2014 Scoutmaster's Service Project

It's a rare thing when the Scoutmaster asks for the help of the scouts.  It's usually the other way around. But, that's just what happened this weekend.

The Scoutmaster took the Wood Badge course this last year and the last of his projects to complete the course was to create a native plants trail around Lake Raphine in Howarth Park.  The first step of this process was to plant a dozen posts on the trails around the lake.  Next ID plaques will be placed on the posts.  Then a webpage and podcast will be placed on the Howarth Park so you can access the tour by smartphone or print out the tour before you go.

Ironically, in the worst drought in California history, the project was postponed due to rain!  The original date of Saturday was a complete washout with almost three inches of rain falling.  The weather reports did show a short window of dry weather on Sunday morning though.  So, with the knowledge that they may all get wet, the troop formed up at the park Sunday morning instead.

The weather was threatening with a light mist falling when everyone took off for the park, but by the time everyone showed up, the sky had dried up and so the project started. While the Scoutmaster laid out the posts by the native plants he had selected, the scouts and leaders divided up into four teams and started planting the posts into the ground.  The groups made great time.  By the time the Scoutmaster had laid the posts out, grabbed his paperwork, and caught up to the work parties, they were already half finished!  This was a surprise as the ground around the lake is quite rocky and everyone was prepared to have to dig several holes to plant each post.  Luckily, no such problems were to be had and the posts went into the ground in about an hour and a half.  It was a good thing too.  As the last group crossed the dam on the way home, and the team working on the last post was finishing,


and the mist returned again.  There was time for a quick group picture and then everyone fled to their vehicles to head home before the rain truly set in.

Participants:  Joey, Payton, Andrew P., Bryce, Owen, John-Robert, Griffin, Jeff, James


Leaders:  Mr. Polkinghorn, Mr. Franceschi, Mr. Bell, Mr. Morris, Mr, Perez, Mr. Baier, Mr. Dewar

Lessons Learned:  Even when things look bleak, there is often a window of opportunity to get things done.