Boy Scout Samuel LaFond recently led a group of 17 volunteers in clearing a 1,000-ft. overgrown trail in the Clearview Forest so that it would be easily accessible for all students. The project fulfilled the service project requirement needed to help him achieve his goal of obtaining Eagle Scout rank.

 

Eagle scout service projects give scouts the chance to demonstrate leadership while performing a community service project. It’s the culmination of a scout’s leadership training and takes considerable time and effort to achieve.

 

The requirements are intensive, and include earning 21 merit badges, planning, developing and leading others in a community service project and serving in a leadership position. 

 

While helping a fellow troop member earn his Eagle Scout rank by clearing out invasive species in Clearview Forest last year, LaFond was introduced to Clearview teacher and forest committee member Andrea Coulter. Late last winter they met again to discuss ideas for his own Eagle Scout project, eventually deciding on clearing the old path, which was originally the old Hwy. 24 frontage road.

 

LaFond prepared a project proposal planning form detailing all the steps the project would entail, including clearing the path and around nearby saplings so they had room to grow, along with estimating the tools, funds and volunteers that would be needed. After obtaining the needed signatures the project was submitted and approved by the local Boy Scout Council.

 

In June, he introduced the project to his scout troop, asking for volunteers and tools they could each supply. 

 

The actual project was carried out over a two-day period on Oct. 6 and 7. After gathering his group of 17 family and troop volunteers at the head of the trail, LaFond gave them another rundown of the project and what was expected, then delegated tasks and handed out tools.

 

Although the adults took charge of the chain saws, the scout members performed the rest of the work, which included weed whipping, push mowing, trimming branches with pruners, clearing debris and piling brush, which will eventually be turned into mulch for unpaved forest paths.

 

The goal is to eventually connect the trail, which is handicapped accessible, to other trails in the forest.

 

“Some of the sections were really overgrown,” said LaFond. “Even so everything ran pretty smoothly. The most difficult part was probably trying to figure out which tools would be needed which day as there was so many aspects to it.”

 

“Sam had a very well thought out vision and he and his troop cleared a wonderful path that we can now take older and handicapped people on,” said Coulter. “He showed great leadership skills in organizing and figuring out his project.”

 

Along with clearing the path, the project included clearing around saplings that had been planted along the trail over a year ago.

 

“Most had died likely to the deer and rabbits, but 12 had survived,” LaFond said. “We cleared out around them to give them room to grow.”

 

Although he did a fair amount of work himself, LaFond said he learned a lot of leadership and communication skills through the project. He modeled himself after older troop members, who were an inspiration to him.

 

“Starting scouts at an early age was great because other troop members became friends I grew up with,” said LaFond. “We push each other and challenge each other. Seeing them succeed is a big part of it for me.”

 

LaFond, who is 16 and attending PSEO (post-secondary education opportunity) through St. Cloud State University, has been a member of Boy Scout Troop 18 for over 10 years. He and his parents, Stephen and Sylvia LaFond, live in Clearwater.

 

His Clearview Forest community service project was LaFond’s last step before he could complete his application for Eagle Scout; he should receive his official designation by the end of the year.