LAKEHURST – Craig Farmer will be heading out to college but his experiences as a member of Boy Scout Troop 10 will go with him – including his recently completed Eagle Scout project.
The project involved landscaping and beautifying the Emergency Services building in the community, Scout Master Jay Laird said.
“It was at the new First Aid Squad building. My son (Jay Laird III) had done the fire department side of it three years ago for his Eagle Scout project and Craig’s project focused on the First Aid Squad part of it,” he said.
“He made the firehouse side of it look really nice and the first aid side of it looked really bland with nothing there so I wanted to spruce that side up,” Farmer said.
“Eagle Projects require a lot of work and the scout has to secure volunteers and the materials for their projects. It is designed to build leadership skills,” Laird said.
“I talked to my scout troop. I talked to my scout master who loaned me some tools. My brother is a member of a Manchester Troop in Whiting, Troop 350, so some of those scouts came and helped. I went around to local nurseries and asked them for donations of plants,” he added.
Farmer said he was able to get a donation of top soil and got some assistance from the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Lakehurst who donated some money towards it. “I had received a scholarship from them to go to college and I mentioned it and they gave me a check.”
“All the tools were donated from local landscape companies so everything was all donated,” he added.
Laird said before an Eagle Scout project can go forward the scout must first have it approved by the board leadership of the troop and in many cases by the community.
“I had to clear it with the board and mayor last fall. I planned on doing the project last September but I ran out of time. I was too busy. I met with them last year and was then planning on doing it in March and then the virus hit,” the scout said.
“I couldn’t do it at that time but I finally got it started in June and July 25 was the actual project date. I left my house at 7 o’clock in the morning and came home at 2 or 2:30 p.m. – so about seven hours. I had to stop before going to work that night,” Farmer added.
Borough Mayor Harry Robbins was there to greet the scout and check out the progress of the work being performed. “He’s been very supportive,” Farmer said.
Farmer headed off to college on Aug. 29. “I will be going to Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia. They are having everything in person.”
He noted his experiences with scouting have helped prepare him for the future. “I’ve always enjoyed younger kids coming in and meeting them. Most of the kids in our troop have some form of autism so being able to help them form into productive members of society and leading them with projects felt good.”
Laird said he’s been a scout leader for 20 years now. His father had also been a scout master and he noted that those who achieve Eagle Scout status develop leadership skills at their own pace so it can be done at age 14 or 18.
“Craig was my fourth in Lakehurst and we have another two in the troop that will be ready soon. I’ve had 14 before that as I was also a leader in Toms River,” Laird said. He noted that 13 merit badges are required prior to an Eagle Scout project and 11 are elected. The Eagle Scout candidate is the full leader of the project. “He directs it all and it tests him on how he can the project done.”
Farmer said he received good response from the mayor and members of the First Aid Squad following the completion of the project.
“Everybody loved it they were all happy so I was happy too,” he said.
