The Project Is Complete

 Benjamin did his Eagle Scout project today.  He built a sandbox for a preschool that serves low income kids.  It was a lot of preparation, planning, and coordination, but it turned out great.  We're very proud of him...and us, because let's be honest, it wouldn't have happened without us. :)

The original sandbox.  Not really appropriate for a class of 30 kids.

Leveling the ground

Panorama of the area and mound of sand that will go in the box

Placing a weed stop layer first

Laying the sides of the box

Loading up the sand into wheelbarrows to be brought to the box.  It had to be delivered by dump truck because buying it by the bag was too expensive.  The truck was unable to dump it directly into the box, so we did it this way.

Dumping it into the box

Lots and lots of wheelbarrows full

Putting the wood chips up and around the box to cover up the weed stop layer

Working all day in masks in the hot sun was lousy

Everyone worked so hard, though.  It was wonderful to see.

Finished product!  So proud.  It looks amazing.

Made custom tarp to cover it when not in use

I can't believe the project we've been planning for so long is finally done.  A friend of ours heard that the school needed a sandbox a year ago and it was so perfect because we'd been needing to find an eagle project.  The friend knew that and contacted me.  Benjamin was originally going to complete it over spring break but then Covid came and the world shut down and everything was put on hold.  I'm so glad we were able to get it done before the school started again.

I think the project was really good for Benjamin.  It wasn't too big of a project, but it forced him out of his comfort zone a lot.  He had to talk to adults in various capacities - coordinate with the school administrators, get permission from the scout leaders, etc.  He had to make phone calls to businesses.  He had to place orders, get signatures, make detailed plans, figure costs and sizes, raise funds, etc.  He did a can/bottle drive to earn the money for the supplies and raised $550.  He also got Home Depot to sell him the wood for 50% off.  He got the sand delivered in bulk which cut his cost by 75%.  I know a lot of these things were stressful for him and he often confided in me that just thinking about some of the things he had to do made his stomach sick, but he did it.  He didn't give up.  I was really impressed with how many of his troop came too.  I expected no one to show up, but we got 13 kids there helping to dig and haul sand in the hot sun on a Friday morning.  Gotta love scouts.  He spent the week prior to today in the driveway every day assembling the box sides, drilling, sanding, painting, preparing the tarp, etc.  He directed the whole project today.  He confided that it was hard to remember everyone's names when he needed to assign them something.  He's never been good at names, but he got it done and he handled it well.  He was polite and thanked everyone multiple times for coming and helping.  I was proud of him.

I'm amazed we made it. I thought many times during his years in scouts that he'd never get his eagle, but I'm very happy he did.  I love to see him accomplish hard things.  I hope it gives him the confidence to keep pushing in other areas.  He's so strong and smart, he can do anything, but he's also got a lazy streak and I hate it when he lets that part of him win, like when he failed his online German class last week because he never contacted his teacher or got in his assignments.  I hope this experience teaches him that hard work pays off.