosk at the southern terminus of the Slippery Elm Trail, replacing an older structure with a deteriorating roof and peeling paint. The roughly 10-foot-tall kiosk required careful construction and a detailed plan to transport and install the heavy structure.
Travis Vollmar built gun racks for the Maumee Valley Sportsman Club in Malinta, replacing deteriorating racks used at a facility that hosts the Otsego Shooting Club. He also refurbished benches, replacing rotted boards and sanding and refinishing wood that could be salvaged.
Although the projects served different organizations and purposes, the scouts encountered many of the same challenges. Fundraising, tracking expenses, gathering supplies and completing paperwork often proved as demanding as the physical work.
Local businesses and community members stepped forward with materials or financial support. Others sought donations or organized fundraisers, such as hosting Tontogany’s American Legion euchre night. Each of them relied on volunteers to help bring their plans to life.
The process also taught them what leadership looks like beyond simply assigning tasks.
Jack learned that explaining a project’s details and making sure volunteers understand expectations can be harder than anticipated. Nolan focused on dividing work fairly and keeping volunteers organized. Travis emphasized teaching others to complete tasks efficiently while maintaining quality and safety.
For Crosby, one of the biggest lessons was to tackle responsibilities rather than put them off.
“If there’s something in the back of your mind that you’re like, ‘Oh, this is kind of something I might have to figure out,’ you just got to tackle it in that moment so that you wouldn’t have to do it later,” he said.
Ben almost didn’t learn that lesson. “A guy in our troop told me, ‘Whatever you do, make sure you don’t procrastinate. Put this on your to-do list to get it done. Don’t wait until your senior year.’ And guess what I did?” Ben said with a laugh. “But I learned my lesson, and now that is the advice I would give to anyone pursuing their Eagle Scout.”
The boys also learned that Eagle Scout projects are rarely solo accomplishments.
Nolan credited fellow scouts, donors, businesses and family members for helping the six reach their goals. Travis said parental encouragement was especially important when projects required extra time, additional work or help cutting and assembling materials.
Their experience reflects the cooperative spirit and leadership of Scoutmaster Nathan Vollmar and Assistant Scoutmaster Derek Brewer that has defined Troop 347 for years. The scouts have supported one another through project workdays, camping trips, hiking, whitewater rafting, shooting sports and other adventures. They often helped with one another’s projects, recognizing that the support they received was something to return.
“We’re pretty supportive of each other,” Crosby said. “I don’t think we ever have any competition or anything.”
Noah Ellerbrock described the friendships as one of the most valuable parts of the experience. Having known one another since Cub Scouts, the boys have grown into a close-knit group whose shared history makes troop meetings, campouts and activities especially meaningful.
Their journey has also included the ordinary ups and downs of growing up — from hot, humid summer camps to cold-weather camping, long hikes and evenings around a campfire.
For some, Scouting became a family tradition. Several of the boys have relatives who earned Eagle Scout rank, and older brothers helped inspire them to continue. Crosby Brewer, for example, comes from a family with a strong Scouting background, while Jack Miles credited his older brother, Max, with encouraging him throughout the process.
Now, as the six prepare to be honored together, they are also approaching a transition. School, college and other commitments are pulling them toward their next chapters. Crosby said the troop’s membership will become much smaller as the older scouts move on, although the group hopes to continue meeting and supporting the remaining younger member until he earns the Eagle Scout rank in the next year.
That prospect brings mixed emotions. Scouting has been a central part of their lives since childhood, and the friendships built through the program will remain even as their regular troop activities change.
The achievement was never a one-person effort. “Fellow scouts showed up to help, businesses contributed supplies, donors supported fundraising and parents offered encouragement when the work became difficult,” Nolan said.
For the six Eagle Scouts, Scouting’s most prestigious ceremony will recognize much more than six completed projects. It will celebrate years of shared experiences, the people who helped them succeed, the leadership skills they developed along the way, and their tangible improvements for the communities and organizations that helped shape them.
