This is the 34th 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: Most 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 21 projects includes new fencing at a famous park in California, a greenhouse at a church in New Jersey and a monument to first responders in Michigan.
What’s great is that you can multiply each individual act of stupendous service by more than 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.
Zack from Missouri
Who: Zack, Troop 4002, St. Louis, Mo.
What: Zack and his team of 21 Scouts from three different troops worked together to replace a worn-out, wooden entrance sign at Cape County Park South. The Scouts worked in 90-degree heat, moving 40-pound blocks, to build the new sign.
Emily from Michigan
Who: Emily, Troop 777, Northville, Mich.
What: Emily and her team refurbished a farm animal shelter for a group home farm in Brooklyn, Mich. Among other work, the Scouts removed an old roof and installed a new metal roof.
Joshua from Texas
Who: Joshua, Troop 444, Richardson, Texas
What: Joshua and his team added pathways to two emergency exits for Congregation Beth Torah’s main sanctuary. The paths were built with pavers and two very different drainage solutions: one involved regrading the land and adding drainage, and the other required installation of a steel platform that Joshua designed and had professionally fabricated.
Gabby from Tennessee
Who: Gabby, Troop 21, Clarksville, Tenn.
What: Gabby improved the water access point for a city park in town, allowing kayakers to enjoy the water more easily.
Alexander from Kentucky
Who: Alexander, Troop 327, Louisville, Ky.
What: Alexander and his team built two benches and a table for St. Vincent de Paul’s Food Pantry.
Kylie from Michigan
Who: Kylie, Crew 7342 and Troop 366, Saginaw, Mich.
What: Kylie and her team created a monument to honor the first responders of Saginaw County. The monument is located at the Saginaw County Courthouse.
Christopher from Kentucky
Who: Christopher, Troop 327, Louisville, Ky.
What: Christopher and his team built a pavilion for the St. Vincent de Paul women’s shelter, known as Roberts Hall.
Joshua from California
Who: Joshua, Troop 605, Simi Valley, Calif.
What: Joshua and his team replaced fencing at Corriganville Park, where thousands of movies and TV shows — including The Lone Ranger were filmed. The park was caught in the Woolsey Fire, which burned 36 feet of fencing.
Nathan from California
Who: Nathan, Troop 727, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
What: Nathan and his team built and installed a cabinet at a nature preschool in the canyon so teachers there could keep their items protected from both critters and the elements.
Aaron from Texas
Who: Aaron, Troop 574, Carrollton, Texas
What: Aaron and his team replaced a large, raised deck for Carrollton Young Life.
Christopher from Indiana
Who: Christopher, Troop 446, Indianapolis, Ind.
What: Christopher and his team built a grotto in the prayer garden at Saint Simon the Apostle Church. The parish school has been using this area daily during COVID to provide an outdoor learning space. In total, 577 hours went into this project, which required the Scouts to dig a 2.5-foot square hole and fill that hole with concrete to construct the base. Construction lifts were needed to place the 1,000-pound concrete arch.
Jonathan from New Jersey
Who: Jonathan, Troop 121, Chatham, N.J.
What: Jonathan and his team built a 28-foot bridge across a tributary of the Black Brook. The bridge extends and improves a hiking trail in the Green Village Conservation Area.
Robert from New Jersey
Who: Robert, Troop 175, Hackettstown, N.J.
What: Robert and his team raised funds and built a foundation, greenhouse (with a reinforcement structure to make it stronger during high winds), rain-barrel water collection system and retaining wall for the Trinity United Methodist Church’s Garden Ministry. The greenhouse allows the church to extend its growing season and supply more fresh produce to its food pantry.
Joshua from Georgia
Who: Joshua, Troop 79, Tyrone, Ga.
What: Joshua and his team constructed a chicken coop near the garden at St. Matthew Catholic Church. The coop will allow the church to donate eggs to the community.
Christopher from Illinois
Who: Christopher, Troop 597, Naperville, Ill.
What: Christopher and his team created an outdoor area with two park benches and a pergola for residents of Hesed House, a homeless shelter in Aurora, Ill.
Jacob from Illinois
Who: Jacob, Troop 32, Loves Park, Ill.
What: Jacob and his team built and installed a gaga ball pit and two benches for the youth of his church, Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Nathan from Tennessee
Who: Nathan, Troop 367, Silver Point, Tenn.
What: Nathan and his team installed mulch, plants, pavers and a bench leading to an existing bird aviary at Edgar Evins State Park in Tennessee.
Matthew from New York
Who: Matthew, Troop 469, Westbury, N.Y.
What: Matthew and his team built two benches with concrete legs and three planter boxes filled with greenery for his high school.
Matthew from Oregon
Who: Matthew, Troop 618, Beaverton, Ore.
What: Matthew converted an unused, overgrown space adjacent to his school’s science building into an attractive, self-irrigating outdoor classroom, which is now used for botanical experiments and provides food for local needs.
Andrew from Tennessee
Who: Andrew, Troop 166, Hixson, Tenn.
What: Andrew and his team evaluated every fire hydrant in the city of Soddy Daisy, Tenn. — more than 500 in all. He identified those that needed to be painted and could be safely painted. A total of 112 fire hydrants were cleaned and painted.
Madelyn from South Carolina
Who: Madelyn, Troop 425G, Lexington, S.C.
What: Madelyn and her team built a playground, including a climbing dome, a balance beam, a seesaw, and three rockers for Family Promise of the Midlands, which works with families experiencing situational homelessness. The playground equipment, made using upcycled tires, was made and installed after her twin brother built a colored pencil picket fence to enclose the play area for his own Eagle project.
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 Boys’ Life Eagle Project Showcase
For even more great Eagle projects, check out the Boys’ Life Eagle Project Showcase.
Photo credits
All photos are courtesy of each aspiring Eagle Scout and their family.
Support the Eagle Scout Scholarship Fund
Contribute to the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) Scholarship Fund. Donations to this fund go directly to providing scholarships to deserving Eagle Scouts, allowing them to pursue their dreams and make a positive impact on the world.
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