Eagle Scout projects are an important part of earning the distinguished designation from the Boy Scouts of America. But because they’re normally completed while a candidate is close to graduating high school, their schedule is pretty full.
In many cases, they might only have a few months to design, present and complete it.
Sam Crawford doesn’t have that problem.
He’s not getting ready to graduate high school. He hasn’t even started it yet.
Crawford, 13, will start his freshman year at Steinbrenner High School this fall. He’s also working toward his Eagle Scout designation.
The Lutz teenager had the option of either wrapping up his project and becoming a very young Eagle Scout, or spending more time on it and making it something big.
Crawford went big.
“I just really wanted to do a project that, when I was older, I could still see it, and it would still be in use,” Crawford said.
So, as he heads off to his new school, he’ll be doing something for an old one — a very old one.
His project involves the Old Lutz School, at 18819 U.S. Highway 41 N.
The school was built around 1927, and served as a school until the mid-1970s.
Now, the structure serves as a symbol of the community, a gathering place for civic groups and a host for local events.
It is also the beneficiary of Crawford’s Eagle Scout project.
Right now, as drivers on U.S. 41 pass the school, they likely have no idea what’s happening at the school, because the sign is too small to be seen clearly from both sides of the highway.
Crawford’s solution? A bigger sign that’s easy to read.
(Photos courtesy of Sam Crawford)
Current plans call for it to be 10 feet long and about 8 feet tall, with removable lettering and a protective cover on the signage.
Plans also call for a shingled roof and brick construction, to make the sign both durable and attractive.
When finished, the sign will be the perfect place to list announcement and events for both the school and local organizations.
Even with quality materials and a sturdy design, it might seem like a simple thing to put up a sign.
But this is no simple sign. Crawford wants it to use electricity so it will be useful at night, and the school only has a couple of outlets.
He’ll also need permits to build it, which will take time to secure.
And, he has to find a way to pay for it, since a sign this elaborate will cost thousands. He’s getting material donations and the Citizens for the Old Lutz School Building are chipping in a good amount, but Crawford still needs to raise money to make up the difference.
In all, his Eagle Scout project will take about a year from start to finish. And, he’s already about halfway there.
He’s fine with taking a little extra time to create something that will be useful for years to come. He also expects to learn quite a bit by the time the project is finished.
“I’m very excited, because I’ve never led something this big,” Crawford said.
“It’ll teach me a lot about leading a group of people, and I think I’ll learn a lot from the experience,” he said.
Crawford’s extra efforts are appreciated by the people who are most involved in the school.
“He’s a very nice guy and working very hard on it. It was a big project for him to take on,” said Phyllis Hoedt, co-chair of the Citizens for the Old Lutz School Building.
The new sign will be oriented so drivers traveling north and south can see it clearly, Hoedt said. It will help promote events at the school, such as yard sales, flea markets and their annual Christmas event. The end result should be better promotion on a busy highway, and better attendance at events.
“We’ll have a nice sign to advertise what’s going on the community,” she said.
For now, that nice sign is still in the planning stages.
Crawford still needs a professional sketch by an architect and must finalize structural details so it can be built once they get the proper permits. But once it’s completed, it will be useful and a point of pride.
“I really enjoy (the project) because I’ve grown up in Lutz all my life. I feel like giving back to the community and putting this sign in, it really will help the community for many years to come,” Crawford said. “Hopefully more people will be showing up at the events — thanks to the sign.
Published July 29, 2015
