Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
RAYMOND — In 2017, some 42 young men overcome all hurdles and completed all requirements to become Eagle Scouts, the highest rank in scouting, surpassing 2016’s total of 37. Together, those 42 Eagle Scout hopefuls led service projects to benefit their communities totaling more than 5700 hours.
The Eagle Scout Service Project is the opportunity for a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout or qualified venturer in the Boy Scouts of America to demonstrate leadership of others while performing a significant and necessary project for the benefit of his community.
This is the culmination of the Scout’s leadership training, and it requires a tremendous effort. The project must benefit an organization other than the BSA, such as a school, church or local charity, and it cannot be performed for an individual or businessl it cannot be commercial in nature.
Kennebec Valley District of Pine Tree Council, BSA, delivers Scouting programs to towns and cities in Kennebec, Lincoln, Knox, Somerset and Franklin counties.
“We have strong troops in Kennebec Valley District,” said Chuck Mahaleris, advancement chairman. “Those very active troops are building tomorrow’s leaders as evidenced by the large number of Eagles we are seeing come forward. These young men are not just earning awards. They are getting things done in their community to help other people.”
Here are some examples from the 42 Eagles in 2017:
Wilton Troop 518’s Nick Lombardi, of Jay, delivered more than 60 hours of service when he led a team that put down woodchips and stone and installed a culvert to make a local trail handicapped accessible. He passed his Eagle Scout Board in September and plans to attend the University of Maine at Orono as an accounting major.
Vassalboro Eagle Scout Stephen Csengery of Troop 410 built benches, removed trash, rebuiilt a trail and set up erosion control bars at the Seward Mills Stream Conservation Trail. His project consisted of 242 hours of service to the community.
“My Eagle Scout Service Project was a habitat improvement project for Pomerlow Park in Madison,” said Shay Cyrway of Troop 419 of Embden. “I built and placed 12 blue bird houses along a nature tail in the park and five wood duck boxes in a bog that the nature trail passes.” Cyrway plans to be an aerospace engineer after attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Scouting can introduce young men to a lifelong love of the woods. Kevin Collins II of Winslow wants to become a game warden after serving in the US Marine Corp. His project saw improvements to the Pal Pond area in Fairfield, including building new picnic tables, installing trash cans and cleaning up the brush and shore.
David Jensen of Augusta built 10 benches for vistors who wander the trails at Viles Arboretum. “Some of my hobbies are playing airsoft and disc golf,” he said.
Jared Handley of Sidney Troop 401 built a roof over a side entrance of a church “in order to prevent the rotting of the door and protect the members of the church from the elements.” His project totaled 118 hours of service.
Ben Bernier of Waterville Troop 436 took a different approach toward his project. “I raised funds to purchase six Dutch elm-disease resistent Princeton Elms, and we planted the aforementioned elms in Veterans Park in Waterville.”
Manchester Eagle Scout Luke Bartol led 161 hours of service when his team “built a bus stop at the Manchester Elementary School to protect students waiting to take the bus up to the middle and high schools. I worked with the town to build a three-sided shelter on their land where students wait.”
