Local Scout helps Goodfellow School-Age Facility

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Musal
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
A San Angelo Boy Scout led a project to help the Goodfellow School-Age Facility build a dry riverbed over the past month.

Taylor Cambre, an aspiring Eagle Scout with Boy Scouts of America Troop 363, partnered with volunteers from the 17th Civil Engineer Squadron and scouts from his troop as he carried out a service project to improve the area around the school-age facility.

Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout requires, among other things, that the scout plan, lead and carry out a major service project benefitting his community. He is expected to demonstrate leadership, critical thinking and budgeting skills.

When Taylor took an initial look at the site, he saw "a drainage ditch filled with weeds and, at times, run-off water." He spoke with Mike Noret, 17 CES deputy base civil engineer, who informed him that lining the area with rocks should minimize flooding occurring on the baseball fields behind the facility, as well as improving the overall look of the area.

"Every new facility includes landscaping," Mr. Noret said. "Unfortunately, the reality is that there is a set, programmed amount for each new facility and the focus is on the building," he added. Taylor's project was a way to fill that gap.

"This project was similar to a self-help project," Mr. Noret said. "Taylor designed the project and was responsible for providing all the labor; 17 CES provided the materials."

Taylor's team began by stripping the drainage ditch of dead weeds. Later, they covered the area with a double-thick layer of landscape fabric to keep the weeds from returning. Next, with the help of 17 CES heavy equipment operator Frank Garcia, the team spread about 35 tons of small, rounded rocks over the area, including smaller gravel for the picnic area adjacent to the riverbed. Finally, the team laid down rectangular border rocks.

"It took a lot of patience to get this done," Taylor said. "So much was out of my control: it rained a lot, and some of the rocks arrived in a different order than I'd planned."

"It was a pleasure to work with this Boy Scout," Mr. Noret said. "Fortunately, the before- and after-school facility and CE Readiness staff worked with many volunteers from across the services to come and help with this project."

"It all came together," Taylor said, adding his thanks to the volunteers from the base and from his troop. "I'm very, very proud to say this was my Eagle project."

(The Boy Scouts of America is a private organization not affiliated with the Department of Defense. No federal endorsement is intended or implied).