Two Eagle Scout Projects Completed

Jacob Stulken knew that he wanted his Eagle Scout project to benefit the humane society.

Jacob Stulken

Four-legged friends awaiting adoption from the Aberdeen Area Humane Society now have a new area to stretch their legs and interact.

Central High School senior Jacob Stulken cleared the weeds and fencing from the 80-by-50-foot area previously used as an outdoor kennel to build a dog park. It was his Eagle Scout project.

Stulken said as he was looking for an Eagle Scout project and knew he wanted to do something for the humane society. He eventually suggested a dog park and was given the blessing to run with the idea by the agency.

Shelter manager Elaine Schaible said the venture wasn’t easy as the area was overgrown with weeds that had to be cleared and the fencing needed to be taken down.

Stulken said he and his dad made multiple trips to the humane society to clear the area of 6-foot weeds and the chainlink fencing that divided the lot into four sections.

Once the area was cleared, he said, dirt donated by Jacobs Construction was used to cover the ground.

A Facebook fundraiser raised about $2,000 for different obstacles in the park. They include weaving poles, stepping pads, a teeter-totter and two tunnels made out of skid steer and cement truck tires. Stulken said the tunnels are his favorite feature.

A hoop jump was also welded, put together and powder coated by Twin City Fan.

At the end of his project, Stulken said he received a surprise donation of $2,500 that will be used to purchase additional obstacles come spring. He said one will be a dog walk featuring a ramp up to a platform and a ramp back down.

While the park has been seeded, Stulken said that will need to be done again next year.

Since the grass hasn’t quite taken root, Schaible said, the park hasn’t used it a ton. But, she said, one of the first dogs that went through it was being evaluated as a search and rescue dog and is now

One of the first dogs to use the new park was being evaluated as a search and rescue dog.

going through more training.

The new dog park is on the south side of the humane society building.

“The changes he made are amazing,” Schaible said.

Stulken said at least 10 other scouts helped with the project on five work days. On the final day day, parents and members of another troop pitched in.

He estimated they logged about 150 hours working and another 40 hours planning the project.

“It definitely was a lot more than I thought it would be,” Stulken said.

The agility course is a new feature at the Aberdeen Area Humane Society. The park was developed as an Eagle Scout project completed by Jacob Stalken of Aberdeen. Courtesy photo

While the work to clear the ground was a bit overwhelming, once that was done, he said, the project became more manageable. He’s thankful he had so much help.

The Aberdeen Area Humane Society recently completed a 7,400-square-foot addition in May 2022, which provided a needed expansion to kennel space for both dogs and cats.

Logan Cybulski

A mini food pantry has been set up outside the Thrivent Financial office on South Main Street.

The pantry was installed in September.

Thrivent financial advisor Matt Scott said the idea is a way for the office to serve the community and reached out to a local Boy Scout troop to see if there was a scout interested in completing the task as part of an Eagle Scout project.

He found a taker in Scout Logan Cybulski, who spearheaded the job.

“I thought it was a good idea for people who need food,” Cybulski said.

People are expected to use the small pantry on the honor system.

Donations of canned goods and other non-perishable items are accepted at the Thrivent office, as are donations of personal care items and paper products like toilet paper, paper towels and tissues.

Scott said the idea behind the pantry is to have it as an accessible space for anyone to stop by and grab items they need at any time.

The project was funded by money Thrivent has for community projects and donations collected by Cybulski.

Cybulski said he based the final project on plans that were available, but increased the size a little.

Additional project support was provided by Wooden Mallet, House of Glass and Campbell’s Town & Country Building Supply. //