Eagle Scout Project

The Eagle Scout is the highest rank a Boy Scout can achieve. Before one attains this rank, they must complete a community service project, akin to a mini capstone. It demonstrates the specific Scout's leadership, organization, and planning skills.

My project was started in September of '23 and completed in early '24. I chose to replace an informational board about the local salmon life cycle at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park.

Initial Evaluation

The initial evaluation of the signboard was mostly related to damaged that was caused by a windstorm felling a tree on top of it. A consideration was to just replace the roof of the signboard, however, further inspection revealed wood rot to the core of the signboard. A full replacement was the only option. The initial evaluation involved measuring all of the signboard dimensions and creating a blueprint of the signboard.

We split a removal and an installation date for the Eagle Project - A removal date was chosen, and an installation was to be 2 weeks after.

Below are some pics of the signboard damage.

Removal Day

The removal of the signboard was more... colorful than expected. To say I was underprepared would be a soft way to put it.

It was only due to the thanks of Robert Beatty, my scoutmaster, that I was able to have a successful day. I did not coordinate the removal well and it showed.

However, the removal of the signboard went off fairly well. It was more of a demolition if anything. We found a bat living in the signboard as well.

At the end of the removal process, Scoutmaster Beatty helped me pot 2 large posts for the installation. The concrete would take time to set, and Scoutmaster Beatty used a jig he made to help align the posts.

Preperation

I was determined to make sure I did not make the same mistakes I did at the removal date. I was quite embarassed by my carelessness and had learned a pretty valuable lesson.

I started off by coordinating all of the tool usage the day after the removal. This was one of the things I had forgotten to do last time.

I then also prepared all the wood in advance by cutting, priming, and painting the wood with the help of my father. The 2 weeks was a bit of a tight timeframe to finish all of the wood, but we got it done without a hitch.

Installation

I arrived early at the installation date prepared for what was ahead of me. It was a very smooth installation, I had brought many of the tools I had needed with supplements from other Scouting members. We used deck screws to secure everything together.

I have exactly 1 photo of the completed signboard. Note the missing roof was because the rangers at the state park were going to bring someone else in to finish the roof.

I had learned quite a lot through this project. This writeup only scratches the surface of the work that needed to be done for this. Keep in mind that I had never taken on a large woodworking project before this. The administrative work was also pretty insane, the state parks have some weird rules about what can be done/can't be done. I remember replacing the posts was a huge point of contention because of the disturbance to the land it could potentially cause.

Extras

Here are some extras that I provided the rangers with for future maintenance of the signboard.

I drafted and completed a 3d model (which was dimensionally accurate) of the entire signboard. They would be able to replicate it accurately. Not sure how useful it was to them, but it was something nice that didn't take me a while to make.

I also got a professional imaging company to scan the salmon infographic. The image is down below. They hung the infographic up from a pegboard and used several high resolution cameras to stitch the image together.

As always, I couldn't have done this project by myself. My dad, fellow scouts, Scoutmaster Robert Beatty, Park Ranger David Pall-Brogan, and others all helped greatly throughout this Eagle Project.