Extreme Makeovers, Round 39: Eagle Scout project before-and-after photos

This is the 39th 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: Photos were taken during different stages of the pandemic (or even before the pandemic began) and may not necessarily depict current 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 15 projects includes an outdoor kitchen for a Montessori school in Texas, a “Pollinators Garden” for a wildlife refuge in Puerto Rico and a realistic Mars landscape for a college in New York.

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.

Kamran from Texas

Who: Kamran, Troop 758, Allen, Texas

What: Kamran and his helpers constructed an outdoor weatherproof kitchen for a local Montessori school.

Gabe from Pennsylvania

Who: Gabe, Troop 44, Pine Grove Mills, Pa.

What: Gabe and his helpers renovated the walls of the Ferguson Township Lions Club in Pine Grove Mills, Pa. They added a fresh coat of paint and modern features to rejuvenate this 50-year-old building.

Brandon from Missouri

Who: Brandon, Troop 102, Couch, Mo.

What: Brandon and his helpers installed a Little Free Library on the grounds of the Couch R-1 School so that students and the community would have access to reading material regardless of the time of year or status of the pandemic.

Andrew from California

Who: Andrew, Troop 234, Moraga, Calif.

What: Andrew and his helpers installed a crushed-gravel pathway from the parking lot to a rear deck at his church, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lafayette, Calif.

Nicholas from New Hampshire

Who: Nicholas, Troop 185, Stratham, N.H.

What: Nicholas and his helpers revitalized the gravesite of Revolutionary War Col. John Folsom and his wife. They removed brush, spread mulch, installed a stone border and added a plaque with information on Folsom’s life and history.

Ty from Michigan

Who: Ty, Troop 111, Lansing, Mich.

What: After playing many years of baseball at the local ballfields and wishing for a covered dugout, Ty and his helpers built one. The covered dugout gives 12-under and 14-under ballplayers a safe, shaded place to gather when not in the field.

Grady from Florida

Who: Grady, Troop 205, St. Augustine, Fla.

What: Grady and his helpers renovated the backyard of the S.A.F.E. Pet Rescue adoption center in St. Augustine. They replaced the overgrown weeds with sod and mulch, installed new posts to support a shade structure, added slats to the fences to reduce animal escape attempts, and donated a dog pool. They raised $700 more than they needed and donated that entire total to the shelter after the project.

Matthew from Florida

Who: Matthew, Troop 277, Mount Dora, Fla.

What: Matthew and his helpers disassembled and rebuilt the deteriorated and hard-to-access turtle habitat exhibit enclosures at Trout Lake Nature Center in Eustis, Fla.

Reece from Texas

Who: Reece, Troop 446, Kemah, Texas

What: Reece and his helpers constructed a 60-foot footpath and bridge for the Galveston Bay Foundation.

Simon from Wisconsin

Who: Simon, Troop 762, West Bend, Wis.

What: Simon and his helpers constructed 14 outdoor Stations of the Cross stops for a church in West Bend.

Eli from Texas

Who: Elisha, Troop 405, Gallatin, Texas

What: Eli and his helpers restored the merry-go-round at the local community center. It has been a fixture for children in the community for at least 50 years — and now will last at least another 50.

Francis from Puerto Rico

Who: Francis, Troop 377, Guayabo, Puerto Rico

What: Francis and his helpers created a “Pollinators Garden” at the wildlife refuge in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico. They installed bee hotels, added a bee water fountain, planted more than 80 plants and trees, and installed an informational sign describing the importance of the pollinators. Francis, who has autism, wanted to teach visitors about the role pollinators play in the ecosystems they inhabit.

Jonathan from New York

Who: Jonathan, Troop 168, Worcester, N.Y.

What: Jonathan and his helpers built a realistic Mars landscape for a remote control model rover at the A.J. Reed Science Discovery Center on the campus of SUNY Oneonta. The rover can traverse the space and complete simulated missions.

Nolan from Illinois

Who: Nolan, Troop 618, Oak Lawn, Ill.

What: Nolan and his helpers built a new 900-square-foot building for the P.A.W.S. of Tinley Park animal shelter.

Matthew from Maryland

Who: Matthew, Troop 794, Ellicott City, Md.

What: Matthew and his helpers designed and installed landscaping for the historic Thomas Isaac Log Cabin in Ellicott City. The cabin had sustained flood damage, and Matthew’s project helped revitalize the site.

See more in this series

Like these? See more here.

Learn 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.

Read 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.