We once heard a woman complain that the Eagle Scout she allowed to work at her cemetery didn't do a good job or clean up when he was done. Did the Eagle Scout do a bad job? NO! She did. Making sure that any Scout project in your cemetery is done correctly is your responsibility -- and the Scout's.

Whether the Scout has approached you or you are looking for Scouts to be involved in a project you have planned, there are several steps you must take to ensure that the cemetery will benefit from the work and that the Scouts will have a rewarding experience.

1. DEFINE THE NEEDS

Determine what needs to be done in your cemetery. Start a wish list of all of the things that would help. Do you need a fence or fence repair? How about an information kiosk and shelter? Are there briars, ivy, or scrub trees that need to be removed? How about a nice picnic table or bench? Could some Cub Scouts plant seeds or bulbs around a fence line or in a curbed plot? Of course, most of us would like help with mowing and weeding.

2. WORK WITH THE SCOUTS TO SELECT A PROJECT

Go over your wish list with the Scouts. Let them choose from your needs rather than telling them what you want done. The outcome will be better and the work more enjoyable if the Scouts have choices. Provide guidance in this process -- if your cemetery requires several hundred dollars worth of materials and expertise to install interior lighting, it might not be wise to encourage a Scout to select this as his project. At the same time, don't underestimate their abilities and resources.

3. COMMUNICATE WITH THE SCOUTS' ADULT ADVISER

For each Scouting Eagle or Community Service project there is an adult who works with the youth to provide guidance and support. Ask the Scout for the name and phone number of their adult adviser and communicate with that person throughout your project. If the project is not going well, this person can help get it back on track. If the Scout is doing an exceptional job, this person can see that he gets the proper recognition. If something is needed of you, this person will assist with communication. When your current project is completed, this person may be able to assist another Scout to tackle other items on your wish list.

4. BE PART OF THE PLANNING TEAM

Work with the Scouts as they plan how they will proceed with the project. For instance, if the Scouts are going to build a structure, kiosk, or bench, the placement in the cemetery will be important. It can't be on top of a grave or blocking a path or access road. Its design should fit in to the time period or theme of your cemetery. The materials will need to be weather resistant.

Many projects will require more knowledge than you have. A building project may require a permit. A restoration project may need consultation with the OHCA or Association for Gravestone Studies. A parking lot, fencing, or interior walkways may need the services of a surveyor. Planting or removal of trees may require the help of an arborist. You need to do your homework and see that the Scouts do theirs.

5. PROVIDE TRAINING AND EXPERTISE

There are many temptations for Scouts in a cemetery. With a well meaning can-do attitude, Scouts may be tempted to reset toppled stones, move stone fragments, remove unreadable metal markers, or to use damaging materials to clean old gravestones. Not only are many of these things dangerous to the Scouts, they can cause irreparable damage to the cemetery and gravemarkers. The OHCA has developed an easy to understand single page handout on the dos and don'ts for volunteers working in a cemetery. Make sure each Scout working on your project has a copy of this handout, has read it, and agrees to it.

6. NOTIFY THE MEDIA ABOUT YOUR PROJECT

Let your local newspaper and television stations know about your project. Photographs or videotape of Scouts working on a project are great public interest stories. Give the media at least a week but not more than two weeks of lead time. A follow up call the day before the event will help serve as a gentle reminder.

7. BE PART OF THE PROJECT AT THE CEMETERY

Your participation in the Scout cemetery project as a leader and mentor will add immeasurably to its success. In addition to being able to provide guidance and passive supervision, you will have the opportunity to answer questions that will come up about the burials or the history of your cemetery. You might want to bring donuts and pop for the youth as they work. Your input and communication might be the key to some of them working with you on another project in the future.

8. WRITE AN EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT

A final step in the process for an Eagle Scout is receiving a written evaluation from the individual or group that his project served. By now you will know this Scout fairly well and will have monitored the project from beginning to end. Be prepared to put together a letter about the project, how well it was done, and about the leadership displayed by the Scout you worked with. A theme in Scouting is "Character Counts." Think about how the Scout demonstrated his character and give examples in your letter.

Be sure to write a letter of thanks to the troop and the adult adviser. Everyone needs to know they are appreciated.

CONCLUSION

Some of the finest cemetery projects we have observed were completed by Eagle Scouts or by Scout Troops as Community Service or Service to America projects. Scouts are highly motivated youth working in structured groups with lofty goals and excellent adult leadership. They are talented, hardworking, innovative, and trustworthy. If a Scout has contacted you about your cemetery you can be assured your cemetery will benefit. If Scouts haven't called you yet, call them -- they're always looking for a project. You will learn from them, they will learn from you and the project, and your cemetery will be improved in the process.