In The News: Tarmichael shines as Newberg's next Amazing Kid

Contest highlights extraordinary young people from communities across the state

Megan Tarmichael may be the most “outgoing” 16-year-old you’ll meet.

“You name it, that girl’s outside,” her mother, Karen, explains.

When she’s not playing soccer or lacrosse at Newberg High School, she might be found snowboarding or hunting.

“That’s where she’s happiest, is in the woods,” Karen says.

More recently, you might find her volunteering in that environment, combining her passion and enthusiasm to make a difference.

Those qualities led Megan to be chosen to represent Newberg in Pamplin Media Group’s Amazing Kid contest, a special event cosponsored by Providence Newberg Medical Center.

Megan and other young people from communities around Oregon are being honored for their dedication and impressive enthusiasm. Readers can learn all their stories in a special section inside today’s issue of the Graphic.

Last summer Megan spent 35 days as a volunteer laborer at Indiana Dunes National Park for the Student Conservation Association.

Living in tents for the duration of their work, the volunteers were initially planning on decommissioning several campsites. But the trip turned out to be more of a test than that.

“Pretty much everything that could have gone wrong went wrong,” Megan explains. Shortly after the group arrived storms rolled in, pounding the national park with thunderstorms and a tornado. During breaks in the weather the thick mosquitos provided ample irritation. Some of the participants departed for home one week into the episode, but Megan stuck it out for the whole adventure.

“That was definitely a make it or break it experience for her,” Karen says.

Not only did she make it through, she also absorbed some knowledge about occupations previously unfamiliar to her. What’s more, the thunder, insects and tent living hadn’t turned her off to working outdoors. In fact, it did quite the opposite.

In March, rather than going on a traditional spring break vacation, Megan and a group of other volunteers traveled to the hot desert of San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico, for a house-building project. Once again, Megan and her fellow volunteers slept in tents over the course of the trip. This time, though, it wasn’t the thunderstorms or tornados that tested the group, but rather the heat, which became so hot inside the tents to melt a hairbrush.

Written by: Colin Staub