Scout Charlie G. has been working on his Eagle Scout project for nearly a year, teaming up with the Conservation Commission to reclaim and install signs on local trails in his community, hoping to bring more attention to a great resource that will help the people of the town get out and enjoy nature.

He had finished some of the most complicated parts of the project, including clearing  the trail of several trees that had fallen and blocked parts of the trail.

He also spent a number of hours constructing a large trail kiosk with information about the trails. In addition, he had installed two aluminum signs at each of the trail entrance points.

Seacoastonline.com shared the story of how, unfortunately, someone stole the two signs just two weeks after the project had been completed.

“I was really shocked,” said Conservation Commission Chairman Jay Diener. “Charlie did a really great job, and so to have it vandalized like this is really disappointing.”

But Charlie is turning the setback of the stolen signs into an opportunity to bring more attention to the trails to help encourage even more people to take advantage of them.

He said that he was disappointed that the signs had been stolen, but he is glad that the unfortunate incident is bringing some much-needed awareness to the town forest and trail system.

“The actual aim of my project was to bring attention to the town forests,” Charlie said. “It’s definitely getting publicity now, just not the way I expected.”

Charlie also praised Scouting as an important part of helping him stay positive and focused on making his community a better place.

“Boy Scouts really helped me with my character,” he said. “I guess it’s helped me be a good person.”

For more  on Charlie’s project, read the full article in Seacoastonline.com.

To see statistics on how Eagle Scouts impact their communities, see the Baylor University Study “Eagle Scouts: Merit Beyond the Badge.”