Need an idea for one of your scouts who is ready to do his eagle project? Check this out. Identifying a need, coming up with a plan and giving leadership to the project is all it takes for an Eagle project. Sounds simple doesn’t it. But well worth the effort when the scout looks back later on and tells others about it. The requirement isn’t to just do a project. You should impress on the scout the leadership factor is the main idea.
Joe Bradley
11/14/2006
Scout hopes to keep waterways clean
Source: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17466070&BRD=1918&PAG=461&dept_id=506840&rfi=6
Eagle candidate installs medallions on storm drains
MOUNT OLIVE TWP. – Boy Scout Kevin Cosman hopes to help the environment while at the same time educating the public about the dangers of contaminating the storm drain system.
As part of his Boy Scout Eagle project, Cosman, a high school senior, has placed 116 medallions on the various grates that cover the storm drains near Mount Olive High School, alerting people not to dump into the drains, which ultimately flow into the area rivers and streams, including Budd Lake and the south branch of the Raritan River, which ultimately finds its way to Raritan Bay.
The storm drains divert water from rain and snow to the waterways, preventing flooding and sending the water back into the environment. Cosman, a member of Troop 249, said residents should understand that the storm drains channel water to rivers and streams and not to the public water purification systems.
Cosman, 17, placed four inch wide medallions on the storm drains that read, “No dumping, drains to waterways.”
“First things start on the town level and the people in the town. Individually things can be fixed. I want to leave my mark behind,” he said.
He said that if his medallions cause even one person to stop dumping in the drains, “It was worth it.”
“I want to say I helped my town out. I can make a difference even if no one knows about it. One person can make a difference,” he said.
Eagle Project
Cosman has lived in Flanders most of his life and thought that labeling the drains would be a worthwhile project for his Eagle requirements.
Cosman said he hopes his efforts result in cleaner water draining into area waterways.
Cosman, friends and members of his Scout troop have installed plaques on 90 percent of the storm drains in Flanders. Tim Quinn, the township public works director, said the project saved his employees the 10 to 14 days it would have taken to tag drains.
“He did a fantastic job” said Quinn.
The public works employees have been working on the project since 2005 when the state mandated that medallions be in place by next year.
The town had placed about half of them in drains in Flanders and Cosman said he and his team placed the others this past spring. Cosman said it took two days to install the medallions.
“It’s a little more than you would think, between labeling, inspecting and identifying the storm drains,” said Quinn.
Kevin’s father, Sam, said the work went very well and that much of the work involved surveying and tagging the sewers.
Kevin Cosman said he had to map out the drains, check if they were in good condition, and if they needed to be cleaned.
“I did a binder full of paperwork,” he said.
Cosman also created a flyer, which he distributed to the neighborhood to inform why people shouldn’t dump in the storm drains and how it could hurt the environment.
Scoutmaster Jeanne Daoust said a minority of Boy Scouts attain the Eagle rank and that the involved process is designed to show leadership skills.
“Kevin’s project idea was a really good idea,” Daoust said.
Cosman said many people are unaware of how dumping grass clippings and other debris could effect the environment.
“The fertilizer from the grass clippings makes the water plants grow too much and chokes out the rivers,” he said.
The medallions were placed in sequential order and had to be noted to allow monitoring by public works employees.
When Cosman first heard of the idea last January from a Scout parent, he thought it would be fairly straight forward. The task proved somewhat complex and lengthy.
Eagle Scouts must complete community projects that take a minimum of 100 hours to complete. In addition to qualifying for various merit badges they also must pass an interview by a Scout board of review. In Cosman’s case, the plan also had to be approved by the Township Council.
Daoust said Eagle projects must have a positive and lasting effect on the community.
“Kevin has the organizational skills to be an Eagle Scout,” she said, adding that only 4 percent of all Boy Scouts complete the requirements and reach the highest honor of Eagle Scout.
“He has a good heart and is well liked by adults and his peers,” she said. “He is an asset to the troop.”
Cosman plans to attend college and gain a degree in engineering or science. His grade point average is 3.6.
Joe Bradley
