On December 21, 2020, seven Scouts took time out of their holiday vacation to build picnic tables and a seating area at Crosby Sanctuary. Led by Marina Mitchell of Troop 291 in Ponte Vedra Beach and her father Gary Mitchell, these Scouts spent all morning helping Marina complete her Eagle Scout project. This is the third time Marina has done a project at Crosby: the first was trail blazing in December 2016 and the second when she and her father rescued and restored our bridge in 2018 after it was damaged during Hurricane Irma.

After Marina planned the project and its financing, her father helped with getting the wood, cutting it, and bringing it out to the site. That’s when everyone pitched in to assemble five benches and two picnic tables with attached benches. The five benches were put in a semi-circle to serve as an Education/Gathering Area and the picnic tables can be used for projects or for picnics!

Many thanks to Gary Mitchell, father and facilitator, Elaine Mitchell, leader, and Marina Mitchell, Sophia Kokkinos, Ella Lopez, and Nishita Ramesh of Troop 291; to Grant Mitchell of Troop 288 for helping his sister; to Wynn Watson and his sons Kyle and Bryce of Troop 15 in Jacksonville Beach; and to Dick Basye, Committee Chair for Troop 291. This project is a welcome addition to our entrance.