By Alex Constantinou
Visitors to the public beach accesses on Raleigh, Heron and Sandpiper streets will soon notice the installation of three new benches on the strand.
Prospective Eagle Scout Joshua Yip, 15, of Boy Scout Troop 13 in Wilmington, is currently in the home stretch of planning his Eagle Project, which includes the building and installation of the new surfboard-shaped benches.
Using the already existing surfboard-shaped bench at Public Beach Access No. 30, located at Latimer Street, as a model, Yip plans to install the benches by June, after two to three workdays during the course of two weeks.
In order to attain the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Boy Scouts, the prospective candidate must, among other things, plan, execute and document a public service project, known as an Eagle Project.
The process leading up to the actual execution of an Eagle Project includes writing, planning and presenting the project to scout leaders who must approve the project in its entirety before work can begin.
Yip, who got the idea for his project from Valerie Wiegman of the Wrightsville Beach Foundation, said his project is currently awaiting the last couple of signatures of approval from scouting executives.
The project cost is estimated at $390 for materials and supplies, which will be raised in donations. Community members requested the locations of the benches.
“Execution, actually putting the benches out there, will be the hardest part,” Yip said.
Once construction begins, Yip will be in charge of making sure his fellow scouts execute the building and installation of the benches in harmony with his plan.
Yip was born and raised in Wilmington and currently attends Hoggard High School, where he runs track and cross country.
Boy Scout Troop 13 is chartered by and meets at St. Andrews Covenant Presbyterian Church in downtown Wilmington. The troop is one of the oldest Boy Scout Troops in Wilmington, with its first scout achieving the Eagle rank in 1930. Since then, the troop has had more than 185 scouts make Eagle.
