Boy Scout renovating fort trails for his Eagle Scout project

Sierra Vista Herald, Sierra Vista Arizona ^ | Dec 5, 2005 | Bill Hess

[SandRat]

FORT HUACHUCA — At 14, Daniel Rich is one part site supervisor and another part worker.

The Buena High School ninth-grader needs to be both, as he leads and does labor that hopefully will earn him the rank of Eagle Scout, as a member of Boy Scout Troop 431.

Sunday, Daniel had the support of others from his Fort Huachuca troop, a couple of scouts from Troop 444 in Sierra Vista, family members, friends and soldiers from Company B, 305th Military Intelligence Battalion and Headquarters Company of the 111th Military Intelligence Brigade in renovating trails on the post’s Heritage Park.

The more than 40-acre park is where Capt. Samuel Marmaduke Whitside and his small cavalry detachment camped in 1877.

Whitside described the camp site as where “a lively stream ran with pure cold mountain water.”

In 1999, the site became Heritage Park, to honor the first place that went from a small detachment camp to today’s more than 70,000 acre Fort Huachuca.

The historical significance of the area “is longer than I have lived,” Daniel said.

Although trails were constructed in 1999, they have deteriorated in the past half dozen years, and the need to work on the more than more than two miles of foot paths is evident.

For his project, Daniel has taken on a half-mile of the trail network.

Although Huachuca Creek no longer runs year-round, bringing the pure cold mountain water described by Whitside, the need to maintain the area is something Troop 431 has taken on to help scouts soar into becoming Eagles.

Monsoons have caused grass to grow, covering some of the trails.

And, during heavy rain storms, rushing water has moved rocks and debris over the paths.

Drought has caused trees to die and fall on to some parts of the path network.

Reestablishing the trails requires the combination of back-bending work involving shovels, axes and some mechanical equipment.

“I have to supervise and work,” Daniel said.

Reaching Eagle Scout is not just coming up with a project and directing how it will be done but requires doing work as well, he added.

Some parts of the original path needed widening, and he spoke with Staff Sgt. Amy Kurtz, who had some soldiers of Company B, 305th Military Intelligence Battalion, saying he wanted stones that were the edge of part of a path moved further out. Kurtz, a drill sergeant, and other soldiers who are students at the Intelligence Center volunteer to help with projects on the post.

Mulch for the pathway comes from the post and was spread around the renovated parts of the trails by people using rakes.

Troop 431 Assistant Scoutmaster David Tyler, who is a sergeant major with the 111th Military Intelligence Brigade, said the troop wants to be part of the park’s upkeep.

“We’ve kind of adopted Heritage Park,” he said.

Years ago, before the park was established, the area was used by scouts as a camp site.

For Daniel, perhaps eventually the area again can be a scout camp site.

It would fit in with what happened 128 years ago when Whitside and his detachment camped under the cottonwoods and sycamores, as pure cold water from the mountains flowed past them.

[RonF]

Good move taking your son to another Troop. If a 14-year old is truly motivated, he can make 1st Class in less than a year and be an Eagle about a year and a half later.

I'd be interested to know what exactly that person was you talked to. If he was a member of the Troop, he should not be that Troop's Unit Commissioner.

[RonF]

We also emphasize First Class, but you've added a couple of details that I'm going to steal.

[Scoutmaster]

It's not called "stealing;" it's called "spreading the Scouting movement." ;)

And that's the first (and perhaps the last) time I've ever used an emoticon on Free Republic.

[Tax-chick]

Thanks again! All of this is very informative.

[MarMema]

Thank you for your kind offer! My son will be very pleased to have the patch. He asked me to thank you on his behalf.

He just needs to make certain that he ASKS for one of the requisite leadership positions if he is not elected to one of the ones elected by the Scouts. A good Scoutmaster will be certain that he has a chance to earn his leadership tenure.

That is what we have told him as well. Take *something* to keep moving on - to Life - after he reaches Star.
I have read that a lot of Scouts stall at Star. I wonder why that is....other than age and fumes.

Thanks for all of your wisdom and sharing.

[Scoutmaster]

You and your son are most welcome -- but that's not necessary.

Before my emphasis shifted from local unit Scouting to International Scouting, whenever I got a patch or a neckerchief, it was because I attended a function or swapped for it at the National Jamboree (sort of like I earned it or traded for it). You didn't just meet someone at a Camp-o-ree, shake hands, and before leaving give a gift.

Now, from the few times I've represented scouting overseas to the many times I've served as part of a contingent to host Scouts or Scouters from other countries, I can't meet someone in Scouting without being given something -- patches, neckerchiefs, Scout knives, nametags, uniform tops, you name it. (Of course it means I keep a lot of U.S. and local items on hand as gifts, although nothing is expected in return for a gift.)

I just do my part and pass along the goodies, usually International stuff, in the Spirit of Scouting (although I'll never part with my Swedish Scout knife or set of Australian patches to support Aboriginal Scouting -- the Swedish knife is too useful and the young lady who gave me the Australian patches looked too much like Olivia Newton-John).

I was given several patches by the Prefectural Commissioner of Scouting in Yamagata with instructions to give them to U.S. Scouts and Scouters to thank them for helping re-start Scouting in Japan after WWII.

As I said, I've put one away for your son for when he earns his Eagle Scout rank. It's not from me, it's thanks and congratulations from the Scout Association of Japan. I'm just the messenger.