Extreme Makeovers, Round 36: Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos
This is the 36th in an occasional series where I share Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos. See the complete collection here and submit your own here.
COVID-19 note: Some of these Eagle projects were completed before the pandemic, meaning the photos may not necessarily depict coronavirus-related health and safety protocols.
To fully understand the impact Eagle Scout projects have on communities, you need to see to believe. That’s why I asked to see Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos — the same photos prospective Eagles are asked to include with their post-project report.
The latest batch of 20 projects includes an aquaponic garden at an elementary school in Hawaii, a stage for holding outdoor church services in Michigan and a stone flag-retirement pit in Montana.
What’s great is that you can multiply each individual act of stupendous service by roughly 50,000. That’s how many Eagle Scout projects get completed every single year.
TIP: Click/tap and drag the slider below each image to see the change.
Ryan from New York
Who: Ryan, Troop 284, Copiague, N.Y.
What: Ryan and his helpers built two baseball dugouts, including benches, at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School. Prior to the project, temporary benches had to be placed and removed for every game.
Tristan from Louisiana
Who: Tristan, Troop 66, West Monroe, La.
What: Tristan and his helpers built a pergola as the centerpiece for the butterfly garden at Kiroli Park, which provides a resting place for migrating monarchs.
Connor from Michigan
Who: Connor, Troop 735, Wayne, Mich.
What: Connor and his helpers built and installed a gaga ball pit for the Jefferson Barns Community Vitality Center.
Surya from Massachusetts
Who: Surya, Troop 41, Marlborough, Mass.
What: Surya and his helpers built and installed benches and planter boxes, installed new accessible parking signs, and added new soil and grass seed to the front of his high school entryway.
Kaylee from Montana
Who: Kaylee, Troop 1941G, Columbia Falls, Mont.
What: Kaylee and her helpers installed a wheelchair-friendly slab with three concrete benches and a stone fire pit with cover — all designed to resemble the folded flag. The space will be used for flag-retirement ceremonies at the Montana Veterans Home.
Jimmy from Texas
Who: Jimmy, Troop 599, Houston, Texas
What: Jimmy and his helpers built 30 sturdy, foldable desks for kids who are distance-learning during the pandemic and don’t have a dedicated table in their homes to study or attend classes.
Kyra from New Jersey
Who: Kyra, Troop 336, Long Valley, N.J.
What: Kyra and her helpers installed a new brick path at her chartered organization’s manse, or clergy house. They removed three layers of old broken concrete and slate that had been destroyed by tree roots.
Shreev from Texas
Who: Shreev, Troop 371, Austin, Texas
What: Shreev and his helpers built a flag retirement pit for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8587 of Georgetown, Texas. The before picture shows the rusted barrels that the VFW previously used to retire flags. The after picture depicts the new flag retirement pit, which the VFW post will use to retire about 250 flags every three months.
Owen from New York
Who: Owen, Troop 5048, Amsterdam, N.Y.
What: Owen and his helpers designed a rosary walk at his church with the decades of the rosary in blue stone set on a bed of pea stones. They also added a handcrafted statue of the Virgin Mary with a prayer bench.
Joseph from New Hampshire
Who: Joseph, Troop 86, Concord, N.H.
What: Joseph and his helpers completed a full mechanical and cosmetic restoration of a vintage metal lathe. The lathe, which was first built in 1946, was restored for the benefit of Joseph’s high school’s FIRST Robotics team.
Andrew from Illinois
Who: Andrew, Troop 57, Aurora, Ill.
What: Andrew and his helpers built a butterfly inspiration garden at Briar Glen Elementary School in Wheaton, Ill. The butterfly garden has plants that attract butterflies and a garden with rocks containing inspirational messages for students. It is certified as a “monarch way station,” a designation for sites that provide shelter for monarch butterflies as they migrate through North America to Mexico.
Adam from Illinois
Who: Adam, Troop 315, Stillman Valley, Ill.
What: Adam and his helpers repaired and painted a shelter and picnic tables at a local park. They also installed a new metal roof.
Dante from California
Who: Dante, Troop 110, Sierra Madre, Calif.
What: Dante and his helpers installed a sensory garden at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House. They added a new decomposed granite pathway, new plants and herbs (for smell), new sculptures, a rock river, new seating, windchimes, handmade birdhouses and outdoor lighting. They also redesigned the area to make sure it’s accessible for wheelchair users. The garden strives to maximize the sensory impact on all of its visitors.
Joey from Tennessee
Who: Joey, Troop 262, Nashville, Tenn.
What: Joey and his helpers built, painted and installed new instrument cubicles for his high school marching band.
Ashby from Tennessee
Who: Ashby, Troop 268, Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
What: Ashby and his helpers installed flagpoles, solar-powered lights and a Tennessee-shaped concrete pad at David Crockett State Park. They also collected backpacks filled with care items, heaters and blankets for local veterans.
Cody from Illinois
Who: Cody, Troop 329, Woodstock, Ill.
What: Cody and his helpers raised funds and built two “cat trees” for the Helping Paws Animal Shelter. Cody and his team built both of the 6-foot towers using solid wood and more than 800 feet of sisal rope. They added wheels for ease of movement.
Gunnar from Kentucky
Who: Gunnar, Troop 727, Burlington, Ky.
What: Gunnar and his helpers built a boat rack for YMCA Camp Ernst to get canoes and kayaks off the ground.
Spencer from Wisconsin
Who: Spencer, Troop 21, Brookfield, Wis.
What: Spencer and his helpers installed a welcome gateway structure at Spencer’s church. This helped welcome visitors arriving from the west side of the building — especially important because the main east entrance was closed during nearby road construction.
Jonah from Hawaii
Who: Jonah, Troop 325, Honolulu, Hawaii
What: Jonah and his helpers built and installed a 150-gallon aquaponics garden for Ala Wai Elementary School in Honolulu. He also taught three fourth grade classes about the science behind an aquaponics garden and the importance of sustainability in agriculture and aquaculture. Lastly, he propagated approximately 20 plants consisting of Thai basil, Italian sweet basil and mint and assisted the class in transplanting these into the garden.
Noah from Michigan
Who: Noah, Troop 624, St. Joseph, Mich.
What: Noah and his helpers built a deck at Noah’s church to use as a stage to hold outdoor services.
More in this series
Like these? See more here.
How to submit your photos
Have before-and-after Eagle photos I can use in future posts? Go here to learn how to send them to me.
About the Adams award for outstanding Eagle projects
The Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award honors outstanding Eagle projects.
An Eagle Scout, their parents, or any registered BSA volunteer (with the Eagle Scout’s permission) may submit the Eagle Scout service project for consideration by filling out the nomination form found here.
Visit the Scout Life Eagle Project Showcase
For even more great Eagle projects, check out the Scout Life Eagle Project Showcase.
Photo credits
All photos are courtesy of each aspiring Eagle Scout and their family.