By Cassy Ann Petrich
Upon first introduction, Allan Burnett gives you the impression of a quiet youth who likes to hang out with friends, is involved with sports, and having just turned 16 years old – is now driving.
Allan Burnett is more than that however.
He is becoming a leader in his community.
At just 15-years-old, Burnett earned his Eagle Scout within the Boy Scouts of America. Less than ten percent of Boy Scouts actually make it to this rank and they do so, on average, at age 17 according to The Boy Scouts of America website.
Boys who want to earn the rank of Eagle have to perform a Scout Service Project, demonstrating leadership skills and capacity to display the ideals held by the organization. The official guidelines are as follows, “while a Life Scout, a Scout must plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project to any religious institution, school, or community. As a demonstration of leadership, the Scout must plan the work, organize the personnel needed, and direct the project to its completion.”
The Hoquiam High School student began his project by applying for a $4500 grant from Cosmo Specialty Fibers, Inc. of Cosmopolis, in January 2012. Along with family and friends, Burnett began the restoration of the boat launch and picnic area of Green Banks park, located between Highway 101 and the West Hoquiam River.
The amount of work put into this project is simply phenomenal.
The park itself consists of a boat launch, dirt path down to the water, a fire pit, and what once was a covered sitting area. All park amenities were badly in need of repair. The park itself is not very big but it was completely ruined for public use. Before the clean up, there had been boulders blocking the entrance to stop garbage dumping and continual decay.
In one year Burnett and crew had given new life to Green Banks park.
This project did not simply involve some trash clean up and the pruning of blackberry bushes. The following list of items gives a better perspective of what it actually took to get this park back to, and possibly beyond, its former glory.
- Cleaned up all garbage to include hypodermic needles and dead animal carcasses.
- Dug out a new path for the wheel chair ramp.
- Dug out blackberry bushes and cut grass.
- Constructed and installed railing.
- Rebuilt the lean-to.
- Dug out and reconstructed the boat launch.
- Washed cement areas.
- Replaced fishing benches.
- Removed the fire pit.
- Built a cement picnic table.
Burnett’s amazing capacity to care and then act on that motivating force was made obvious in the response he received from his community. When good energy shines through, people notice it and want to be a part of it. And so it was the case with the Green Banks project Burnett was leading.
Here is a sample of the local companies that donated time and/or materials:
- Lemay, Inc. donated a dumpster for the first weekend of cleanup.
- Levee Lumber offered a discount on lean-to building supplies.
- Precision Pipe helped make the railing for the walkway.
- S&T Timber cut down dead trees in order to help make the park less hazardous.
- Schermer Construction donated some gravel for the parking area.
Burnett was amazed at the community response. “It was great when the local companies helped me,” he said. “It was really appreciated. I was surprised to see companies step up and help out. I liked working with the companies that helped me.”
“I also had a great crew of people that volunteered their time working by my side making this happen,” he added in recognition of his volunteers.
Recognition does not always follow good deeds but this time it did. Burnett was awarded the Eagle Scout Project of the Year for 2013. Competing for this honor were nine other districts covering Western Washington, known as the Pacific Harbor Council.
Burnett has a positive outlook on life and a truly caring personality. When asked if the restoration project of Green Banks had inspired him for the future exclaimed, “Maybe, but it would be in the future. I need to help the other scouts (my friends) work on and complete their Eagle Scout projects first.”
Enjoy Green Banks park and reflect on Burnett’s commitment to his community. The hope is that Burnett will inspire others, realizing that volunteerism can happen at any age. It’s never too early – nor too late – to do good.
