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DARRIN HILL/ODWC

Scouts pour concrete into a hole that will serve as the base of a bat box mounted on a pole.
EAGLE SCOUT PROSPECT CHOOSES PROJECT TO BEFRIEND BATS

BY DARRIN HILL, COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION SPECIALIST

Recently, a group of Scouts (male and female “My favorite thing
youths) gathered to plan, build, and install three to see was the Scouts DARRIN HILL/ODWC
rocket-style bat houses at ODWC’s Arcadia Conser- working together to
vation Education Area. upright and install the
Scout Emerson Wyrick, 16, from Troop 79 in bat boxes. They had guy
Edmond led the project, which was his capstone lines and plenty of com-
for earning the Eagle Scout rank within Scouts BSA. munication as they lifted
To advance in rank, Scouts are required to complete the poles to be placed
conservation and community service projects, and to in their resting places. It
demonstrate ability to lead adults and youths alike in a reminded me of … the
service project that gives back to the community. famous picture of the
Wyrick wanted his project to be conservation-re- U.S. Marines installing
lated, so he asked Scoutmaster Darrin Hill, a producer the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima.
for the Wildlife Department’s “Outdoor Oklahoma” “Conservation and
TV show, to serve as his project adviser. Scouting go hand in
Wildlife Biologists Mark Howery and Melynda hand and historically
Hickman advised Wyrick and recommended bat have benefited from
boxes be installed at the Arcadia location. They each other. And both
offered Wyrick some ideas and information where movements are as
to get the bat box plans. diverse as ever and
Hill said projects such as this help instill in continue to move for-
youths the habit of helping others and improving ward while learning Scouts work together to raise a bat box at ODWC’s
Arcadia Conservation Education Area.
the environment. from the past.”

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