Scouts inspire path of service

Sam Schneider, a sophomore at St. John’s School, has been inspired by his time in the Boy Scouts and recently helped the nonprofit Nora’s Home develop an outdoor walking path.

I started Scouts as a Tiger Cub in the first grade. I enjoyed scouting because it gave me an opportunity to spend time with my dad. As I progressed through the ranks and heard stories of my father’s time in his scout troop, I knew that one day I would become an Eagle Scout.

Ever since I joined my Boy Scout troop in the sixth grade, I have been working toward the Eagle rank, whether I was learning survival skills on campouts or taking first-aid classes. Over time, I grew very passionate towards the scouting organization. Scouting is designed to mold people into the best that they can be in a number of ways. I find that community service, which is at scouting’s core, gives me the greatest sense of pride.

When I reached the rank of Life Scout, the final rank before Eagle, it was time to find an idea for my Eagle Scout project. It just so happened that around that time, my class at St. John’s School was participating in a service project for a temporary living facility for patients receiving organ transplants and their families. It is called Nora’s Home. I found the mission of Nora’s Home very interesting, and I wanted to learn more about it.

So I spoke with Kayla Lehmann, the executive director of Nora’s Home, to get a better feel for what Nora’s Home was and what its needs were. I knew during that conversation that I wanted to help. I formulated the idea of an outdoor walking path, as it would be something that would not only allow the patients to receive the exercise that they needed, but also give them the opportunity to be outdoors and experience nature. I worked closely with the staff of Nora’s Home for about a year to plan and complete this project.

It was hard work, but knowing that I was able to create something to help others and make their lives better gave me a feeling of happiness and accomplishment that could not be replicated anywhere else.

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