Project Overview
The purpose of my Eagle Project is to improve the John Witherspoon Trail in the Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve located in Princeton Township by placing stone steps on the slope that starts the trail and landscaping around the steps. My project is on a popular nature trail, and so a primary purpose for these steps is to allow
a wide range of people easy and safe access onto and off the trail. We will be working on the part of the trail that slopes down from the Mountain Lakes access road.
How the Project will affect the community: The stairs will prevent erosion and provide a more level structured way to begin the trail. This trail is widely used by people of many different ages and abilities from runners to dog walkers to just families going out fora stroll.
My first work session will be a planning session at the sight were we will rope off the designated areas and go into detail on when the stones will be delivered and the method for placing the stones.
Here are Photo’s of site before the steps are built.
Work Sessions
We will be having work sessions within the next few weeks for the planning and construction of the steps. Details to follow very soon.
Planning Session:
Anyone is welcome to attend my planning session for my upcoming Work Sessions Sunday April 29th at 1:30pm at the start of the John Witherspoon trail. We will be discussing more in detail for the first work session and give a basic overview of all the work sessions. If you have any questions please contact me.
Work Session 1-1
Today 5/5/12 I met with 2 friends my dad and one leader and we prepared for the big work session tomorrow.
We decided to make the the length of the steps 19 feet instead of 13 because thats were the ground starts sloping up. One of the first jobs was deciding which stones go in what order on the trail and placing them together. Then we took care of the root and dug out and almost finished the first step. I decided to do the first step so I would make sure I knew the method well and could better instruct the workers tomorrow. We also cleared some of the brush near near the sign. The first stones we chose different width one was 9″ the other 5″ down with them together the across they make 3′ 4″. I looked back at my plans to see that we want the stones with 6″ rise. Working with the dolly worked fairly well for moving the stones down the hill though actually placing them in the right position was hard work. So the basic outline was gravel, filter fabric, gravel with stone dust on top to fill in the cracks. We carted away the the top soil to the woods nearby because it was still good healthy soil. Making sure that there was 2″ at the front part of the step was a challenge. Can’t wait to see who shows up tomorrow.
Hours:
| Name | Sign In | Sign Out | Job |
| Austin B | 10:00 am | 2:15 pm | Managed Scouts and helped dig out the step as well make sure the stones were safely transported. took pictures, organized tool and supplies drop off, made sure township approved changes, |
| Brad B | 10:00 am | 2:15 pm | Cut overhanging vines, helped deliver tools and supplies to site made sure measurements were accurate. |
| Jonathan S | 10:00 am | 2:15 pm | Cleared away brush from the sign, chopped root,dumped gravel, dug hole for stone, helped transport stone, racked rocks off trail,cleared away brush |
| Paul R | 10:30 am | 12:30pm | helped transport stones,dug hole for stone, racked stones, helped line up stones, |
| Rick R | 10:40 am | 12:30 pm | oversaw safety and kept two deep leadership |
TOTAL HOURS AT WORK SESSION:
Here are the photos
WORK SESSION 1-2 5/6/12
Today was my largest work session yet. We worked on clearing away the brush and placing the second stone. Making sure the gravel before we place the stone length wise and width wise was a challenge. On measuring out the length of the stairs it came out to 20 ft 8″ and the drop from road level 4 ft 5″. For measuring how far to place the next stone we took into account three normal strides of 6 ft making sure they are all equally apart. The team worked hard and we cleared away all the brush for several feet on either side of the trail. To transport the stone safely we used an off road dolly which we rope the stone two and had several people including adults transporting it on the slope. I also talked to D & R Greenway about supplying the plants and they have them set aside for us. I hope to have another work session this weekend.
Hours:
| Name | Sign In | Sign Out | Job |
| Leo L | 1:08 pm | 4:02 pm | Helped transport stone dust, gravel, and the stones for the step. Also cleared away brush. |
| Daniel G | 1:10 pm | 4:01 pm | Helped clear away brush, dig out hole for stone, transport stone,transport gravel and stonedust |
| Sidhant S | 1:15 pm | 4:05 pm | Helped clear away brush, dig out hole for stone, transport stone, transport gravel and stone dust |
| Aaron G | 1:40 pm | 4:20 pm | managed and helped place the stones |
| Charles C | 1:50 pm | 4:00 pm | cleared away brush, moved branches to the street |
| Yasin A | 1:50 pm | 2:35 pm | helped place stones, placed gravel, dug holes for stones |
| Barb Brock | 2:05 pm | 3:10 pm | cleared away brush, refreshments deliverer, photo person |
| Brad Brock | 1:00 pm | 4:20 pm | Supervised the placement of stones, helped level and rotate stones, transported tools and supplies |
| Jonathan S | 2:40 pm | 4:00 pm | Cleared away brush |
| Jonathan Z | 2:52 pm | 4:00 pm | trimmed thorn bush, cleared away brush |
| Jack M | 2:52 pm | 4:00 pm | trimmed thorn bush, cleared away brush |
| Andy P | 1:40 pm | 3:39 pm | supervised transporting stones, cleared away vines, move brush trimmings |
| Shaun D Family (4) | 1:45 pm | 3:06 pm | placed gravel, trimmed brush, raked gravel, helped transport stones, |
| Ben M | 3:29 pm | 4:29 pm | helped level and rotate stones, transported tools |
Work Session 2-1 5/11/12
This work session we spent putting the puzzle pieces together. We decided we needed more stones so we went over to the place
were they are kept but it was closed. Then Mr. Lennon came by and made some comments that we need to make sure the steps are level
because some people walk the trail in the winter. Also not to worry about about filling in the crevices because the steps need space for rain to drain off. The last hour of the work session we spent leveling the first stone and sinking it in 3″ more. It took a while to fit them perfectly next to each other an make sure they were absolutely level but the Mason said the first stone is the cornerstone so make sure you do it right.
| Name | Sign In | Sign Out | Job |
| Jonathan S | 2:05 PM | 5:30 PM | Helped move stones, transport gravel, level stone dust, rotate stones, dig hole for stone, |
| Barb Brock | 2:05 PM | 5:30 PM | Transport tools, rotate stones, remove gravel, place gravel, dig hole for stone |
| Brad Brock | 2:30 PM | 3:30 PM | |
| Austin Brock | 2:05 PM | 5:30 PM | assigned jobs, fit the puzzle pieces together, lead the team, made sure measurements were correct, |
Work Session 2-2 5/13/12
With Mothers Day happening and flowers blooming lots of scouts had to cancel. I learned the important lesson always invite twice as many as
you need. I was very honoured to have a few scouts and friends give up there afternoon to help. We accomplished digging out the next hole for the next step up and decided my first step will be a platform instead of a step right away. There was the suggestion to have after school work session which I will work more on. Lets hope the weather holds up this week to make them possible.
| Name | Sign In | Sign Out | Job |
| Yasin A | 2:40 pm | 4:05 pm | loosed dirt with pick axe, shoveled gravel |
| Imtiaz A | 2:40 pm | 4:05 pm | Supervised safety and picture taking |
| Dillian R | 2:47 pm | 2:47 pm | shoveled dirt and gravel |
| Aaron B | 2:48 pm | 2:48 pm | shoveled dirt and gravel, helped measure |
| Alec B | 3:15 pm | 3:45 pm | Helped supervise |
| Scott B | 3:15 pm | 3:45 pm | Helped supervise |
| Tim M | 3:15 pm | 3:45 pm | Supervisors assistant |
Work Session 3 -1 5/16/12
Today I had my first after school session. Though a lot of the scouts were away for the D.C trip I got two younger scouts. I lowered the first two stones to my original ones so now I have a the start to my base. Hopefully I can have another one this friday. I need to remember to invite adults.
| Name | Sign In | Sign Out | Job |
| Charles C | 4:30 pm | 5:25 pm | helped shovel gravel |
| Elian R | 4:30 pm | 5:25 pm | Helped shovel gravel and place stone dust. |
| Austin B | 4:30 pm | 5:25 pm | organized jobs, moved stones |
| Mrs. C | 4:30 pm | 5:25 pm | supervised safety |
Work Session 3-2 5/18/12
At this work session I rotated the stone that I had place before and placed a really thick stone. This stone took forever to place because it was almost level so many times. It made a great start.
| Name | Sign In | Sign Out | Job |
| Brad Brock | 4:30 pm | 6:00 pm | Helped rotate stones, dug gravel, |
| Austin Brock | 4:30 pm | 6:00 pm | decided which stones to use, determined levelness, helped manage the workers |
| Jonathan S | 4:30 pm | 6:00 pm | leveled gravel, dug hole for stone, helped rotate stone |
Work Session 4-1 5/19/12
At this early morning work session we are deciding which stone to place to curve the path. Yesterday we finished the first platform which was a great accomplishment. To judge which stone to use we made an impression on a piece of paper the compare it to the stones we had. We moved a huge stone but it had the length we need. We had to problem solve placing a long stone with not so long stone and used gravel and sham pieces to put it together to fit well. Can’t wait for the back to back work session today.
| Name | Sign In | Sign Out | Job |
| Brad Brock | 7:30 am | 10:15 am | Helped rotate stones, helped move stones, supervised, measured to make sure measurements were correct, |
| Austin Brock | 7:30 am | 10:15 am | helped choose stones, deciding what step to add next, problem solved, |
| Jonathan S | 7:30 am | 10 am | Helped moved stones, dig hole for step placed filter fabric, stone dust, rotated stone, pick axed to loosen dirt, offer great ideas for problem solving,level gravel |
Princeton Troop 43 