“I can truly say that not only the park has benefited from the 11, 000 hours of service that the troops who have participated on the project since 2010 but the scouters and scouts have received a great sense of purpose and accomplishment.”
– Tony Higuera, Scoutmaster Troop 1911
As you know, this is the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. You may also know that Jim Atkinson resurrected and strengthen the relationship between Glacier National Park and the Boy Scouts of America back in 2010 with the Glacier Project idea in conjunction with BSA 100th anniversary.
This year we – TJ, Elaine and myself – went with scout leaders and scouts form Troops 1903, and 1917. The first day we painted every seating bench on Going-to-the-Sun-Road’s east side of the road. On days two and three, we worked with park rangers and the Chief Fish Biologist in the park netting fish, counting fish and studying the health of the fish population at St. Mary Lake. Then we hiked a total of 28 miles documenting: wildlife, trail conditions, bear scat, water on the trail, flora and more on a program called inaturalist.
This is the original news clip on how all came about.
Also, here is information on the council earning the National Park Service George and Helen Hartzog Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service by a Youth Group in 2011. NPS: Scouts Recognized for Centennial Work and Flathead Beacon: Boy Scouts Recognized for Glacier Centennial Work
This year, 2016, marks the seventh year of this project and the great relationship that we have with Glacier National Park. Ten units – six from Montana Council along with a unit from Texas, Oregon, Wisconsin and Wyoming – with a total of 207 participants logged a total of 4,140 volunteer hours.
This project has provided 11,000 hours to Glacier National Park every year since 2010.
I’m not sure other councils have such a project that gives back so much and brings together so many units form across the United States. If we use the dollar amount use in a 2015 Brian in Scouting article: of $23.07 (11,000 hours) that is $253,770.00!
A wholehearted thank you to Jim Atkinson for his vision and hard work. Jim designed the medal Scouts received this year. The color of the ribbon is the color of the Park Ranger uniform: green and grey.
Elaine, TJ and I have participated on 3 separate years giving 150 hours between all tree of us, a minuscule amount compare to the grand total but we truly have enjoyed it and look forward to next year.
Thank you for your time –
Tony Higuera
