‘Messenger of Peace’ Conservation Effort Cleans Up Three Rivers Trail
By Edward Lynn
Editor
EAGLE GROVE, Iowa — More than 70 scouts from across Iowa gathered Saturday at Fish Pond Park and the nearby Three Rivers Trail for a day of conservation, camping, and camaraderie as part of an ambitious service project launched by Eagle Grove scout Andrew Vaughn, who lives in Webster City.
The turnout marked a huge success. “Our first goal was to try to get 15 people to help,” said Eagle Grove Scoutmaster Rick Dawson. “Well how about that, 71 people came to help!”
Vaughn, who recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, spearheaded the project to help fellow scouts earn the Messengers of Peace award through a large-scale trail cleanup. The event drew troops from Mason City, Clear Lake, Buffalo Center, Forest City, and Webster City—a broad swath of communities across North Iowa. And three packs of Cub Scouts also took part, from Eagle Grove, Webster City, and Jewel.
Scouts spent the morning cleaning the first two miles of the Three Rivers Trail, a task that was completed far more efficiently thanks to the high turnout. “If we had only had 12 people, we probably would’ve only gotten about a third of what we did done,” said Andrew Vaughn. “It was cool to see that people actually showed up.”
“The more people there are, the easier the job gets done,” said Emily Hovland, one of several young scouts who joined in the cleanup. Her sister Anna Mae added, “Teamwork is better than doing it by yourself.”
Dawson also expressed thanks to Sadler Construction of Eagle Grove, which provided the use of heavy equipment, which Dawson indicated was useful “the whole way” in clearing branches.
The event culminated in a campout at Fish Pond Park, where scouts set up tents literally ringing the campground around the pond, and enjoyed a night of outdoor activities, shared meals, and friendship. Many participants commented that it was the largest scouting event the park had ever hosted.
“We had troops from all over, and it worked out great for a lot of people, “said Eagle Grove assistant Scoutmaster Craig Voss.
Scoutmasters and parents alike expressed appreciation for the opportunity to bring young people together in the spirit of environmental stewardship and teamwork.
“It’s good for the kids,” said Dale Hovland, who has two boys and two girls in the Eagle Grove troop.
Larry Lawson, Scoutmaster from Winnebago County, echoed those sentiments: “It was fun to see the tough spots come out here and be active. It puts us in awe when we do get together like this of what we can do.”
The event was part of the Messenger of Peace initiative, an international scouting effort to promote service and cooperation. Scouts who participated in both the educational session and at least two hours of trail cleanup qualified for the award.
Denise Wood, a scout leader in attendance, emphasized the impact of Vaughn’s leadership. “Andrew is a very driven young man. By encouraging everybody to come and help, everyone else could also learn about these opportunities. This is why scouting is so awesome — because it brings people together to do something that matters.”
For Vaughn, the project was about more than badges or recognition. “I just want to do something extra,” he said in the lead-up to the event. Judging by the turnout and the shared sense of purpose, that extra effort paid off in spades.
More scenes from the effort:
Click or tap to enlarge…
(Photos courtesy of Anna Withers)
(Photos courtesy of Rick Dawson)
