If getting some exercise and doing good with your friends on the day after Thanksgiving sounds like a great idea, read on. Inspired by REI’s #OptOutside initiative and led by 2018 Eagle Scout Edward Boyle, over 25 Scouts and family members spent the morning doing litter cleanup at a Chicago park. Also joining the work crew were six of the spring 2019 “Eagle X” who were home on break from college.
The cleanup benefited the environment and people who enjoy Horner Park, a location several of the Scouts experienced as cross country runners in high school. The teams fanned out across the 58 acre grounds, gathering many buckets full of carelessly discarded debris – including food packaging, plastic bags, plastic straws, bottle caps, cigarette butts, along with recyclable items such as plastic bottles, aluminum cans and glass containers.
Thanks to the Scouts, parents and siblings who came out to support the cleanup, to the Chicago Park District for the opportunity, and to Friends of the Chicago River for their generous contribution of cleanup equipment and refreshments!
Interested in serving your local Chicago park? Contact the volunteer office at (312) 742-4764.
Check out this excellent guide from the Friends of the Chicago River to learn more about the mission to keep improving our city’s “blue green corridor”.
Recycling can seem mysterious. What goes in the blue carts? What happens to it? See the City’s guide to what’s recyclable. Test yourself with a quiz!
Now don’t you feel better?
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A little snow and cold didn’t stop Troop 79 from enjoying a late fall weekend north of the “cheese curtain” in Wisconsin. Thanks to no school on Friday, several members of our Philmont 2020 crew (and one future Philmonter) hiked out into the woods and fields of the famous Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
Arriving at backpack Shelter #3 several hours later, the crew members made a trail dinner, setup their tents, and promptly settled into their sleeping bags as the temps sank into the mid-20’s overnight.
Saturday morning dawned slightly warmer, as the Scouts shouldered their packs for the remainder of their 15 mile hike. The trail crossed fields and woods, and included a visit to a dolomite outcropping called Brady’s Rocks.
A satisfying trail lunch was the Philmont crew’s reward before continuing on to Pinewoods Group Camp where the rest of the Troop would be waiting. A happy reunion followed! A two mile hike was enjoyed by the future Philmonters while the 15-milers rested their boots.
Dinner was started early as darkness fell around 5PM, which prompted a hot campfire of locally sourced oak until “hiker midnight” around 9PM. Thankfully not so cold as Friday.
Thanks to our Patrol Leaders and adults Mr. Keats, Carter, Chambliss, Martin, and Boyle for making the weekend possible! Last campout until 2020.
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One reason achieving Scouting’s highest rank is such an accomplishment is the service project that must be completed before a Scout turns 18. Fall 2019 has been an important season for two of Troop 79’s Scouts on the path to Eagle.
What is the Eagle Scout Service Project? While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. (The project must benefit an organization other than the Boy Scouts of America.) A project proposal must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your unit leader and unit committee, and the council or district before you start.
From Eagle candidate Andrew B: Thank you to everyone who helped with my project! Despite the cold and wet Saturday, we were able to complete the assembly of the bench components (sanding, staining, building, as well as yard work) to prepare for the job site. Due to the cold and wet weather, I was forced to extend the project to Sunday when we (James, George, my parents, and I) installed all the benches to complete my project.
I would like to thank Mr. Taylor and Mr. Zoiopoulos for their guidance and encouragement throughout this process. Thank you to Mr. Martin, James, Chris, George, Geoffrey, Nico, Daniel, Eadan, Aidan, James, Henry, Lev, Brady, Max, and Davu for attending; in total, you earned 80 service hours, ate 24 donuts, drank over 2 gallons of Coca-Cola, and ate 5 large pizzas.
I received generous donations from Home Depot on Elston Ave. and several family friends. These benches will help St. John Berchmans School and the Logan Square Community, where I live.
From Eagle candidate Jack S: Thank you to everyone who helped with my project! The painting of all of the walls, installing the rubber flooring with the glue, and Andrew masterfully installing the lockers could not have been better. Through the course of the day, I was very thankful for all your support. Although we could not finish the project that day, my parents and I went back the night after and did some finishing touches.
I would like to thank Mr. Taylor and Mr. Zoiopoulos for their coaching and everyone who came out to help me complete my project.
Special thank you to Eddy Murray who supported all the cost of my project. Benton House is very thankful for your support and is interested in hosting further eagle scout projects.
[PHOTOS] Logan Square Benches @ABui, Benton House Interior @JStewart