Picnic shelter built for Eagle project

The Eagle Scout ceremony for Bryan Gohn, a member of Boy Scout Troop 10 at First United Methodist Church, will be April 4 at the Richmond Lake Youth Camp.

For his Eagle project, Gohn built a picnic shelter in the Girl Scout portion of the camp. The shelter is located next to the Tom and Danielle Aman Foundation Girl Scout Lodge.

He first got the idea from Karen Mogen, a local Girl Scout leader. She came to a Boy Scout meeting and suggested projects that were needed in the area.

"This one seemed to fit my interests best," Gohn said. "I like building things."

He had to put together a package outlining his idea for the Girl Scout and Eagle Scout boards, which had to approve the project before he could actually start it.

He contacted the Poligon company in northern Michigan, which specializes in park shelters. They supplied him with a "kit," which included raw materials and blueprints, at cost. He was responsible for staining, finishing, painting and putting the structure together.

He then assembled a list of supplies needed and approximately how much they would cost. Once the Girl Scout and Eagle Scout boards approved his project, he asked many local businesses for donations for his project.

"They (businesses) were very willing to help," he said. "I was amazed."

After he gathered everything he needed, work began. His troop members, friends and business people volunteered their time to help him with every aspect of the project. Between that and his lawn care business, he was very busy. Not only did he have to finish the project by his 18th birthday, which was Jan. 7, he also had an obligation to his yard work customers.

The project took just under a year from start to finish. The total cost was $7,491.72.

Mogen said Gohn did a better job "than a lot of adults would have. He did a great job. We're grateful to him. He's a good kid."

Gohn, a senior at Aberdeen Central, enjoyed the project and is interested in doing something similar in the future.

"I'm looking at possibly engineering and business management for college," said the scout, who is the son of Dick and Linda Gohn.