On Sunday
March 6, Ethan D. completed his Eagle Scout project at the Upper Tampa Bay
Trail Conservation Park with the guidance of Ranger Kevin Anderson. The project went smoothly, and five bat houses were
installed successfully.
A
partnership between the Conservation & Environmental Lands Management
(CELM) and Boy Scouts of America (BSA) local troops was established to help
build skills and encourage leadership in the youth of our community in effort
to beautify and improve conservation parks and preserves.
CELM
staff determine needs that can be accomplished as Eagle Scout projects. A list
is distributed to scouts who complete a volunteer application. Once it is determined
which site and project will best fit the scout, then the scout is paired with a
site coordinator. This pairing allows the boy scout to learn how to collaborate
to achieve a goal. Each scout is responsible for the planning of the project.
Once the project is approved, the scout must gather the materials, then construct
and install the finished product.
The
partnership is beneficial to CELM because it saves staff the time and resources
that are provided by the scout. Humans are not the only creatures who benefit,
many scout projects include shelter for animals like bats and birds such as
blue birds, cardinals and doves.
If
you know a scout who is planning to complete an Eagle Scout project and would
like to do so in Hillsborough County, have them submit a volunteer
application. Once the project is approved by both CELM staff and BSA
leadership the project will be set to go.
