Yorkville Boy Scouts do one-day project at outdoor education center
The Kendall County Outdoor Education Center is the beneficiary of new, hand-built premium cedar-tone picnic tables and benches as a result of the leadership efforts of one local Boy Scout.
Eric Montano of BSA Troop 40 Yorkville recently initiated and implemented a plan to lead a team of 18 Scouts and adults for the one-day project build for his Eagle Scout project at the center located within Hoover Forest Preserve.
"The existing tables and benches were in disrepair and constantly needed to be fixed. As one of the students who has benefited from the outdoor learning experiences at KCOEC many times since grade school, I wanted to help continue that legacy."
"Eric's project will be enjoyed by several thousand visitors each year to the KCOEC. These benches and tables have been uniquely designed to meet our specific program needs and will be used every week when students are on site. Eric did a great job of understanding what was needed and tailoring his project accordingly," said Deanna Bazan, Director, Kendall County Outdoor Education Center.
Montano began his Scouting journey with Yorkville Cub Scout Pack 350. He met his Bobcat requirements in 2013, then earned ranks of Wolf, Bear, Webelos earning the Arrow of Light rank and award before crossing over to Troop 40 in 2016.
Subsequently, Montano has earned the ranks of Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and completed this Eagle project in May 2021. In addition, he has earned a total of 36 merit badges, earning the Bronze, Gold and Silver Eagle Palms - 15 merit badges above and beyond the 21 required to earn the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout.
Montano has participated in multiple community service projects, including several times at the Farnsworth House and Feed My Starving Children. His other volunteer activities have included Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and flag retirement ceremonies, helping with the fish fry at the Yorkville American Legion Post 489 (Troop 40's chartering organization), highway cleanup, clearing the snow and cutting the grass at the Chapel on the Green (the site of the Troop's weekly meetings).
"I enjoy service projects to help my fellow Scouts and support our Troop's projects for the benefit of the community," Montano concluded.
Montano is an incoming junior at Yorkville High School. He is in honors and AP classes, Symphonic Band, and has a cumulative GPA of 3.9355.
About BSA Troop 40 Yorkville, IL
Troop 40 was organized and has been in continuous operation since the summer of 1914. The first Scoutmaster was Reverend Ernest Lee Ackiss, at the time a 26-year-old student of the Divinity School at the University of Chicago and pastor of the Yorkville Baptist Church. The Troop met at the original Yorkville Congregational Church on Saturday afternoons. Today, Troop 40 currently has nearly 40 active Scouts and 115 Eagle Scouts. It meets every Monday evening during the school year, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Chapel on the Green. For more information, visit www.yorkvilletroop40.org.