Another Eagle Scout Is Ready to be Pinned

STAMFORD – He will be the fourth Eagle Scout in the Seeley family, the second in two years, and the ninth in Jefferson Scout Troop 50 since 2019. Cole Seeley, with the help of his fellow scouts, recently completed his community service project, planting shade trees in the area where the old swimming pool used to be in Stamford's

Indian Trail Park. They also created a stone walkway to the center of the area where the village plans to have picnic tables and possibly a pavilion in the future.

His dad, Jason Seeley, said he is very proud to have both of his sons achieve scouting's highest rank.

A sophomore at Stamford Central, Seeley spends a lot of time at the basketball court in the park and noticed the area where the village filled in the old swimming pool was not being cared for, or used. In April, he attended a meeting of the Stamford Village Board to see if they would approve his idea for a community service project.

Department of Public Works Superintendent Jesse Calia said the project fits in perfectly with his plans as he is working to resurface the tennis and basketball courts and make a new pickle ball court in the park. It also fits his future plans to have a pavilion with the picnic tables inside. "I think it will look great," Calia said. Trustees also gave it their stamp of approval to his project. Earlier this month, he and his fellow scouts got to work and planted the shade trees, dug out the walkway and put down weed-resistant paper and filled the walkway to the center of the area with stones.

Seeley expects to receive his new rank in June, joining three other Seeleys. His older brother, Liam, attained his Eagle rank last spring along with two other friends and Troop 50 members.

Attaining the highest rank in the Scouts of America is no easy feat, with only two percent ever earning the Eagle Scout rank. It is considered rare, but the Jefferson Scout Troop has had exceptional success. The group is led by Cole's father, Jason Seeley, who is a second generation Eagle Scout and scoutmaster, following in the footsteps of his father. To have both sons obtain the rank "is pretty great," said Jason Seeley. "My father was also an Eagle Scout and volunteered as a scoutmaster for 35 years. He helped me to become and Eagle Scout.

Unfortunately he passed away last year. He was very proud of Liam and he was looking forward to Cole becoming an Eagle Scout too. I know he would be very proud of both of them." You can add mom, Rebecca Seeley, to the list of family members who are very proud of Cole's accomplishment. He has been in scouting since the first grade. He said camping is the thing he has liked the including camping trips to Utica and another to SUNY Morrisville. And like the others who have gone before him, being a scout has given him confidence.

"Scouting," said Cole, "Has helped me become a stronger leader. The younger kids look up to me now. And it has definitely helped me in communicating with other people." Cole also recently joined the Stamford Fire Department as a junior member. Liam was also a junior member of the department and after graduation last June, he attended SUNY Onandaga for the Fire Technology and Prevention.

Cole plans on attending college when he graduates in two years.

Fellow members of Jefferson Troop 50 guide one of the shade trees into a hole at Indian Trail Park in the village of Stamford, to help fellow scout Cole Seeley with his community service project earlier this month.

Cole Seeley poses next to the sign at Indian Trail Park in Stamford where he and fellow Troop 50 scouts planted shade trees and created a stone pathway to the center of an area where picnic tables and a pavilion will eventually be added. It was his community service project in the final steps of completing his Eagle Scout rank.

Members of Jefferson Troop 50 work to create a stone walkway in Indian Trail Park as part of a community service project by Cole Seeley, who is about to earn his Eagle Scout rank.

Cole Seeley pounds in a stake to create a fence around several of the shade trees he and his fellow scouts planted in Indian Trail Park on South St. in Stamford. It is his community service project to earn his Eagle Scout rank.