Hi my name is Andrej and I am a member of Troop 364 and working on my Eagle Scout Service Project. Becoming an Eagle Scout is a goal that I have worked toward for 6 1/2 years. It has always been a dream of mine.

My Eagle Scout Service Project is to build 15 birdhouses for the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center. They research many aspects regarding horticulture and farming, in addition to maintaining a scenic public garden and arboretum. They also help educate the public, including programs for local elementary schools and the community. The birdhouses they currently have are over thirty years old and in a state of disrepair.

Studies show that “the rapid declines in birds signal the intensifying stressors that wildlife and people alike are experiencing around the world because of habitat loss, environmental degradation, and extreme weather events.” (Cornell Lab of Ornithology). Therefore, I would like my Eagle Scout Service Project to help support and provide habitats for them.

In addition, this project will be helpful to the agricultural center, as the birds will help eat pests and spread the seeds of flowers and allow for more scientific research to be done.

The birdhouses will not only help with the environment, but they will also serve as a tool to educate the people who visit the arboretum. After the completion of my project, I plan to continue assisting them by creating an educational flier to be stationed near the birdhouses. This will allow people to learn not only about the native species but also about how to build their own birdhouses. I also plan to conduct a training session with the Master Gardeners and lead them in the installation of the birdhouses in the spring.

I am fundraising to help purchase the materials needed to build a large number of birdhouses. My goal is to complete this project in the first week of October. Thank you for your support!