By Brady Extin | The Times-Post
PENDLETON — Eagle Scout projects are to thank for a variety of community upgrades in the Pendleton area through the years.
Members of Pendleton Boy Scout Troop 232 Shane Spurrier and Mark Nielsen — both Pendleton Heights students — have recently undertaken projects in the hopes of contributing to the public good and securing their Eagle Scout rank.
Spurrier is responsible for a new obstacle course being installed at East Elementary School, while Nielsen has chosen to create a memorial walkway in front of Pendleton American Legion Post 117.
According to the Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout Project Workbook, one of the last requirements to move on from the rank of Life Scout and become an Eagle Scout is that “each individual must plan, develop and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or the community.” Both of their projects fit that description perfectly.
After being approached by the American Legion, Nielsen was given the opportunity to supervise and plan the creation of the memorial walkway.
His project, titled “The Veteran’s Celebration of Service Garden,” means to honor those from the Pendleton community who have served the United States.
To do this, he plans to build a brick walkway in front of the American Legion building, located at 611 W. State St. Bricks are being sold to honor service members, and bricks will include the person’s name, branch of service and dates of service.
The walkway is planned to be four feet deep and 16 feet wide, with the possibility of being extended, or the addition of a wall depending on the amount of bricks ordered.
“I thought it would be a great way to honor local service members and friends and family,” Nielsen said.
Spurrier chose a different path for his project, but one that is just as important to the community.
He saw the opportunity to improve the obstacle course at East Elementary School, located at 893 East U.S. 36 in Pendleton. The course was rotting and falling apart.
With the financial support of the school’s parents club, Spurrier was able to give the course some much-needed upgrades, including new equipment.
The new course now spans a total of 13 stations, ranging from balance areas to climbing stations. While one of the course’s main uses will be for the East Elementary physcial education class, it will also be used by other classes at the school, as well as members of the community.
“It’s in a nice wooded area with lots of shade, so it’s a good spot to use during the day,” East Elementary Principal Tony Candiano said. “We have a lot of teams that practice here, too, so it gives the siblings something to do while they’re here.”
For both Scouts, these projects mean a lot to them and symbolize the completion of their longtime Scouting journey.
Nielsen’s dad was an Eagle Scout, and he wanted to follow in his path.
“It’s going to mean a lot to me because my dad was an Eagle Scout,” Nielsen said. “I’ve been in scouting since the first grade, so I’ve spent a lot of time and I’ve enjoyed a lot of things in it. Now I want to do it all the way through and make sure I finish.”
Spurrier said he’s thankful for the people who have helped him get to this point, and by earning this rank it shows them all that it was worth it.
“Getting it means that I’ve reached the highest rank and it shows that everybody who’s helped me reach my goal has got the reward of helping me do so,” Spurrier said. “It gives me the chance to help out my community a lot more.”
