Eagle scout candidate designs school reading garden

SPARTA - Travis Lane, a junior at Sparta High School, spent the summer designing and building a reading garden for students of the Mohawk Avenue School. He completed the area as his Eagle Scout Service Project and recently visited the school to present the fifth graders and Principal Michael Gregory with a plaque to commemorate the Mohawk Avenue School Reading Garden. The Reading Garden is a beautifully landscaped area in cozy alcove outside the school complete with benches, picnic tables and sculpture. Visitors can stroll through the garden on a cobblestone path and find a comfortable spot to enjoy their favorite book. Travis told the students about the various stages of planning and implementing the project. Travis related his fond memories of being a student at Mohawk Avenue School and said that his project was a way to give something back to his school community. He thanked former Mohawk Avenue School PTO President, Dorothy LaBeau, who helped to get the project started three years ago when she connected Travis to the PTO’s idea of a reading garden. The PTO provided funding for materials. For a project to qualify as an Eagle Scout service project, the Scout must plan, develop and give leadership to others in a service project. This project must benefit a religious institution, school, or community. As a demonstration of leadership, the Scout must plan the work, organize the personnel needed, and direct the project to its completion. The Reading Garden was one of Travis’ final steps on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout. 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. 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. Principal Gregory said, “We want to thank Travis and believe that the Reading Garden will be a great way for students to come together in a beautiful environment and enjoy reading.”