By BRIANA ARRINGTON

bca008@latech.edu

 

The Boy Scouts of Troop #45 have helped build a better South Campus. For several years, Peter Gallagher, a professor of agriculture and environmental science, has been working closely with the scouts to complete their Eagle projects.

“When we get our Eagle Award, then we have completed the highest rank in the scouts,” said 14-year-old scout Daniel Cason.

Thanks to Gallagher and the scouts of Troop #45, the South Campus has new benches, arbors, lighting, fences, bridges and boardwalks.  

“The Eagle project has to be something where we lead people in a service that benefits the community,” Cason said.

Cason and Ben Hall, also 14, have been working on a better irrigation system for the display garden behind Reese Hall.

“We are working on a new sprinkler system,” Cason said. “Right now we are laying the pipes down which will be connected to the water pump in front of the greenhouse.”

Hall said there is a bare area in the display garden next to one of the main entries. He plans to build a bamboo decoration that will be connected with the irrigation system.

“I will wrap four stainless steel pipes with copper wire,” Hall said. “I’ve already been testing this, and it looks more realistic than paint.”

Hall said three of the pipes will be parallel, with the tallest in the middle and a fourth pipe will rest above the tallest pipe and lean slightly toward the ground.

“I will have to dig a line to the water pump and a tub below the pipe at the top,” Hall said. “When the tub is built, a float like in a toilet will be installed so when the water reaches a certain level, the water will automatically be lowered.

“Then the water will be cycled from the pipes to the tub,” Hall said.

After he completes the bamboo decoration, Hall said he will hide the tub with river rocks and put another layer of pea gravel down so the black tarp underneath cannot be seen.

Gallagher, who works with the scouts every Saturday, has been involved with the scouts for 25 years.

“I think that it’s such a great thing for kids to do,” said Gallagher. “I have two sons that both received their Eagle Award from Troop #45. I felt like my sons got a lot out of it, so I decided to continue helping,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher said Eagle Projects have to be big enough for the scout to lead a group of other people. Then, the scout must develop a schedule and coordinate with the organization chosen to decide what materials are needed and what the time-frame will be.

“Most of the time the scouts must ask businesses for donations, but we try to provide the boys with materials here,” Gallagher said.

The funds for the troop come from the annual poinsettia sale at Lomax Hall in December.

“We don’t use any state funds,” Gallagher said.

Cason believes the scouts of Troop #45 have advanced more quickly than other local troops.

“We have a really great scoutmaster who tries to get us through each ranking by certain times so we don’t lose interest like most scouts do as they get older,” Cason said. “I think we are a lot more active and involved than other troops.”