2025 Boy Scout Troop 731 Projects

Shout-out to Boy Scout Troop 731 for their leadership, service, and dedication to our community! From outdoor skills to teamwork and volunteer projects, these Scouts are building confidence, character, and the next generation of leaders.

This year the troop has accomplished multiple much-needed projects for us including building a garden wall behind our new barn at the Palomares House & Park. Sam led this project as part of his path to Eagle Scout rank. He planned and designed the wall, recruited volunteers, and raised over $1,700 to purchase the materials. The Scouts excavated about 5 yards of soil, which they transported to the Dinwiddie Preserve parking lot to fill washouts, and moved 15,000 pounds of wall blocks and gravel by hand. In total, Sam and his volunteers donated over 160 hours of volunteer time to make this project happen.

The wall will prevent erosion of the hillside above the barn, and the gravel pathway they created in the process will protect and preserve the barn siding, and provide access to the back of the building. We could not have completed this project without the hard work of Sam and Troop 731!

Life Scout Carlo Valenzuela led the completion of a much-needed staircase at Los Jilgueros Preserve, at a steep section of trail near the pond. Carlo planned the project, raised funding including generous donations from Home Depot, sourced materials, and recruited volunteers. 

For two days he led adult and youth volunteers in excavating dirt to level the steps, moving blocks, water, and concrete mix to the work site, mixing and pouring concrete to secure the steps, and setting the blocks. These steps will make the Los Jilgueros Preserve trail more accessible and safe for all who enjoy it.

Life Scout Jacob Liebes completed his Eagle Scout project, replacing the small and worn trailhead sign at Dinwiddie Preserve with a sturdy new kiosk like those found at other FLC preserves (many of which were also built by Scouts!)

Jacob planned and implemented this project from start to finish, including fundraising and purchasing materials, recruiting and leading volunteers, and removing, building, and installing the new kiosk.  FLC will post new signage soon that will improve the safety and knowledge of preserve visitors.

Thank you to the FLC members who donated funding to this project and made it possible, and thank you Jacob!