Castle Pines Eagle Scout learns leadership by helping bluebirds
Castle Pines resident Zach Zahorik earned Boy Scouts’ highest rank of Eagle Scout working on an extensive bluebird project.
by Elizabeth Wood West with photo by Lynn Zahorik
Eighteen year-old Castle Pines resident Zach Zahorik recently finished his Eagle project, earning the rank of Eagle Scout with Castle Pines Boy Scout Troop 316.
At first glance, the project sounds fairly straightforward – construct, install, and monitor 12 bluebird houses for the Town of Castle Rock’s Parks and Recreation Department at Gateway Mesa Open Space and Mitchel Gulch Park, both near State Highway 86. However, Zahorik’s project took more than 263 hours of careful planning, the execution of a strict construction schedule from January through May (in time for annual bluebird migration/nesting), the monitoring and recording of bluebird activity in each of the 12 houses to track trends, and the final project write-up for Boy Scout leaders.
Zahorik also had to schedule, instruct, and supervise 22 different volunteers.
This was the most challenging aspect of the project for Zahorik, as his work crews included fifth and sixth graders, high school students, and adults. “When managing the adults, they often needed little instruction as they were already knowledgeable; however, I had to make sure I kept track of what they were doing as they worked more quickly. When working with some fifth and sixth graders, they would need more initial instruction, but once they were done they were more likely to [ask] what to do next. When working with others my age, I had to keep them focused, as they all knew each other and when they weren’t busy, they would talk to each other,” said Zahorik.
Interestingly enough, Zahorik said that along with watching the bluebirds use his project for their nests and raising their babies, managing his crews was equally rewarding. “The leadership experience will be really valuable in the future and some things can only be learned by actual experience,” said Zahorik.
Zahorik is a senior at Rock Canyon High School and is interested in video editing. After graduation, he would like to pursue computer studies, video production and post-production, or telecommunications at Colorado State University, Metro State College, or Colorado Film School.
