Boy Scout’s Planting Stations Helps Teach Students About the Environment (VIDEO)

Thomas Wilbur is a student at Poolesville High School.

While most students his age use summer to work or look at colleges , Wilbur decided to help design and build planting stations at his old school: Barnesville School of Arts and Sciences.

“The project itself was building an outdoor educational area with planting tables,” he said.

This seven month project earned him the Eagle Scout Award, the highest achievable rank in the Boy Scouting program from the Boy Scouts of America.

“I’ve been in Scouts my whole life and this is something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Wilbur. “Last year, I received the rank below Eagle, which is Life Scout and decided I wanted to get my Eagle.”

One requirement to achieve this ranking involves an extensive service project the Scout organizes, plans, and implements.

Wilbur, who graduated from Barnesville school in 2015 , decided to  design and build planting tables so students could learn about the environment through plants.

For the students and staff at Barnesville school, Wilbur’s hard work made class projects a lot easier.

“We used the potting stations where the students were planting spinach, kale and arugula, as a part of a project we were doing as a class,” said Erin Farah, science teacher, Barneville School.

The planting stations allowed students to be more organized and made their projects more efficient.

“If we didn’t have these, then we would probably have a bag of soil, a cup and 14 seventh graders trying to get into the bag trying to get some soil in a cup,” said Barnesville Student Grace Brown.

“Certainly I am proud of Thomas but my real reaction is I’m not surprised,” said Susanne Johnson, Head of School, Barnesville School of Arts and Sciences. “Our school really works towards making our middle students leaders.”

As for Wilbur, he hopes the planting stations at Barnesville School will plant a different kind of seed in the hearts of current students which is the seed of giving back.

Got the chance to interview @Twilbs__ student who received the Eagle Scout Award for planting stations he built @BvilleSchool @mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/3QxXxMq3UN

— Mitti Hicks (@MittiMegan) January 11, 2017

About Mitti Hicks

Mitti Hicks is a multimedia journalist and community engagement specialist with Montgomery Community Media. She is passionate about telling stories that impact our community and may be reached at MHicks@mymcmedia.org and on Twitter @mittimegan.

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