Maddie Nerden creates mobile gardening solution for older adults at Milano Center for Boy Scout project

Maddie Nerden creates mobile gardening solution for older adults at Milano Center for Boy Scout project

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Maddie Nerden creates mobile gardening solution for older adults at Milano Center for Boy Scout project

At the Milano Center in Melrose, Maddie Nerden proudly showed off her handiwork, two beautifully constructed carts for gardening, with older adults in mind.

"The height we actually measured the height of a wheelchair," she said.

From locking wheels to the flexibility of the design, Nerden said she put a lot of thought into the carts.

"If they have functions, the Milano Center does, they can actually take (the) plants out and put in bus buckets with ice and drinks in it," Nerden said.

Planning, proposing and completing the community service project helped Nerden earn the elite rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement in the Scouts BSA organization.

Turns out, that is something of a Nerden family tradition. Joe Nerden, her father, was the first in the family to make Eagle.

He said he was inspired by his father and grandfather who were devoted to the Boy Scouts. After him, between brothers, cousins and sons, the Nerdens had 6 in the family.

Maddie Nerden became the seventh Nerden Eagle Scout, the first female, this summer.

A girl scout when she was little, she said she joined the Boy Scouts in high school at a friend's suggestion.

Joe Nerden said he saw great potential after her first week.

"She ended up earning five merit beds that one week, which is like unheard of,” he said. “She just had such a good time. So, it hit me afterwards. I'm like, ‘Holy cow, she might be Eagle. She could do this.’"

Stacey Minchello, the executive director of the Melrose Council on Aging, said staff members at the Milano Center were thrilled at Nerden's follow-through.

"She came in on weekends, and with her dad, and did the sawing and measuring,” Minchello said. “It was like Christmas. We just came in and said, ‘Wow, look at this!’"

To earn the Eagle Scout rank, a candidate must earn at least 21 merit badges in different subjects, assume leadership roles, and complete a large community service project, all before turning 18.

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