Gallery • 4 Photos

Sriram Yernei’s Eagle Scout project. This 105 wooden fence with paneling was designed to protect the agriculture program’s garden beds. It is located in the field adjacent to the barn.

The Eagle Scout rank is the most coveted rank of all the Boy Scouts of America programs. One of the requirements for this rank is that a Scout must plan and lead a service project benefiting the community. The Eagle Scout service project is the pinnacle requirement because it is the most difficult to earn.

Since 2018, three Scouts have chosen Denmark High School as the site of their Eagle Scout projects.

The most recent Eagle Scout project on the DHS campus was completed in late February of this year by Sriram Yerneni, a Scout in Troop 3143 and a student at Northview High School. He led a group of volunteers to build a wooden fence in the small field adjacent to the Vet Science building. With a 105 feet perimeter, the purpose of the wooden fence is to protect a set of garden beds used by the Vet Science program.

The challenges during an Eagle Scout project vary. For Yerneni, his challenges arose from the construction of the project itself. “The hardest part was coordinating different tasks simultaneously,” explained Sriram. “We were setting posts in concrete and building fence panels at the same time.” The scope of the project caused it to take five work days spanning across two weeks.

Less than 200 feet away from Sriram’s project is another Eagle Scout project inside the greenhouse. Eagle Thomaston, a member of Troop 205 and a senior at Denmark, led a group of volunteers in the construction of two hydroponic farms and in the cleaning/organizing of the Vet Science storage shed.. He completed his project in late July of 2021, a few weeks before the start of school.

Thomaston cited sentimental reasons for choosing to conduct his Eagle scout project at DHS. “School has done so much for me and I just wanted to give back,“ he said. This however wasn’t the only reason. Eagle project ideas often arise out of necessity. “A friend of mine was starting a club for hydroponics. We were lacking equipment so I decided, hey, I can build two hydroponic farms!” explained Thomaston. The Agrow Club, the school hydroponic club (hydroponics is the science of growing plants in nutrient-liquid instead of soil), greatly benefited from these additional farms. Club members actively grow plants in his farms during the warmer months.

Parth Garud, a former Denmark student and member of Troop 457, had the honor of completing the first Eagle Scout service project at DHS in July 2020. He led a group of volunteers in the construction of a large trophy case for the band and outdoor benches.

The outdoor benches are located on the edge of the practice field adjacent to the tennis courts. Solid and shaded, they provide shade for the various students that use the practice field. The band trophy case stands at an impressive height in the band room. The band program has won so many trophies that the entire case is filled and additional trophies must be stored elsewhere.

Garud in his time at Denmark was an active member of the Dane Pack (the school marching band) and served as one its inaugural drum majors. “The purpose of my project was to commemorate the high standard we set for the [band] program at [Denmark] during my first year there,” explained Garud in reference to the trophy case. “We achieved so much in our first year.”

The first Eagle Scout rank was earned in 1912 and since then, roughly 2.6 million Scouts have risen to the challenge and earned this distinct honor. The Eagle Scout service project is a complex requirement, which is part of the reason why Scouts consider it the most difficult requirement. Part of the difficulty is that the entire project is facilitated by the Scout. Adult leaders may suggest pointers, however it is the responsibility of the Scout to plan and execute the entire project.

The project planning process involves the inclusion of every detail and Scouts must plan for many contingencies. Scouts must use the Eagle Scout Project Workbook to plan and document their service project. Completion of the physical project does not mean that the Scout completes the requirement. A Scout must create a report on their project and present this report to a panel.

While massive, the Eagle Scout service project is not the only requirement for the Eagle rank. A Scout must also complete the following:

• Serve 6 months in a position of responsibility/leadership. A position that meets this requirement usually involves a time commitment and responsibility over an aspect of troop function. Scout troops are youth-led, meaning that the program is directed and executed by youth. Adult leaders serve as mentors and ensure the safety of the Scout.
• Earn 21 merit badges, 13 of these merit badges are specified while the remainder are chosen by the Scout. Merit badges are earned when a Scout learns and demonstrates skills and knowledge about a specific subject, such as Welding, First Aid, or Swimming.
• Live out the principles of the Scout Oath and Law (a code that Scouts pledge to follow) in daily life. Provide external references that can affirm adherence to these principles.
• Participate in a Scoutmaster conference. This is a conference with the adult leader of the troop, called the Scoutmaster.
• Complete a Board of Review. This is a formal process where a Scout presents to a panel.

Extra resources:

Interested in seeing what Scouts must use to plan and document their project? Visit this link and download a pdf copy of the Eagle Scout Project Workbook! https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/advancement-and-awards/eagle-scout-workbook/

Scouts promise to adhere to a set of standards, called the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Visit this link and read the Scout Oath and Law! https://www.scouting.org/about/faq/question10/

Interested in reading the Eagle Scout requirements in their original form? Visit https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/3321621-08-Eagle.pdf