Noah Davidson, Eagle Scout
Total Volunteer Hours Worked: 95
My project was to assemble and install a flag collection box for worn United States flags that were at an appropriate time in their life to be retired properly. Besides the flag collection box itself, my project included canvassing the surrounding neighborhoods to announce the existence of the collection box as well as to ask for any old flags that residents might already have. The final component of the project was to do light landscaping work around the flag collection box and to restore access from Ridge Heights Road to the Terraset Elementary School parking lot by removing overgrown plants. This project was beneficial to the Terraset Elementary community not only by improving the visual appeal of the front of the school but also by providing a means for respectful disposal for old and worn American flags.
After my proposal was approved, I immediately picked a date that I thought would work for both myself and volunteers to complete the project. I then created an online signup form on the Signup Genius website so that I could email it to my entire troop and keep track of who was able to come. I typed up a brief description of the project and included it on the signup page. After I sent the signup to my troop, I doubled checked the materials I had against the list that I had created beforehand. I began to also gather the tools I knew I would need to help complete the project. The final major step I took to complete the planning of the project was to come up with the materials that I wanted the website attached to the collection box via QR code to say. I then gave the input to my dad who built the website (https://retireflags.com) and set it up.
Observations and Challenges
Overall, most aspects of the project went well. Volunteers showed up to the project site on time which allowed a strong start to the project. There was also adequate space at the project site to lay down materials and tools in an organized manner so that time would not be wasted finding them. Volunteers also signed in as soon as they arrived which ensured accurate tracking of service hours completed. Pouring the concrete into the base of the hole dug for the support post of the collection box also went smoothly and nothing erroneous occurred with the process of leveling the post once it was placed in the concrete. The process of cutting out the sorted labels and graphics from the laminated card stock also went well. And the Scout who was tasked with cutting them out did a superb job at keeping the cuts symmetrical and visually appealing. The placement of the labels and graphics also went well with nothing having to be adjusted to by a significant margin later. The landscaping aspect of the project, albeit not the main focus, was beyond satisfactory as well. The overall appearance of the project site and pathway leading from Ridge Heights Road to the Terraset parking lot became usable.
Although the project largely went well, there were a few challenges. The first being the weather, with direct sunlight and extreme humidity being slight inhibitors of work ethic and energy. The hot and muggy conditions seemed to slow volunteers down some and cause a lot of discomfort. The hole that was dug for the post was also somewhat challenging as many small rocks and roots had to be removed while widening the hole so that the concrete base would evenly spread inside the hole when poured. Installing the mounting adapter to the box itself was also challenging as installing the screws required an extremely difficult angle for the volunteers to hold the screwdriver at. The adapter was initially installed backwards which also caused some confusion when we went to mount into the post. We then had to redo the entire process which was challenging. The other challenging aspect of the project was canvassing. Although it was a relatively simple process, some residents did not answer the door and some would not let volunteers speak long enough to convey the intention of our solicitation . It was also somewhat difficult to motivate the scout volunteers to project their voices.
Changes (from original proposal)
The main change from the original proposal was the inclusion of a minor landscaping job to the project site. This included mulching the area directly around the post for the collection box as well as clearing the path from the sidewalk to the Terraset parking lot of any underbrush. This would firstly increase the curb appeal of the project as well as restore functionality to the walking path since it had previously been completely blocked by plant growth. The only other change from the original proposal was the change to some of the graphics made from the side of the collection box, as the website domain name as well as design was finalized. The graphics were updated to reflect that change.
Leadership
I demonstrated leadership largely through leading by example. During the first part of the project when the collection box was assembled I would show the volunteers the correct method for working on a task. I would then ask someone to take over for me, and I would provide assistance whenever they needed it. I believe I did a good job in providing guidance as well, but especially during the canvassing portion of the project. For the first few houses, I asked the scouts in my group to simply observe how I approached and interacted with the residents. I then asked each scout to take turns knocking on the door, and I would provide positive feedback depending on their interaction. Some scouts were better than others at talking with residents, and instead of harshly critiquing them I asked them to try again next time using a similar method to the more confident scouts. This method worked incredibly well, as by the end of the canvassing all of the scouts had become much stronger in their own personal confidence when talking to residents. To me, this was a sign that I had demonstrated leadership by cultivating personal skills by example as opposed to by order.
The most difficult part about being the leader during this project was assigning tasks and directing volunteers without coming across as bossy or aggressive. Often it is challenging to walk the line between being a driven leader and being a boss, and this is even harder when many of the volunteers were my age or younger and as such I saw them more as cohorts as opposed to “employees.” Sometimes I would catch myself before delegating an action or task to someone because I recognized that the manner in which I was speaking was not of a leader and that of a boss.
By far the most rewarding thing about being the leader was watching the social skills of some of my fellow scouts grow in real time. During the canvassing portion of the project, some of the scouts were initially anxious and afraid to knock on doors and inform the residents of what we were doing there. One scout in particular, initially refused to even approach the door. With encouragement partially from myself, but largely from his fellow scouts, he finally went up and knocked on the door. It was incredibly rewarding to see the direct influence of both myself and my fellow scouts give him the courage and confidence he needed to overcome anxiety. This made me feel extremely proud of both him and the other scouts in the group.
Throughout the project I learned that being a leader is more than assigning tasks and supervising work. Being a leader means leading by example, as well as recognizing the different weaknesses and strengths of your team. At the beginning of the project I was unsure of who I would delegate certain tasks to, but by the time we started canvassing I had learned enough about my team to assign certain tasks to certain people. I noticed an immediate improvement in morale by doing this, as everyone settled into their niche position and everyone began to chat with each other while working. This taught me to get to know and evaluate members of my team before assigning work, as it allows for a bond to be formed between team members.
