A blog by Boy Scout Simon Soriano about his recently completed Eagle Scout project at Hahobas Shoreline Preserve.
At the beginning of 2024, I had no idea what I’d do for my eagle project. I was set to “age out” of the Scouting America program, thus I needed to hurry, or I wouldn’t make Eagle rank. I knew I wanted to do something outdoors. Something with a real lasting impact. I took to the internet to find something local, perhaps a group that did projects around the peninsula. Then one day, in the midst of my searching, I was walking through REI and saw a sign. Literally a sign! The sign advertised a group called Great Peninsula Conservancy, and that a percentage of proceeds from the purchases made that day would go to the organization. I was intrigued and looked them up as soon as I got home.
I really hadn’t known of GPC beforehand. I had done a few conservation-minded projects here and there. Invasive species control, salmon restoration, but I had never actually led something like that. As I scrolled down the page, I saw numerous ongoing projects GPC was working on. I thought, “hey this might be exactly what I’m looking for!” So I emailed and got a hold of one of the employees, named Claire Voris. We set up a meeting, and in the end, I decided to plan a small project. An informational kiosk right on Hood Canal. I was pretty excited to complete the project, but I had a long summer ahead, and not much room to plan, so I headed out for work in Montana, and left the project on the back burner.
It wasn’t until the beginning of my junior year, that I really came back to GPC to pick up where I’d left off. With the help of Claire, we were able to put together a real plan. Then begin the paperwork, getting things signed off on my end from the local scouting council. Then trying to get funding from local hardware chains. Balancing this with school became challenging, but fortunately a friend helped push me through. They reminded me why I was really doing this. Not because I needed a rank, not because I needed another thing on my college applications. No it was because this was simply what I enjoyed doing. Being outside, working on something awesome. Something that could really help others and educate on the beautiful surrounding area.
What I really learned/realized is that this sort of thing is special. Being able to come together with an organization so dedicated to maintaining our natural environment and teaching others how to do the same. I feel both grateful and lucky to have worked with such an organization. Most high schoolers don’t often get a chance to do that. I think if there was one thing I’d like to take away from this project, it’s that we don’t have to travel far to find something wonderful and amazing. The world is a really cool place, but so is our backyard.
