Portland Scout Serves Community with Eagle Project

Eli Dakin is a Portland Boy Scout and an Eagle candidate who found a way to help his school.

Eli and his friend David Hammel renovated the Portland High School soccer field dugouts in a bid to meet the requirements that Eli needs to fulfill in order to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

“Soccer has always been a big part of my life,” said Eli. “So for my Eagle project I naturally wanted to do something for the soccer team. My coach, Chris Roof, suggested that I renovate the soccer field dugouts which were in bad shape due to age. They were very much in need of renovation.”

Eli and David knew just what to do.

“First, we removed all of the rotten trim,” said Eli. “Then we power-washed the wood and removed the paint. We then repainted the dugouts and added metal siding. Finally we touched-up the paint and the project was complete.”

Eli is proud of the project.

“I see this project as a way of helping my school as well as a way of helping the soccer team,” he said. “It makes the soccer field look more inviting and it will help the dugouts last longer. It will also save the school money that the school would normally have spent on this issue. The school may now allocate existing funds toward new equipment and toward improving the field itself rather than building new dugouts.”

The project has brought Eli much personal satisfaction.

“It not only served as a good Eagle project, but it will also help the soccer team for years to come, and I feel good about that,” he said.

Eli spoke highly of his friend David Hammel, who was instrumental in helping the project come to completion.

“David is a newcomer to soccer, but he is full of enthusiasm for the sport,” said Eli. “David is not a Boy Scout, but he was willing to help out with the project. He committed twenty-six hours of his own time to the project and I feel grateful for his help. Without him, the project would not have been a success.”

Eli said that to become an Eagle Scout involves a long journey.

“It’s nothing short of a marathon,” he said. “It took me seven years to qualify for Eagle status. The process pushed me out of my comfort zone and it motivated me to try new things, including community service. Each Scout rank involves doing community service. With the Scouts supporting me, I was motivated to serve. And the Scouts provided me with the opportunities to do so.”

Eli recommends the Scouts to other young people.

“The Scouts teach amazing life lessons as well as skills that have helped me become the best version of myself,” he said. “The Scouts teach good values that have prepared me for a successful adulthood. Scouting is also a lot of fun and it’s a good way to make strong, lasting friendships.”

Eli said that if a young person is interested in Scouting, then that person may consult the Boy Scout Facebook page. There they will find information that will help them contact an adult leader who can answer their questions and help them learn more about Scouting.

“Scouting is one of the best things that I’ve ever done,” said Eli. “I recommend it wholeheartedly to others.”

Courtesy photo.