Orinda Troop 237 members Jackson Painter, Marcus O’Neill, Will Barber, Campbell Hoskins and Max Coons each completed a community service project to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.
Five Miramonte High School students who belong to Boy Scout Troop 237 have achieved scouting’s highest honor.
Eagle Scouts Will Barber, Max Coons, Campbell Hoskins, Marcus O’Neill, and Jackson Painter celebrated their Eagle Court of Honor at the Orinda Community Church at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24.
Troop 237 has been serving the Orinda community for nearly 70 years and has recognized 250 Eagle Scouts. To become an Eagle, the candidate must earn a minimum of 21 merit badges, including 13 Eagle-required badges, demonstrate leadership and scout spirit, and successfully complete an Eagle service project benefiting the community.
When Barber heard that Miramonte High School (MHS) administration was seeking to enhance outdoor seating for students, he decided to build two redwood benches and cement them into the ground. With the help of fellow Troop 237 scouts, Barber designed, built and placed the benches.
School officials say the benches provide a nice, peaceful place to sit and relax, now and for many years to come. Will is the son of Ben and Maggie Barber of Orinda.
Coon’s project benefitted Glorietta Elementary School where he attended kindergarten to fifth grade. Coons, along with other 237 Scouts, created an area for kids who attend the before/after school program to access a new storage shed by building a retaining wall and digging a new pathway to the shed.
He also upgraded the existing pathway from school to the upper parking lot and planted native plants along the walkway which he has been weeding and watering since his project was completed last summer. Max is the son of John and Cathryn Coons of Orinda.
Hoskins and fellow Scouts built a large wooden sign for Miramonte Baseball. Hoskins said he developed his love for baseball at age 4 and was honored to find a project benefitting something meaningful to him. As an MHS baseball player, Hoskins noticed it was unclear how to enter the baseball field, which is off to the side of the main football/track area.
The sign is 9 feet wide, 12 feet high, set 4 feet deep and features est. 1955 and the M logo. Hoskins said he hopes his project pays homage to the 65-year tradition of Mats Baseball and his passion for the sport. Campbell is the son of Dan and Lisa Hoskins of Orinda.
O’Neill’s Eagle Project is designed to be sustainable within Troop 237. O’Neill and his fellow scouts built a mobile bookshelf for Wilson Elementary school in Richmond for students who want to read at home. The bookshelf is a “loaning library” the students may bring a book to donate and choose a book for home. In addition, O’Neill and his fellow Scouts and classmates donated more than 1,000 books. He said he hopes to continue leading one drive per year through Troop 237 to keep the shelf stocked. Marcus is the son of Tom and Rene O’Neil.
The Garden of Learning at St. Perpetua Catholic School in Lafayette is a treasured resource built to enhance classroom curriculum by fostering a sense of wonder for all things in nature. While a student at St. Perpetua, Painter said he frequently noticed the garden’s fence was battered, allowing predatory animals to wreak havoc on the garden and pose a safety issue for students during recess. With a team of scouts, St. Perpetua students, church members, and friends, Painter removed the existing fence and built a 115-foot-long, 8-foot high fence that now protects the produce, farm animals and students. Jackson is the son of Tyler and Sonia Painter of Orinda.
