I’ve been the project coach for over 200 Eagle Scout projects over the years that have helped to improve nature access and parks for both human and wildlife use.

Projects have included three-bin compost systems, garden work benches, cold frames, recycled plumber garden benches, Adirondack chairs, trail-head kiosks, firewood racks, canoe racks, canoe & kayak river access trails, animal tracking stations, eagle nest platform, fishing pole holders, camp skills knot tying board, bird feeding area display, small bridges, platforms for wet area crossings, routed trail signage, a recycled bottle green house, pollinator homes, bat boxes, blue bird houses, screech owl/wood duck houses, picnic tables, a river seating area, tree identification tags, Native Plant Enclosure/Deer Exclosure fencing and more.

Below are some project pictures that hopefully give you ideas for your own community places and spaces.  Many also qualify for Girl Scout Gold and Silver Awards or Cub Scout Conservation Awards and even the BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Award!

THANK YOU SCOUTS!

Jack H. building 25 Cedar Bluebird Boxes for our Golf Courses and Water areas (tree swallows)

Cold Frame Greenhouse Building, Eagle Project

Rain Garden

Little Free Library, Promoting Environmental Literacy

Rolling Life Jacket Rack for Passaic River Canoe Trips

Vipul built benches for our garden area and other sitting spaces.

Batboxes at Hilltop Reservation

Bringing Wood Duck Boxes into Hatfield Swamp

Sensory Touch Boxes

400+ Swamp Milkweed Plants Cold Stratified and Germinated in Milk Jugs

Kestrel Boxes

Cedar Wood Duck Boxes for the Passaic River

Wood Duck Boxes

Routed Signs, Passaic River Access

Bird Blind at Essex County Environmental Center, Eagle Scout Project

Three Bin Compost System

Peter T. with Gardening Boxes for our many programs

Bluebird Box Eagle Scout Project

Turtle Enclosure and Live animal Observation Area

Noah with Pollinator Garden Boxes for Butterfly Tent Safari, Eagle Project

Jack B. with splitrail fencing for an Eagle Scout Project

Knot Tying Station

Trail Signs

Fish of the Passaic River Educational Project

Movable Trail Boardwalks for swamp area

Lenape Native American Longhouse structure, Eagle Project

Wood Duck Boxes for Passaic River, Eagle Scout Project

Native Pollinator Boxes, Eagle Scout Project

Bird Feeding Station at Essex County Environmental Center

Freshly Routed Trail Signs

Becker Park Bluebird Trail

Garden work Benches made with recycled lumber and stained brown. Eagle Project

Plastic Bottle Green House

Split Rail Fence and Picnic Tables

Replaced Bridge over wetland stream

New Bridge on Wetland Trail

Bluebird House Eagle Project

Passaic River Seating Area

Gazebo Picnic Tables

Woodland Native Plant Enclosure Trail

Carrying Leopold style benches out onto an overlook trail over Budd Lake

Split Rail Fence Around Butterfly Garden

Passaic River Canoe Access

Fishing River Spot on Passaic River

SMR Grill Pits

Fish Species within the Passaic River, Eagle Scout Project

Bat Houses

Pallets recycled into Garden Planter Boxes

Pollinator Shelter Boxes

Bridge at Maiers Pond over Turkey Brook

Native Plant Enclosure Environmental Education Trail

Kris K. build a Lenape Long House for an Eagle Scout Project!

Bat Boxes at the Hilltop, Eagle Scout Project

Animal Tracking Station. With Play Sand. Practice Tracking Skills in a controlled environment.

Tree Identification tags

Canoe rack for Upper Passaic River

Forest Symphony Sound Wall

Trail signs for access pts

Eagle nest platform learning area

Fishing pole holders

Leopold benches

Monarch, Painted Lady and Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Wings at Butterfly Tent Safari

Brandon N. Firewood Rack at Essex Environmental Center

Trail kiosks!

Hansh’s 1/2 Acre Deer Exclosure Fencing

The challenges of limited time, staff or financial resources creates positive opportunity for community engagement. Working with volunteers, scouts and corporate partners helps improve access to nature for both people and wildlife and becomes cause for celebration.

1. Improved Access for People (The User Experience)

Eagle Scout projects directly create and improve human access and enjoyment of nature by building infrastructure such as:

• Trail Features: Small bridges, platforms for wet area crossings, movable trail boardwalks, and routed trail signage improve safety and navigability.
• Recreational Amenities: Picnic tables, river seating areas, fishing pole holders, canoe racks, and canoe/kayak river access trails directly enhance opportunities for outdoor recreation.
• Educational Spaces: Trail-head kiosks, Little Free Libraries promoting environmental literacy, a Lenape Native American Longhouse structure, and knot-tying stations create learning opportunities.

2. Improved Access and Habitat for Wildlife

The projects also focus heavily on conservation and habitat restoration, which benefits wildlife and improves ecological health:

• Habitat Structures: Scouts have constructed numerous homes for wildlife, including bluebird houses, wood duck houses, screech owl houses, bat boxes, and kestrel boxes.
• Pollinator Support: Projects include building pollinator homes, creating pollinator garden boxes, and planting species like Swamp Milkweed.
• Conservation Tools: Three-bin compost systems and garden work benches support park staff’s conservation efforts.

David Alexander is a professional outdoor guide and conservation biologist.  He enjoys making nature more accessible to people and wildlife.  You can follow him at www.natureintoaction.com and @natureintoaction