Piedmont Council Eagle Projects
Eagle Scout is the highest rank available within Scouting. It requires staying active in the program for several years, earning 21 merit badges in various areas, providing leadership within one’s troop, and completing an Eagle project. Our council has a rich tradition of Scout participation as well as many Scouts achieving the rank of Eagle. Since 1921, when the Council was chartered, more than 1000 young men have achieved the rank of Eagle. In recent years, they have earned the Eagle rank at a rate of between 8 and 10% of our Scout community annually, more than twice the national average of 4%.
The service project is a significant and often final, step in achieving Eagle rank. The project is not as a “giant good deed.” Rather it is the culmination of years of work. It is a test of one’s planning and leadership skills.
Who benefits? Certainly the Scout and those who volunteer. Each has learned the value of contributing to society. The candidates certainly learned leadership and planning skills as well. However, our community has also benefitted: schools in Piedmont and Oakland, parks and local churches to name just a few, have received many thousands of hours of service. In fact, Piedmont Eagle projects are providing the equivalent of one continuous worker for 30 hours each and every week of the year.
The following summarizes projects from the past two years.
2012 Projects
| Scout Name | Troop | Project | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Hunt | 1 | Lines a trail along Wilkie Creek near De Anza High School in El Sobrante with logs to protect plants and create a path. | 142.5 |
| Tom Solley | 11 | Built an A-frame picnic table and benches for Lincoln Child Center in Oakland. | 193 |
| Mark Bublitz | 1 | Built a two-slot compost bin for Martin Luther King Elementary School in West Oakland. | 105 |
| Robert Elmendorf | 6 | Rebuilt propagation garden at Lake Merritt | 262.5 |
| Ryan Lofstrom | 1 | Built percussion instrument storage cabinet for Piedmont High School Music Department | 112 |
| Ryan Pike | 1 | Built two 12-foot organic planter boxes for Wildwood Elementary School, Piedmont. | 147 |
| Samuel Labberton | 11 | Designed and built 4 benches for First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley. | 156 |
2011 Projects
| Scout Name | Troop | Project | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gregory Lam | 1 | Built two utility boxes for the City of Oakland to assist volunteers in litter removal near Lake Merritt. | 153 |
| Jack Walters | 15 | Built a picnic table and bench for West Oakland Medical Therapy Unit which helps children with severe mental and physical disabilities. | 92 |
| Sam Cohen | 4 | Built a bookcase and display case for Bay Area Alternative Press. | 78 |
| Kleed Cumming | 1 | Organized and landscaped around restroom area at the Oakland Zoo. | 207 |
| James Meagher | 1 | Built an installed back boards for public tennis courts in Piedmont. | 175 |
| Joshua DeBacker | 11 | Built a wooden display coffee table for children’s section at Rockridge Library in Oakland. | 183 |
| Austin Kelley | 4 | Built planter box for Child Center of Lincoln Ave in Oakland. | 72 |
| Jack Taylor | 15 | Built 2 raised beds with irrigation to grow vegetables at Sankofa Academy in Oakland. | 142 |
| Neal Horner | 15 | Created 3 Barn Owl Boxes for BMUD to reduce rodent problem near Briones Reservoir. | 137 |
| Tim Campbell | 1 | Campaign to increase safety awareness for cyclists, included creation of banners for annual promotion. | 216 |
| Gabe Soper | 11 | Constructed four planter boxes for Wildwood Elementary School in Emeryville. | 60 |
| Gray Ashton | 1 | Refinished an old 50 foot dragon boat for Oakland Parks and Recreation. | 203 |
| Jake Adams | 1 | Constructed a 3-bin compost unit with signs for the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden. | 116 |
| Daniel Dryburgh | 15 | Constructed 2 salad/vegetable tables for use in course to teach Piedmont Middle School students about conservation, nutrition and healthy eating. | 66 |
| George Fullerton | 1 | Built cubbies and a bookshelf for Cuddle Buddies/East Bay Agency for Children | 95 |
| William Fishel | 1 | Built 3-bin composting system for George Mark Children’s House | 115 |
| Brendan Sweeney | 1 | Built a wrap-around bench and bike rack for the Alameda County Food Bank | 88 |
| Kevin Conn | 6 | Built a bridge over Escher Creek above Shepherd Canyon soccer fields | 301 |
| Whit Sotkiewicz | 1 | Built a lockable storage shed for toys for Piedmont Recreation Center’s Tiddlywinks Preschool | 193 |
| Alex Strauch | 4 | Built a cold frame green house for Piedmont Middle School | 97 |