One local Eagle Scout is helping Cedar Lane Elementary School students develop their green thumbs at an early age.
14-year-old Alex Schwind, a Life Scout and member of Boy Scouts of America’s Troop 1173, constructed an outdoor classroom at Cedar Lane that will be used to teach students earth science concepts and complement the existing Virginia History curriculum.
Schwind’s Eagle project involved building and installing three bluebird houses, a wren house and a woodpecker box as well as three raised flowerbeds and a 20-foot flowerbed. Schwind also removed five existing flowerbeds and filled an eroded water drainage area.
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The project took a total of six months and was funded by approx. $600 in donations from the greater Ashburn community.
“I have been shocked about how many teachers have used my project and they just absolutely loved it,” Schwind said.
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Lori Kruse, a second-grade teacher at Cedar Lane and avid gardener, heads the Green Committee and gave the project her seal of approval.
“I cannot thank her enough for helping walk me through the project,” Schwind said. “She’s just a wonderful teacher and I can’t explain how helpful she was.”
In order to earn Eagle Scout status, Schwind and other Life Scouts must plan, develop and lead a service project that benefits any religious institution, school or the local community.
Schwind currently attends Eagle Ridge Middle School. He hopes to join ROTC in his junior year of high school and enter the U.S. Marine Corps upon graduation.Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
