This is the 41st 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 16 projects includes a “JoyMobile” performance vehicle in Hawaii, a swim gear rack in Florida and a portable baptistry in Texas.
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.
Micah from Hawaii
Who: Micah, Troop 325, Honolulu, Hawaii
What: Micah and his helpers refurbished a small school bus to transform it into the “JoyMobile,” a mobile performance vehicle sponsored by Artists for Community Transformation Intl., which serves as a backdrop for short performances of celebration, music and laughter that promote community building.
Nathan from Pennsylvania
Who: Nathan, Troop 146, Fairview, Pa.
What: Nathan and his helpers built two ice hockey stick racks for his local ice rink. He then hosted an open skate for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and handed out ice hockey sticks donated by the Erie Otters, a junior ice hockey team.
Anthony from New York
Who: Anthony, Troop 177, Richmond Hill, N.Y.
What: Anthony and his helpers remodeled the food pantry at Holy Child Jesus Church. They painted the walls, added new gray paint on the floors of two rooms, built new shelves and reorganized all the food. They cleaned and painted the bathroom, too.
Charlotte from Minnesota
Who: Charlotte, Troop 7111, Lakeville, Minn.
What: Charlotte and her helpers landscaped the new park sign at Lakeville’s Dodd Trail Park. This included grading and installing landscape block, dirt, rocks and plants.
Logan from Louisiana
Who: Logan, Troop 111, Mandeville, La.
What: Logan and his helpers converted an underused gaga pit into a prayer garden. The garden includes an eco-friendly fountain and lights — all powered by the sun.
Clark from Washington
Who: Clark, Troop 358, Vancouver, Wash.
What: Clark and his helpers constructed nine rolling garden boxes for science classes to use for garden projects.
Mikey from South Carolina
Who: Mikey, Troop 79, Charleston, S.C.
What: Mikey and his helpers built an outdoor classroom at his elementary school in Charleston. The biggest challenge was obtaining the building permits and building materials during the height of the pandemic. The project took exactly one year to complete.
Ethan from Maryland
Who: Ethan, Troop 350, Middle River, Md.
What: Ethan and his helpers improved the storage in the food pantry at a church. Because of the new shelving, the pantry was able to take and store larger deliveries from the local food bank during the pandemic.
Gianlucca from New York
Who: Gianlucca, Troop 71, Baldwinsville, N.Y.
What: Gianlucca and his helpers revamped the memorial garden at his local VFW.
Nathan from Tennessee
Who: Nathan, Troop 413, Hendersonville, Tenn.
What: Nathan and his helpers transformed an outdoor patio space by pressure-washing the surface and building three picnic tables, eight Adirondack chairs, three planter boxes and two cornhole boards. The project was completed at Matthew 25 in Nashville, which provides housing, help and hope to local veterans in need.
Tyler from Pennsylvania
Who: Tyler, Troop 43, Woodlyn, Pa.
What: Tyler and his helpers converted the basement of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church into a new meeting hall. Before Tyler stepped up, St. Joe’s was about to lose its meeting hall after some buildings were sold off.
Alexander from Illinois
Who: Alexander, Troop 55, Glenview, Ill.
What: Alex and his helpers built a 10-by-10-foot storage shed for Emily Oaks Nature Center in Skokie, Ill., to store the nature center’s equipment.
Nicholas from Michigan
Who: Nicholas, Troop 170, Milford, Mich.
What: Nicholas and his helpers replaced old, outdated rollers at the Milford Dam canoe portage with a much-needed new steel rail system. The portage is not only used by the community but also by Scouts taking part in the Chief Pontiac Canoe/Hike Trek and by the Huron River Water Trail paddlers.
Justin from New Jersey
Who: Justin, Troop 160, Rockaway, N.J.
What: Justin and his helpers replaced a single-plank bridge over a stream with an 8-foot-wide bridge for the safety of hikers and to prevent further erosion of the stream from mountain bikers. The project was in the Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area in Hibernia, N.J.
Lance from Florida
Who: Lance, Troop 787, Oviedo, Fla.
What: Lance and his helpers designed a swim gear rack to replace an old and dangerous one that was over capacity. He and his team of volunteers welded, assembled and installed the new stainless steel rack at the city’s aquatic center, where it’s used by more than 100 swimmers every day.
Brady from Texas
Who: Brady, Troop 1656, Richmond, Texas
What: Brady and his helpers created a portable baptistry for Faith United Methodist Church. He used the existing horse trough and built a beautiful wood surrounding it with crosses, stairs and wheels.
Eagle Before & After FAQs
How can I see more in this series?
By going here.
How can I submit my project (or my son or daughter’s project) for consideration?
Go here to learn how to send them to me.
Are scholarships available for outstanding Eagle projects?
Yes! 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.
How can I see even more great Eagle projects?
Check out the Scout Life Eagle Project Showcase.
Who owns the photos used in this series?
Unless otherwise listed, all photos are courtesy of each 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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