Benjamin Young’s Eagle Scout Project
Submitted by Diana Mara
This spring, months of hard work have come to fruition for Benjamin Young, a sophomore at Governor Livingston High School. He has completed his Eagle Scout Project at the Community Garden located behind the Littel-Lord Farmhouse.
Benjamin planned, designed, fundraised and managed a large-scale project of garden clean up and weeding, mulching of the paths, construction of brand-new compost bins and a cold frame. This project is the culmination of years of hard work earning merit badges, learning outdoorsmanship experience and leadership skills. The Eagle Scout project is meant to be something that will be lasting and useful to the community. Benjamin could not achieve this alone, and Berkeley Heights Boy Scout Troop 68 put in many volunteer hours to help him achieve this incredible feat.
As Life Scouts work on their Eagle Scout project, they gain experience in planning, submitting proposals, fundraising, and managing by delegating tasks. They also learn flexibility as many times plans change mid workday. Benjamin did such a great job at the fundraising aspect that he will be donating the surplus $400 to the Community Garden. The compost bins turned out so beautifully it is almost a shame they will be filled with leaves and dirt.
Other than working diligently toward the rank of Eagle, Benjamin is on the Governor Livingston Soccer team in the fall and participates in Winter Track and Spring Track as a sprinter. Benjamin will be able to look back upon this experience knowing that he worked hard to bring this project to completion and will benefit his community for years to come.
The benefits of Boy Scouts are almost too numerous to list, but they include learning leadership skills, life skills, responsibility, project management, community service, respect, camaraderie, camping under the stars, having fun and making memories to last a lifetime.
