BURKBURNETT (KFDX/KJTL) — One Boy Scout is making a lasting impact on the Burkburnett community while working toward the highest achievement in scouting.
Eighteen-year-old Joshua Olsen helped revitalize the Burkburnett Community Garden as part of his effort to earn the rank of Eagle Scout.
Olsen spent weeks upgrading the community garden by installing a pavilion, repairing flower beds and making improvements throughout the space. While the project helps him earn his Eagle Scout rank, Olsen said the bigger goal was giving back to the community he calls home.
“I just wanted to make a huge impact on the community,” Olsen said. “And I felt the garden would help the people around. It just brings people together and overall helps the community with feeding the homeless and people in need.”
The project included building a pavilion with rain gutters to help collect water for the garden’s water tank, adding storage space for tools and equipment, and repairing 21 flower beds and multiple water spigots.
Garden manager Pamela Dixon said Olsen’s hard work made a major difference for the garden, especially the addition of rain gutters on the new pavilion.
“It’s going to be a tremendous benefit because, it’s going to cut down on our water usage, and it’s going to make it more efficient for us to do the gardening, and it’s going to make it easier,” Dixon said.
Dixon said without Olsen’s help, many of the much-needed repairs and upgrades would have taken much longer to complete.
“I couldn’t believe the quality of the work that I was seeing and the effort that he was putting out, because not only was he doing work, he was organizing, making sure that everyone stayed on task. It’s just mind boggling what all is done,” Dixon said.
Olsen said none of the project would have been possible without the support of his father.
Chris Olsen, a dad-trooper for Troop 600, said the goal of scouting is turning kids into young leaders, and watching his son give back to the community through the project made him proud.
“All the things that scouting does for the community, being able to, to go out there and do that year after year, I think that I would say that it’s safe to say that that’s instilled into Joshua, to be able to, to always give back as he, as he moves forward in life,” Chris Olsen said. “Just to see the growth in Joshua, after completing this project has been, substantial. And, that’s a memory I’ll cherish.”
After four weeks of hard work — and raising about $8,000 for the garden — Olsen completed his mission just in time to earn his Eagle Scout rank, something he said made every hour worth it.
“I feel amazing,” Olsen said. “I’m just helping people.”
While earning the Eagle Scout rank is a major accomplishment, Olsen said his real mission is continuing to make a difference in his community every day.
Joshua Olsen is expected to officially receive his Eagle Scout rank later this month following the completion of his community garden project.
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