2 Boy Scouts help out at San Vicente school

Arthur Welch, 16, and Skylar Brown, 17, helped clean up the San Vicente Elementary School campus last Monday on their way toward completing their Eagle Projects.

With the help of CUC, Welch, together with the school’s science class students, trimmed the branches off several flame trees that were already falling down due to decay.

They hauled off thousands of pounds of branches that were cut down. Afterwards, the school’s principal asked to have the large branches placed on the side of the road to prevent cars from coming through the playground. The barrier blocked off cars from driving around blind turns where children often play at the school.

Welch also cemented over an erosion hazard at the school to prevent future erosion and make the area safer for children.

Welch, who has been a Boy Scout for five years now, estimates that he has already spent more than 40 hours on this project.

“It has been a lot of hard work, but it’s fun to do hard work,” Welch said. “I’ve learned skills like wood hauling, leadership, and how to follow up.”

The project’s completion has allowed Welch to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. He will be the next one to have a Court of Honor, scheduled for the end of June.

Brown’s project, meanwhile, was to improve the school’s Agriculture Science Project by renovating and refurbishing an old water tank, which held Tilapia fish before it was damaged by a typhoon.

He organized the effort to drain the tank and remove the old pipe. He also repainted it. So far, Brown estimates he has spent nearly 70 hours working on his project.

“I wanted to help out the science instruction at the school,” Brown said. “I felt this would impact the school not just temporarily but for a long time. Its impact would last.”

Welch and Brown are both members of Troop 913, which is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

More than 30 volunteers helped out Welch and Brown to complete both projects.

“I could not be prouder of these scouts,” said Eric Nelson, Troop 913 Scoutmaster. “They have put in countless hours researching their projects, organizing volunteers, and carrying out their plans in order to improve the community. …These two scouts are wonderful examples for all of us.”

Assistant Scoutmaster Val Welch played a large role in the projects and helped both boys organize and implement their plans.

[B]Facts About Eagle Scout Award[/B]

To earn the Eagle Scout rank, the highest advancement rank in Scouting, a Boy Scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills. Although many options are available to demonstrate proficiency in these areas, a number of specific skills are required to advance through the ranks—Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle. To advance, a Boy Scout must pass specific tests that are organized by requirements and merit badges.

Not every boy who joins a Boy Scout troop earns the Eagle Scout rank; only about 5 percent of all Boy Scouts do so. This represents more than 1.7 million Boy Scouts who have earned the rank since 1912. Nevertheless, the goals of Scouting—citizenship training, character development, and personal fitness—remain important for all Scouts, whether or not they attain the Eagle Scout rank.

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[B]Photo caption:[/B] Troop 913 Boy Scouts Skylar Brown and Arthur Welch organized a community effort to beautify and improve San Vicente Elementary School Monday while completing their Eagle Scout Projects. Pictured from left, are Harrison Smith, Skylar Brown, Arthur Welch, Im-Bum Choo, Alex Kim, Manny Carulla, Don Cabrera, J.J. Brown, and Troop 913 Scoutmaster Eric Nelson. Other Boys Scouts who helped Brown and Welch with their project were Andres Keo, Reece Brown, Richard Defan, Tone Alforeza, Sam Conner, Jake Conner, Daniel Villegas, and Assistant Scoutmaster Val Welch. (Contributed Photo)