A Scouting America troop built a new bridge to replace a long-destroyed one on the hiking trails at Converse Meadow in Rindge.
The bridge is courtesy of Scout Troop 308, which built it under the direction of 17-year-old Aaron Graham.
“I wanted to do something for my community in Rindge,” Graham said. “We go out hiking and camping on conservation lands. It’s something I know that I would appreciate, so I wanted to give back to the community with that.”
Graham said that when he first started to consider what his service project might be, he knew he wanted to do something to help improve Rindge’s conservation properties.
Originally, he’d thought of building a trail kiosk or creating maps for unmapped trail areas in Rindge, but after speaking with the Conservation Commission, he found they’d already completed those projects. The commission offered him an alternative: replacing a bridge at Converse Meadow, destroyed years ago by beavers.
Graham agreed to tackle the project. He organized donations of the wood by Belletetes of Jaffrey, gravel from the Rindge Department of Public Works and the use of the Rindge Recreation Department’s utility vehicle to transport supplies.
Over five days, the troop prepped the site, then spent almost five hours on Aug. 29 building the bridge itself. Graham served as project lead, helping direct younger Scouts.
“It was definitely stressful to say the least,” Graham said. While he’s served as a senior patrol leader for two years and is used to leadership positions, he said he had no experience building things. “That was new territory, and it was a lot of trial and error and relying on some of my adult leaders.”
Graham, having finished his service project, will complete the final steps of his Eagle Scout qualifications in the next month or so and hopes to officially receive the rank by the end of the year.
Eagle Scout is the highest rank in the Scouts BSA program of Scouting America. To qualify, a Scout must have at least 21 merit badges, hold a leadership role inside the troop, plan and lead a large community service project and be under 18, according to the organization’s website. Fewer than 10% of Scouts reach the rank.
“I’m excited, but also relieved,” Graham said. “As a Scout, you spend your entire career working toward Eagle Scout, one merit badge and one rank at a time, and now I’m here.”
He has participated in Scouting America since the first grade.
“I just love the connections you make,” he said. “I’ve made so many friends. I love camping, hiking, and being outside. I’ve loved the whole experience that Scouting brings.”
