Mason Weight of Broadneck High School kicked off his summer in a different way than many of his peers. After meticulous planning and intensive research, Weight brought together a group of Boy Scout volunteers to complete his Eagle Scout project. The boys rehabilitated and expanded a garden bed behind the Children’s Theatre of Annapolis (CTA) in July to ensure its self-sustainability.
Weight, inspired by his older brother, first became a Boy Scout while attending Belvedere Elementary. Since then, he has become a member of Troop 382 in Arnold, holding the positions of junior assistant scoutmaster and crew leader for high school adventure. Weight has been actively involved in Boy Scout philanthropic events, whether he’s helping with the funnel cake fundraiser at the Cape St. Claire Strawberry Festival or supporting food drives for his older brother’s pantry. To attain his Eagle rank, he completed an eight-month-long community project to expand a local rain garden.
“I definitely got lucky with it. I was struggling to find an idea for what I should do with my project and was approached by someone from the theater who was looking for a new rain garden back in November of last year,” Weight reflected. “From CTA, Loy Vélez-Suárez introduced me to the project. Kelly Rollison was the main representative and Amy Schropp helped me with fundraising.”
During the workday, the volunteers encountered challenges from heat advisories and refreshment shortages. The high UV index halted progress throughout the day, and the volunteers scheduled breaks every 50 minutes to ensure no one experienced heat exhaustion, while more ice and Gatorade were purchased than anticipated for proper hydration.
“About 16 people showed up. Most of them were scouts and parents of scouts,” Weight said. “My Eagle project coach really helped me with the execution, Shawn Callahan. He would look over my Eagle workbook to make suggestions and review it with me.”
The rain garden measures approximately 700 square feet and is complete with rain barrels, weeper hoses, and a multitude of native plants. Weight arranged rows of plants with two slate stone bench areas on the sides. The selection includes black-eyed Susans, milkweed and inkberry bushes. At the edge of the garden sit rain barrels, with weeper hoses running to each pit. Because of these features, the garden retains rainfall. The self-sufficient plantings do not require watering.
Weight’s design is unique, as the garden is raised to withstand droughts. After the eight-month process from planning to execution, the expanded rain garden is now complete for the Children’s Theatre of Annapolis. The project was funded through a grant from the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County.
“My next steps are to go to college and study environmental science,” Weight shared. “I think Boy Scouts have helped put me on the path of conserving the environment and make living sustainable.”
Weight is a rising senior and hopes to attend Dartmouth College or SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry after he graduates.