Colonia High School junior, Jimmy Crowell recently joined the ranking of Eagle Scout in the local Woodbridge Boy Scouts of America (BSA) troop #143.
Earning the Eagle Scout ranking is the highest advancement rank one can reach as a Boy Scout, a rank that since 1912 to 2013 only 2.3 million Boy Scouts have achieved.
Crowell chose to build a Pavilion for the local Evergreen Senior Center as his Eagle Scout service project. The Evergreen Center is for the older adults who live in Woodbridge Township that want to get involved in social, physical, educational, and recreational programs.
“They told me they needed a new area for seniors to relax in the shade,” Crowell explained. He had to plan, develop, and lead people during the project according to the BSA rules for accomplishing an Eagle Scout Project. The project is required to help any religious organization, local school or community center.
When asked how he accomplished such a rigorous task Crowell explained, “A mason helped lay down the foundation, and the Carpenters Union sent some people over to help build the pavilion along with myself.” The pavilion is exceptionally well designed. It includes a gutter system, roof tiles and a pleasant garden space surrounding it. The pavilion is located on the left side of the Evergreen Center near the skate park and one of the St. John Vianney Church parking lot entrances.
Jimmy’s plaque for completing his project
Seniors aren’t the only people you will catch hanging out in the pavilion. You can catch many local Colonia Middle School students hanging out there; whether they are waiting for their parents to pick them up after school or they’re just lounging around with a group of friends. There are a couple of nice wooden tables placed inside the pavilion to sit on.
Jimmy is around the average age of boys who earn their Eagle Scout ranking which is 17 years old according to the BSA statistics for the year of 2013. It takes an exceptional amount of hard work and discipline to reach that ranking. Boy Scouts are required to progress through the rankings starting at Tenderfoot all the way to the rank of Life. They must also earn 21 merit badges (Ex. First Aid, Camping, Lifesaving, etc.), serve six months in a troop leadership position, take part in a Scoutmaster conference, and successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review.
The board of review will overview the scouts’ success of their Eagle Scout project, understanding of the Scouting Program, and experiences throughout their scouting career. If one earns their Eagle Scout rank it certainly will help them with future endeavors. Eagle Scouts can get special scholarships into college and will greatly help them in getting a future job.
