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Scout Builds Stairway to Heaven-focused Shrine for Eagle Project

As he grew and progressed through the ranks of Scouting, John M. faced struggles and distractions, just like thousands of other Scouts, but he knew he could persevere and earn Eagle Scout if he worked hard.

Scout Builds Stairway to Heaven-focused Shrine for Eagle Project
Scout John M. built a stairway to a shrine for his Eagle Scout project. (Photo credit: Maureen Walsh, Wicked Local Weymouth News)

“Honestly, I think one of the best things for any child is to get into Scouting,” he told the Weymouth News. “The values it instills in the Scout Oath and Scout Law, the skills that are taught, and the friendships you earn last a lifetime. Anyone who wants Eagle can do it. If they want it and try hard, they can do it and still have a lot of fun along the way.”

When he began considering what to do for his Eagle Scout project, it was an existing Eagle Scout project that caught his attention. His Scout Troop is chartered to St. Albert the Great Parish, and on the grounds of the church, there is a grotto and shrine area with a stairway leading up to an area where parishioners can pray and reflect.

The original stairway had been built by an Eagle Scout some 20 years before but had fallen into disrepair in recent years, making the trek up to the top a dangerous proposition for the parishioners. John knew he could help fix this.

Scout Builds Stairway to Heaven-focused Shrine for Eagle Project
Scout John M. (center), the stairway, and a team of Scouts who helped in construction. (Photo credit: Maureen Walsh, Wicked Local Weymouth News)

Gathering new materials, working on an improved design, and pulling together a team of fellow Scouts, John set about repairing and replacing much of the old stairway. When he was finished, the new stairway was not only beautiful to look at and safer for the parishioners, it also offered improved drainage so that rainwater would no longer rush down and flow directly into the street area below the stairway.

By choosing a project to assist the chartering organization that provides a meeting area and storage space for Troop equipment, John was able to give back to the parish that had supported his Troop.

To see more on John’s story, be sure to read the article in the Weymouth News.

To learn about other ways that Eagle Scouts support their communities, see the Baylor University Study, “Eagle Scouts: Merit Beyond the Badge.”

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