Thanks to Trent Mithoefer of Merrimack, NH, and his
Eagle Scout Project, patients at The Rehabilitation Center at St.
Joseph Hospital in Nashua, NH, will be able to tend a garden for
relaxation and therapy.
The 17-year-old started out as a Cub Scout: earning
badges, camping, making friends, and developing the skills needed to
reach Eagle Scout, the highest advancement rank in Scouting.
To become an Eagle Scout, a Boy Scout must fulfill
requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills.
Although many options are available to demonstrate proficiency in these
areas, a number of specific skills are required to advance through the
ranks: Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and then
Eagle. To advance, a Boy Scout must pass specific tests that are
organized by requirements and merit badges.
The first step toward his Eagle Scout achievement:
Mithoefer needed to research his community to find a non-profit
organization that would benefit from his service. Once St. Joseph
Hospital was identified as a possible site for his project, Mithoefer
embarked on a year long journey that included writing a business plan,
project time line, setting up fundraisers, employing workers to assist
him, and presenting his final project to the Eagle Scout board.
“Choosing St. Joe's for a possible project wasn't
that hard,” said Mithoefer. “My mother works on The Rehab Unit.” After
speaking with his Eagle Advisors and the Administration at St. Joseph
Hospital, the Merrimack teenager decided to create a hi-low planter for
the patients at The Rehab Center.
With the help of an adult (Boy Scouts are not
allowed to use power tools) the frame of the planter was built at the
Mithoefer home. Then, with the aid of his troop, it was moved to its
permanent location, The Rehab Garden at the hospital where the rest of
the construction could be completed.
“During the spring, summer, and fall months, the
garden is a wonderful place to expand on therapy for the patients,”
explained Patti Motyka, program director of The Rehabilitation Center.
“Aside from exercising muscles and improving coordination, it provides
a therapeutic benefit that goes a long way in healing the spirit.”
Mithoefer worked with local businesses such as Reeds
Ferry Lumber to get the supplies and information he needed. “The people
at Reeds Ferry were really great to work with,” said the 17-year-old.
“They helped me to select the right materials that would withstand the
weather and age.” Mithoefer also enlisted the help of his employers at
the Depot Farm Stand to select the plants and the planting material.
Mithoefer organized a fundraiser to raise the
necessary funds to purchase supplies. Local businesses also donated
supplies.
“Less than one percent of all boys starting out in
Scouting will go on to earn their Eagle Scout badge,” said Mike Marston
of Merrimack, NH, and Scout Master for Troup 401. “It is a major
undertaking that truly demonstrates a boy's leadership, organizational,
and commitment abilities.”
The teen is the third Mithoefer boy to earn the
honor of Eagle Scout. “Being an Eagle Scout is a big thing,” explained
Marston. “To have Eagle Scout on a resume or on an application for
college or military school goes along way. It says a great deal about
character which differentiates an Eagle Scout from another boy.”
Mithoefer presented his final project, including
photos of his work, to the Eagle Scout Board June 6. A celebration in
his honor is planned for later this year.
For more information regarding The Rehabilitation Center at St. Joseph
Hospital, contact Patti Motyka at (603) 882-3000, ext. 67500. St.
Joseph Healthcare is a comprehensive health care system that serves the
greater Nashua area, western New Hampshire, and northern Massachusetts.
