Shohola Scout completes nature trail at elementary school

SHOHOLA — Jacob Mills of Shohola Scout Troop 76 has completed his Eagle Service project and recently passed his Eagle Board of Review.

For his project, Jacob restored a nature trail, complete with signage, at the Shohola Elementary School. The trail is 154 feet long by 12 feet wide, and is also used as an emergency evacuation road. The enhancements have provided easier access for students, teachers, and emergency personnel.

The planning phase, prior to the project proposal, took about two months. Jacob gathered cost estimates and considered safety issues.

The project itself took about one week to complete. His volunteers dug ditches, laid pipes and the road base, built head walls, and spread gravel and hay.

There were both positive aspects and challenges. The 30 volunteers — Scouts, adult leaders, friends and family — all worked very well together, Jacob said. He said that without help from Tim Jones of Rylly Ent and Ken Vitali of Creative Laser Creations in Milford, he could have never completed the project.

According to the Boy Scouts of America, in addition to providing service and fulfilling that part of the Scout Oath “to help other people at all times,” one of the primary purposes of the Eagle Scout Service Project is to demonstrate leadership skills. There are important lessons in managing projects and taking responsibility for a significant accomplishment.

One of Jacob's biggest challenges — aside from some heavy machinery getting stuck in the mud, — was to "not jump in" and do the actual work himself alongside his volunteers, he said. In a service project, the Scout candidate must lead and direct.

“You can’t always be a friend," Jacob said. "Sometimes you need to put your foot down, regardless if it makes someone angry. I also understand the work put in by a leader, even if he or she doesn’t do the physical work. It doesn’t mean that they (the leader) didn’t do any of the work."

Jacob also admitted he wasn’t used to decision making on a moment’s notice.

But knowing the trail was finished, and that it would be an asset for students, was rewarding for Jacob.

Through fundraising, including his “Nickels for Nature” drive, Jacob raised $3,165. He reported that he was on target with spending.

Jacob is a junior at Delaware Valley Senior High School and a member of the Delaware Valley Warriors football team. He recently met the requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Scouting, and is looking very forward to celebrating his achievement at his future Eagle Scout Court of Honor.