Information from The Eagle Grove Eagle Newspaper in Eagle Grove, Iowa.www.theeaglegroveeagle.com_____________________________________Aaron Eilerts Memorial Fund\nSecurity Savings Bank\nPO Box 347\nEagle Grove, IA 50533\n_____________________________________\nLeading the way and setting an example\n\nEditors Note: This story was originally printed in the Eagle Grove Eagle on July 4, 2007. Sadly, Aaron lost his life during a tornado that occurred at this same camp on Wednesday, June 11, 2008. We are running this story in his memory.\n\nThirteen-year-old Aaron Eilerts is a young man of many talents, ambitions, and goals. In addition to being a member of the Eagle Grove Swim Team, landing a role in the The Paddlewheel Players upcomingproduction of Wizard of Oz, taking private voice and piano lessons, sewing pillowcases which he gives away to hospitals and people suffering from illnesses, making countless crafts, and being a member of the Mid-America Council Boy Scout Troop 108 in Humboldt, Eilerts can now add to his list of accomplishments a certificate of achievement for the Pahuk Pride Youth Leadership Training Conference at the Little Sioux Scout Reservation in Little Sioux, Iowa.\n\nEilerts has been a member of the Boy Scouts for four years.\n\n\"I heard about all the fun things they did, like racing cars, and it made me want to join,\" he said.\n\nEilerts started as a Cub Scout, eventually working his way up to Boy Scout Status, and is currently only two badges away from becoming an Eagle Scout.\n\nWith so much enthusiasm and passion for what Boy Scouts stands for, Eilerts set his sights even higher, striving to become acamp leader. Aaron completed his week-long training session with 99 other boys from across the Mid-America council. He spent a full week at Little Sioux camp in Nebraska, learning how to keep meetings under control, different ways of teaching classes, and public speaking techniques. With the completion of this course on Saturday, June 16, 2007, Eilerts is now considered a qualified camp leader and can train other scouts at camps across Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota. \n\nEilert\'s goal of being a troop leader was inspired by many ambitions.\n\n\"People look up to you when you\'re a troop leader,\" hesaid.\n\nWith the title, however, also comes responsibility...one that Eilerts is excited to accept. It means keeping troops in line and on-talk, and always being prepared for anything, like if a presenter is missing, doing the job for him.\n\n\"It was fun going through the (leadership) classes. If I learn these things now, then maybe I can become staff later and teach at places like Camp Cedars and Nebraska Summer Camp,\" he added.\n\nEilerts has experienced many adventures since joining Boy Scout Troop 108. They have gone canoeing in the Boundary Waters, camping in the wilderness, winter camping...and the list goes on. Plans are already underway for a trip to Florida in 2008 where these young men and their leaders will spend time scuba diving and learning such things as how to repair coral reef.\n\nAlso exciting for Eilerts is his recent acceptance into the Order of the Arrow and Scouting\'s National Honor Society. It is a very prestigious group and is one of the highest honors a Boy Scout can earn on his journey towards becoming an Eagle Scout. While Eilerts was nominated and elected by his scouting peers, not much can really be said to the public about this respected, but private, group.Those selected are those who best exemplifythe Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives, and by such conduct, cause others to emulate their actions.Eilerts did say that as a member of the Order of the Arrow, one is required to spend one night alone, in silence, reflecting on their goals and accomplishments. They are given very little food, and spend one day giving of themselves, working hard on important projects.\n\nEilerts mother, Carol, saidit\'s a group that challenges their members to focus on strengthening their mental and inner strengths.\n\nEilerts has achieved so much in his young life, but he\'s got goals for the future he\'s working towards accomplishing. When he turns 18, he\'s hoping to have a Boy Scout Troop regionalized and fully active, with him as the Assistant Scout Master. \n\n\"I really enjoy Boy Scouts...the camping, canoeing...there are so many fun times,\" he said. 11, 2008, Aaron, Des, Eagle, Eilerts, Grove, Iowa, June, KCCI, Little, Moines, News, Ranch, Reservation, Scout, Sioux, tornado, TV, Wednesday