Joshua Crandall, 18, had to make a few detours on the road to the rank of Eagle Scout.
In order to qualify for the rank — Scouting’s highest — a Boy Scout is required to complete an extensive service project that he plans, organizes, leads and manages in addition to earning 21 merit badges covering a variety of skills.
Joshua, a member of Troop 4057 and the son of Dan and Renee Crandall of Mount Vernon, had originally planned a project for Skagit Playfields, but he was forced to relocate after the playfield manager, with whom Crandall had made arrangements, resigned his job.
The Mount Vernon High School senior then selected Hillcrest Park and received approval from the Eagle Scout Review Board. His plan was to build heavy-duty barbecue grills to replace the park’s existing grills, which were in poor condition.
As required by Scout rules, Crandall secured donations of materials for the project, but said he completed most of the work at his father’s plumbing business with the help of several of the employees. They ended up making 10 grills: five for the larger pit, three for the smaller pits by the gazebo and two more as spares.
When Crandall went before the Review Board last summer for final approval of his project, he was denied and told that he needed to involve his Scout troop more in the task.
Crandall expanded the project to include a cleanup of all the debris and trash in the park, as well as cleaning the ash and garbage out of the barbecue pits. The entire troop pitched in, completing the job in just a few hours.
This time the Eagle board approved his project and Crandall officially became an Eagle Scout on Sept. 11, 2007. A presentation ceremony was held Saturday, Aug. 2, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mount Vernon 1st Ward, sponsors of Boy Scout Troop 4057.
