In November of 2017, I celebrated the completion of my Eagle Scout Service Project, after hundreds of hours poured in, and numerous donations. The celebration event utilized the project for a scavenger hunt with prizes and an exploration factor.

The project took place at Turn Back Time Farm in Paxton, MA. This location runs classes for kids with special needs in its 58-acre series of trails throughout a forest. My project was to establish a navigation system in the farm by creating a map and building a structure on which to place a large copy of the map, as well as providing smaller copies for people to take with them through the trails.

The celebration welcomed any family interested in enjoying the map experience, and an unbelievable amount of families showed up for the scavenger hunt! Leicester Selectman Doug Belanger even attended to observe the project and congratulate me on a successful positive impact for the farm through the map and blazes. The hunt was a triumph and prizes were allotted accordingly. The closing event was short, but successful.

Troop 123 also had several other members show up, who helped set up the scavenger hunt along with Damien, a member of the family who runs the farm. The hunt involved going to, and collecting candy from, five points of interest along the map: playground, waterfall, pallet bridge, fort, and of course, Lion Rock! The object was to return to the starting point with all the candy pieces, uneaten. The initial prize was the candy itself, on top of goodies within a first-come-first-serve prize box. The hunt served as an effective closing celebration for an Eagle Scout project sure to positively influence the farm for years to come.

Seeing the project unfold the way it did was a blast. Watching everyone use the map I made for the farm, and be able to find locations with it, was incredible. A project of true Eagle Scout calibur allows for moments like this; I encourage all Life Scouts out there to get a start on their own Eagle projects as soon as they can. Until then, this is Historian Joe signing off!