Michael Fox, an 11th grade student and a member of Boy Scout Troop 182 in Goodlettsville, Tenn. earned the highest rank awarded in Boy Scouting on October 2.
As a Life Scout, Fox took on a project at F.H. Jenkins Elementary School in Nashville. As the leader of the project, he successfully planned and developed the beautification and educational enhancement of the school.
Fox led a group of volunteers over a four month period in the planning and construction of a 572 square foot Outdoor Classroom which includes six benches and two large tables made of recycled pallets and four 4×8 raised bed planters. Fox used the design assistance of Page-Duke’s landscape architecture firm.
Also included in the project is a rain garden installed near the Outdoor Classroom. Fox sought the assistance of the Cumberland River Compact to organize the garden installation that provides a water cistern for recycling rainwater from the school’s gutter system.
To further beautify the grounds, Fox and his team of volunteers cleared a central clogged drain that was contributing to flooding problems for the school; cleaned out an overgrown rose garden; trimmed trees and shrubs; planted 100 daylilies; and mulched all the flower beds.
F.H. Jenkins’ new Outdoor Classroom and rain garden presents exciting new opportunities for teachers to creatively engage their students in science, technology, engineering, art, and math lessons.
“Students are also learning the value of hard work,” Michael said. “They planted vegetables; watered and weeded on a schedule; and will do their own harvesting.”
On October 26, the school expressed its gratitude to Michael Fox by unveiling a permanent marker in his honor at a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Michael Fox’s Boy Scout project is one that received generous community support. The project was done with over 1,200 man hours, and donated goods and services in the amount of approximately $7,635.85. Other project partners were The Home Depot at Rivergate, The Mulch Company, and Mr. Jesse Johnson.
Michael is the son of Erric and Carla Fox of Goodlettsville.
His brother, E.J. Fox, is also a noted Boy Scout who earned the Eagle Scout rank in 2011.
