On Nov. 22, 2020, Maxwell Rho, a junior at Manhasset High School, completed his Eagle Scout Project with the help of his fellow scouts from Troop 97, Manhasset at the Science Museum of Long Island.
Max had many options in selecting his project. He wanted to give back to his local community.
While in elementary school, he attended a summer program at the Science Museum and had fond memories of all the activities the museum provided. He and his parents went to the Science Museum of Long Island and spoke with Daniel Steiger, chief administrator of the Science Museum, to see if there were any opportunities for an Eagle Scout project. While walking around the grounds of the museum, Max saw thirteen picnic tables that were badly damaged, which needed to be repaired and repainted. Some were badly damaged from recent storms.
These tables are used by the museum for numerous children’s activities and events. With the approval of Steiger and the Theodore Roosevelt Boy Scout Council of Nassau County, Max went straight to work.
First, he raised funds by selling masks with face shields and individual snacks (ie, Poki and Rice Krispy Treats). With those funds, he was able to buy supplies and tools needed for the project.
The initial steps were to replace the damaged wooden planks, then to scrape and sand the tables in preparation for painting.
Once the tables were scraped and sanded down, a coat of primer was applied, followed by two paint coats in various, bright colors. Thanks to Troop 97 Scouts’ overwhelming turnout, the project was completed from beginning to end in three weeks.
