Photo finishes: Before-and-after shots of 25 Eagle Scout projects

With apologies to the ubiquitous convenience store chain, more Eagle Scout projects went up last year alone than the total number of 7-Elevens currently open worldwide.

Yes, the number of 2012 Eagle Scout projects bested the number of worldwide 7-Elevens by a score of 58,659 to 50,250.

I bring up this incongruous comparison to remind you that there’s an Eagle Scout project on every corner. There’s probably one within walking distance from you right now. Think about the scale of this for a second: Some 50,000 new Eagle Scout projects are completed each year. That’s roughly 137 significant improvements to the community every day, improvements created by the best, brightest, and most-prepared leaders around.

The Eagle Scout Service Project is a remarkably powerful force that’s transforming our country for the better each time a city park, church, or school gets repaired and beautified.

Let’s celebrate this transformation by looking at 25 great Eagle Scout projects. And like any good makeover, the best way to appreciate the change is through before-and-after photos. Enjoy, and congrats to these young men. 

Allen - Before
Allen – Before
Allen - After. Allen repaired the entrance to the Salado College National Historic Site.
Allen – After. Allen repaired the entrance to the Salado College National Historic Site.
Andrew - Before
Andrew – Before
Andrew - After
Andrew – After
Blake - Before
Blake – Before
Blake - After. Blake erected a flagpole and created a beautification project.
Blake – After. Blake erected a flagpole and created a beautification project.
Cody - Before
Cody – Before
Cody - After
Cody – After
David - Before
David – Before
David - After. David built a gazebo at the public library.
David – After. David built a gazebo at the public library.
Enoch - Before
Enoch – Before
Enoch - After. Enoch built and installed an Amateur Radio Digital Repeater.
Enoch – After. Enoch built and installed an Amateur Radio Digital Repeater.
Erik from Ill. - Before
Erik from Ill. – Before
Erik from Ill. - After. Renovations of American Legion Post 1170 banquet hall.
Erik from Ill. – After. Renovations of American Legion Post 1170 banquet hall.
Erik from Minn. - Before
Erik from Minn. – Before
Erik from Minn. - After. Weaver Lake School Outdoor Classroom.
Erik from Minn. – After. Weaver Lake School Outdoor Classroom.
Ethan - Before
Ethan – Before
Ethan - After. Ethan built a 70-foot-long fence at the Heard Raptor Rehabilitation Center in McKinney, Texas, to keep visitors from approaching the bird enclosures. (Bryan says: Hey, that's where I did my Eagle project!)
Ethan – After. Ethan built a 70-foot-long fence at the Heard Raptor Rehabilitation Center in McKinney, Texas, to keep visitors from approaching the bird enclosures. (Bryan says: Hey, that’s where I did my Eagle project!)
George - Before
George – Before
George - After
George – After
Jacob - Before
Jacob – Before
Jacob - After
Jacob – After
Jiacheng Jason - Before
Jiacheng Jason – Before
Jiacheng Jason - After
Jiacheng Jason – After
Jonathan - Before
Jonathan – Before
Jonathan - After. Jonathan helped with a city park restoration.
Jonathan – After. Jonathan helped with a city park restoration.
Joshua - Before
Joshua – Before
Joshua - After
Joshua – After
Juan Luis - Before
Juan Luis – Before
Juan Luis - After. Juan Luis built for the campsite in the Botanical Garden of Caguas City, Puerto Rico.
Juan Luis – After. Juan Luis built for the campsite in the Botanical Garden of Caguas City, Puerto Rico.
Marc - Before
Marc – Before
Marc - After
Marc – After
Matthew from Ind. - Before
Matthew from Ind. – Before
Matthew from Ind. - After
Matthew from Ind. – After
Nathan from Tenn. - Before
Nathan from Tenn. – Before
Nathan from Tenn. - After. Nathan raised about $2,000 and spent over 300 hours clearing away vegetation, removing the old fence, installing a new fence, and repairing tombstones at a cemetery.
Nathan from Tenn. – After. Nathan raised about $2,000 and spent over 300 hours clearing away vegetation, removing the old fence, installing a new fence, and repairing tombstones at a cemetery.
Nathan from N.Y. - Before
Nathan from N.Y. – Before
Nathan from N.Y. - After
Nathan from N.Y. – After
Nik - Before
Nik – Before
Nik - After. Nik replaced a worn and dangerous outside staircase at George Washington’s boyhood home, Ferry Farm, in Stafford County Virginia.
Nik – After. Nik replaced a worn and dangerous outside staircase at George Washington’s boyhood home, Ferry Farm, in Stafford County Virginia.
Patrick – Before
Patrick - After. Patrick built 16-foot diameter, handicap-accessible gazebo for the local nursing home.
Patrick – After. Patrick built 16-foot diameter, handicap-accessible gazebo for the local nursing home.
Richard - Before
Richard – Before
Richard - After. Richard rehabbed a church outdoor worship area.
Richard – After. Richard rehabbed a church outdoor worship area.
Tom - Before
Tom – Before
Tom - After. Tom planted 15 trees throughout the Little League field complex and added safety and directional signs.
Tom – After. Tom planted 15 trees throughout the Little League field complex and added safety and directional signs.
Trevor - Before
Trevor – Before
Trevor - After. Trevor rebuilt stairs at Brophy Road Cemetery for St. John Catholic Church.
Trevor – After. Trevor rebuilt stairs at Brophy Road Cemetery for St. John Catholic Church.
Tyler - Before
Tyler – Before
Tyler - After. Tyler removed weeds, constructed a bike rack and added mulch at a women's shelter.
Tyler – After. Tyler removed weeds, constructed a bike rack and added mulch at a women’s shelter.

About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.