Community Service 101

For the last few weeks and continuing into this week, we have been doing my sons Eagle service project. NOW I understand why this is such a big deal. The project was to paint the inside of a Museum in Pine Valley (45 minutes from here) so that they can open on Memorial Weekend. As painting goes, there have been complications. First, on Saturday when we had a big crew of boys and dads up there, by the time they taped and tarped most of our day was gone. However the boys banged out 3 coats of paint on the walls with hard work (and it will need one more since the paint is so thin and crappy). Second, they didn't finish that day as planned. We went up there again to work on things yesterday evening just as a family. Can't stop til the job is done and is done right.

Basically, what this has taught him from what I can see is a promise is a promise, get it done, no matter how much you hate it! He will have gained a few skills from this including organizing people, hard work, how to paint, and following through on a commitment. I can see from how he talks and how hard he is working that this has changed him quite a bit. He has had to deal one on one with adults he doesn't know in the forest service and be professional and I am impressed. He knows he can get anything done now and MOST IMPORTANT how to serve the community and not expect payment. Do a good turn! Now I get why it's so important why we have Eagle scouts.