By Matt Mackinder
Clarkston News Editor

Three Clarkston Scouts have completed Eagle Projects for the benefit of the community this summer, fulfilling what is often the last requirement to receive Scouting’s highest honor, the Eagle Scout rank.
Troop 189’s Ryan Snudden, 17, Connor Dufresne, 15, and Jason Legg, 15, selected three different beneficiaries for their projects. Snudden built a fire pit for Clarkston United Methodist Church. Dufresne refurbished a trail stairway at the Holly Recreation Area, and Legg installed multiple new features at Clarkston Family Farm.
A member of Clarkston United Methodist Church, Snudden saw the need for his project firsthand.
“I chose to create a fire ring for my church because I’ve been going there for my entire life,” Snudden said. “I wanted to do something that the youth groups and all the other ministries could use and enjoy.”
To fulfill the requirements, Snudden, Dufresne and Legg, were asked to do more than simply complete the project.
Dozens of Scouts and leaders also attended workdays at the Holly Recreation Area to support Dufresne and his project. According to Dufresne, the recreation area had been apprehensive about their deteriorating trail staircase for some time. With newly refurbished stairs, families can now safely enjoy the park trail.
“They were very unsafe, and someone could have been hurt,” Dufresne said. “I wanted to choose a project that helped people.”
Legg’s project marked the eleventh completed by the Scouts at Clarkston Family Farm. In addition to clearing a new path, he constructed two planter boxes for the “Heritage Trail” along with new benches. Finally, he built three unique plexiglass planters, designed so the farm’s youngest patrons can observe the root systems of growing vegetables.
With their projects completed, the scouts will soon go before “Eagle Boards of Review” to seek recommendations as recipients of the rank.

PHOTO: Jason Legg poses with the new plexiglass planters at Clarkston Family Farm. Photo: Provided by Brandon Kathman