Brody Acker didn’t always want to be an Eagle Scout.

He said the organization’s highest rank didn’t appeal to him when he was a kid.

But after learning his uncle had earned the rank, Acker remembers, he changed his mind.

“I wanted to be just like him,” Acker, now 18, said.

Scouts have to complete a service project that benefits their community to earn the Eagle rank.

And Acker knew just who he wanted to help.

When he was an elementary student at L.B. Morris in Jim Thorpe, Acker’s science class hatched chicks. But there was a problem with that project: Once the chicks had been hatched, someone had to take care of them.

That’s when the idea to switch the chick project for gardening boxes arose, Acker said. Still, acquiring funding for the beds’ construction proved a difficult task.

That’s where Acker’s Eagle Scout project came in.

Acker planned to build four beds, two for flowers and two for growing vegetables. He spent cold afternoons in downtown Jim Thorpe, selling hot cider, chili and other warm refreshments to passers-by during the borough’s fall fest to raise money for the project.

In total, the beds — which each measure 45 by 72 inches — cost nearly $800 to construct. The project took up almost 200 hours.

All those dollars and hours paid off last Saturday, when Eagle Scouts past and present tied the blue, red and white neckerchief around Acker’s neck, marking him as the 67th Scout from Troop 555 in Jim Thorpe to ever make Eagle.

“It felt pretty good, honestly,” Acker said after last weekend’s ceremony at Christ Lutheran Church. “A lot of hard work went into it.”

Along with completing his service project, Acker also earned 37 merit badges over his decadelong Scout career. Among his favorites were archery, swimming and wilderness survival. He served in a variety of leadership roles over the years, such as den chief and senior patrol leader.

The ceremony honoring Acker’s accomplishment was well-attended. Speakers included Holly Mordaunt, principal of L.B. Morris Elementary; Ray Attewell, of the Minsi Trails Council; state Rep. Doyle Heffley; and Shawn Bierman, Troop 555 Scout leader.

For Bierman in particular, Acker’s success was personal. Bierman was previously Acker’s Cub Scout den leader.

“It seems like it was not that long ago that Brody and the rest of Den 9 were meeting after school at L.B. Morris to bake cookies, play games, build woodworking projects or learn how to fold an American flag,” Bierman said.

“I’m so proud to have been a part of your Scout journey, and look forward to hearing about all that you can and will accomplish in the years to come,” he told Acker.

Acker just started his senior year at the Carbon Career & Technical Institute.

He hopes to join the U.S. Coast Guard.