LINN — For Carson Kliethermes, the path to Eagle Scout began with a simple invitation.

“It would have been my first-grade year, about 12 years ago,” he said. “Jason Greer walked up to me at school and asked me if I wanted to join a group he was part of. I went to a meeting and from there I just fell in love with it.”

What began as curiosity quickly grew into something more meaningful.

Scouting offered a hands-on experience that appealed to Kliethermes in ways traditional classroom learning often did not.

“We’d learn skills like knot-tying, fire-building, camping, fishing, and shooting,” he said. “The whole time it just seemed like fun instead of having to sit down and learn like in school.”

As he progressed through the program, another connection strengthened his motivation to stay involved.

Kliethermes’ grandfather, the late Rev. Herbert Lee “Buddy” Owens, Jr., also earned the Eagle Scout rank and attended his crossover ceremony when he moved from Cub Scouts into Boy Scouts.

“He told me how much he loved scouting and how proud he was of me,” Kliethermes said. “After he passed, I wanted to try my hardest to get that Eagle to honor him.”

The path to Eagle Scout requires years of commitment, leadership, and service. One of the final requirements is planning and completing a significant service project benefiting the community.

Kliethermes initially planned to complete his project for the Linn track program, a team he had been involved with for years.

“My original idea was to put up something for our track team,” he said. “Because it has to help the community in some sort of way, I wanted to give back to a team I had been a part of for a long time.”

However with the program changing to be more digital he had to think of a new idea. That was when he noticed all the developments going on within the parks in Linn and thought birdhouses would be a good idea.

He first hoped to place the project at Linn City Park, where he and his friends had spent many hours growing up.

“I spent a lot of time there riding bikes around with friends,” he said.

However, after discussing the idea with city officials, Kliethermes learned that the project would not work in that location. With the original location no longer viable, he began searching for another option.

He eventually chose Maguire Park, where he installed birdhouses along the trail running through the park.

Kliethermes and a group of volunteers installed eight birdhouses on trees throughout the trail area, completing the project during a two-day effort in October.

The project required organizing volunteers, gathering materials, and coordinating installation.

Carson’s brother, Elijah, parents, Michael and Holly, and friends assisted with the work, including Travis, Jason, Emily, and Lori Greer.

Completing the project marked one of the final steps toward earning the Eagle Scout rank.

Throughout his time in scouting, Kliethermes also remained active in school athletics and other activities.

When injuries prevented him from playing football, he stayed involved with the Linn Wildcats program as a team manager, continuing to support his teammates and the program.

Carson is also active in school with track, National Honor Society, Scholar Bowl, Future Business Leaders of America, American Sign Language, Chess Club, and Tutoring.

Another activity that helped shape his leadership skills was the Linn R-2 Community Chess Club, where Kliethermes has participated for several years.

Chess Club Sponsor Neal Johnson wrote a letter supporting Kliethermes’ Eagle Scout candidacy based on his involvement there. “He is a problem-solver,” Johnson wrote. “When Carson is engaged in something — whether it’s a chess match, helping teammates, or working through a challenge — his focus is tremendous.”

The first badge Carson earned at the State Tech Merit Badge University was in aviation. “We learned about the history of people trying to fly, and then we actually got a first-hand experience in a small plane,” he said. “I think it two or three of us at a time went up in the air and flew around with a pilot.”

Kliethermes earned his Chess badge at Camp Hohn, and he remembers the challenge. “Thomas Yang was teaching us the Chess merit badge, and I proceeded to make him wait 30-plus moves to checkmate me while he was up a queen,” he said. “I’m pretty well known down there for my chess game.”

He has also competed annually at the Missouri Chess Association Scholastic K-12 tournament at Battle High School for the last several years. Johnson noted that Kliethermes brought confidence to every game and helped less experienced players develop. “He’s very good at pushing boundaries and trying new things to see if they work,” Johnson noted. “He doesn’t shy away from a fight and gives everything he has all the time.”

Teachers who worked with Kliethermes say those activities reflect his leadership and character.

Daniel Pauk, a social studies teacher at Linn High School, said Kliethermes consistently demonstrates maturity and leadership in the classroom. “He is a role model student who exemplifies leadership, mentorship, and citizenship,” Pauk wrote in a recommendation letter supporting Kliethermes’ Eagle Scout candidacy.

During class discussions, Pauk said Kliethermes listens respectfully to differing opinions and encourages thoughtful conversation by asking questions and seeking common understanding among classmates.

Pauk also noted Kliethermes’s ability to mentor younger students through athletics and other activities.

“Through positive role-modeling, Carson is a great mentor for athletes and students both on and off the field,” he wrote.

Linn High School math teacher Samantha Francis said she has seen the same qualities in the classroom.

“Throughout the time I have known Carson, he has consistently demonstrated integrity, leadership, and a sincere commitment to service,” Francis noted, adding that Kliethermes leads by example and treats others with respect and kindness in daily interactions.

Francis also highlighted the leadership required to complete his project.

“His Eagle Scout project was a clear reflection of his organizational skills, his dedication to helping others, and his ability to rally volunteers and complete a meaningful project that benefits the community,” she wrote.

Kayla Keller, who previously served as youth pastor at Solid Rock Church in Jefferson City and now serves as lead pastor at Family Worship Center in Versailles, said Kliethermes stood out among the many students she worked with during more than a decade of ministry.

“Students like Carson are really rare,” Keller wrote. “He is thoughtful, attentive, and very true to his beliefs and values. He exemplifies thoughtfulness and kindness in all he does.”

Keller added that Kliethermes consistently looks for ways to serve others. “Carson is the kind of person who sees what needs to be done and does it without hesitation,” she wrote. “He jumps in and provides assistance and sets an excellent example of perseverance to his peers.”

Because of those qualities, Keller said she believes Kliethermes will continue making a positive impact in the future. “I believe unwaveringly that Carson Kliethermes will be a world changer in whatever path he chooses,” she added.

Kliethermes officially received the Eagle Scout rank during a Court of Honor ceremony held on March 8 at St. George Church Hall in Linn, where he was recognized alongside fellow Troop 17 Scout Jason Greer, who will be featured in an upcoming issue of the UD on his project.

The ceremony began with Debbie Backes welcoming guests before scouts Elijah Kliethermes, Emily Greer ,and Shane Greer led the traditional elements of the Eagle Court of Honor, including the presentation of colors, recitation of the Scout Law, and the Eagle Scout Promise.

During the ceremony, both scouts received their Eagle certificates and badges, and were recognized with Missouri House and Senate resolutions along with a certificate and challenge coin presented by the U.S. Marine Corps.

Kliethermes earned two Eagle Palms and 34 merit badges during his scouting career, including American Heritage, Animation, Aviation, Basketry, Camping, Chemistry, Chess, Citizenship in Society, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Climbing, Communication, Cooking, Disabilities Awareness, Environmental Science, Family Life, First Aid, Indian Lore, Kayaking, Leatherwork, Lifesaving, Medicine, Nuclear Science, Orienteering, Painting, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Rifle Shooting, Rowing, Salesmanship, Space Exploration, Swimming, and Wilderness Survival.

Kliethermes noted he and Jason Greer have always competed, and were close friends with just six days separating their birthdays. “He was probably one of the biggest driving factors because we were always in competition,” Carson said. “We were around each other growing up, but when we crossed over, he was advancing really fast. I would see him climb the ranks and immediately, I’d be like, ‘I have to get those same ranks done. I can’t let him pass me.’ It came down to the very end of it there. We both submitted our paperwork. We both had our board of reviews at the same time on Nov. 18, 2025. He got called back to his meeting right after I got called back to mine. And I came out of my room. I talked to some people, and they were conferring amongst each other on whether or not they see me fit to be an Eagle Scout. And he walked out of his room, and they started saying the same thing, and we were sitting there giving each other crap as we have always done. I was called back to my room he got called back to his room. I got approved and walked out; he wasn’t there, so I technically won our race.”

Many merit badges posed challenges, but the lifesaving badge was especially concerning for his mother; Holly felt relieved when he told her he had only “almost drowned.” 

Carson’s biggest rank advancement in a single day was earning the Clear Bead after camping in below-zero temperatures. “We did that out at Moonlight Dent, across from the school,” he said. “We were out there, and we set up all our tents before the snow was set to come in.”

Another significant time for Kliethermes was assisting fellow scout Shane Greer, who earned his Eagle rank a few years ago. “Shane was our role model when we were younger because he’s two years older than us,” said Kliethermes. “I always looked up to him. He was the group leader at all times, making sure things actually got done. I took a little bit of inspiration from him.”

Looking back, Kliethermes said the most memorable moments from scouting were often the most challenging ones. “The times when we were soaking wet, tired, and covered in mud were the times we really came together as a group,” he said.

Kliethermes added that he’s happy he completed his Eagle journey. “It’s a large part of our lives,” he said. “Two-thirds of my life has been spent building up to this big thing, and it doesn’t really hit you until you get approved, shake everybody’s hands, and they congratulate you on this tremendous honor. I find the best times are when people have tasks they can’t solve or something they can’t do, and I’m able to pull a random memory from a Scout camp seven years ago, and I know exactly how to do it.”

Those shared experiences helped build friendships and leadership skills that developed over more than a decade in the program.

Now that he has reached scouting’s highest rank, Kliethermes hopes to eventually return to the program and help guide younger scouts. “When I get older and get my career going, I’d like to come back and help as a scoutmaster, den leader, whatever I can do, to give back and help other kids achieve similar things that I did, even if they don’t want to be an Eagle,” he said.

After graduation, Kliethermes plans to pursue a degree in Business Administration at William Woods University, where he has received a scholarship to compete in track.