Jackson Finley, a member of local Boy Scout Troop 400, spent his summer making a difference in the Richmond Hill community.
Finley, 14, built an agility course at the Bryan County Bark Park for his Eagle Scout project. He planned the project and raised money to build the agility course, which includes a seesaw for dogs and an A-frame structure for running and jumping.
An animal lover, Finley got the idea for his Eagle Scout project on one of his trips to the Bark Park with his dog, Chance. He thought the dog park could use some additions, so he said he did some online research about agility courses and “saw how cool they were.”
Eagle Scout requirements mandate that Scouts plan, develop and lead others in a service project helpful to a religious institution, school or the Scout’s community. A project proposal must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, the Scout’s unit leader and unit committee and the council or district.
After his project was approved, Finley collected donations to make his plan become a reality. The process from the start of fundraising to completion of the agility course took about six months, he said.
“I went out to stores and asked for anything they could donate, either money or materials,” said Finley, a freshman at Richmond Hill High School.
Once he had the necessary funds and materials, Finley built the agility course with help from some of his fellow Scouts from Troop 400.
“We built it ourselves,” he said. “We got the ideas online from pictures of other obstacle courses, and we went out there and built it.”
Finley is working toward completing his Eagle Scout requirements. He has five more merit badges to earn, and then he will have his Eagle Scout board of review.
“We are so grateful that Jackson chose to give back to the community for his Eagle Scout project,” said Bryan County Bark Park President Wendy Bolton. “The agility course is a great addition to the park, and we know it will encourage others to visit us and be inspired to help us remain open and free to the general public.”