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Date: 11/9/2021
WESTHAMPTON – Eagle Scout Ella Cleary recently built 13 new benches for the Westhampton Public Library. Cleary is the first female Eagle Scout in Westhampton’s history.
Cleary chose the Westhampton Public Library as her Eagle Scout Service Project after noticing the condition of its benches.
“I decided to build the 13 benches for Westhampton Public Library because from past events held at the library I realized that the majority of the benches had been rotting and falling apart,” said Cleary.
After deciding on this as her project, she began the steps to make it happen.
“To initiate the project I had to fill out a lot of forms, get signatures, and revise my plan. I also had to propose my plan/project to the library,” she explained.
Westhampton Public Library Director Meaghan Schwelm explained the library’s excitement for the new benches. “The library was fortunate to be chosen for this community service project,” she said.
Though excited about the project, the library had a few concerns. “We were concerned about the number of benches – wanting not too many to store, but enough to be used at large outdoor programs,” said Schwelm. The library also wanted to be sure the benches would be weather-resistant.
After getting the green light from the library, her project was approved. Cleary then had to find funding to purchase materials to start constructing the benches.
“I started collecting money by delivering letters all over town,” she started. “Eventually, I raised all the money I needed. I was aiming for $900 but I got over $2,000.”
She admitted that being a girl most likely aided her in securing funding.
“I think that one of the reasons why I raised so much money for my project is because I am a girl,” Cleary said.
A service project is a requirement to become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America. With Cleary being Westhampton’s first female Eagle Scout, she explained how she initially got involved in Boy Scouts,
“I first got interested in scouts when I was tagging along with my two brothers. At the time I had recently left Girl Scouts and I was looking for something more hands-on and interactive/adventurous.”
Becoming a scout did come with its challenges, she admitted. “The hardest part of being a girl in Boy Scouts was starting. That was the most challenging part because I think that nobody expected to have a girl in scouts,” she said.
Cleary hopes her achievement inspires other girls to join the scouts as well.
“I do hope to inspire other girls to join scouts because it is a really great experience and you’re able to learn a lot more skills,” she said. “I hope that other girls will join scouts and we will continue to have girls in scouts become Eagle Scouts.”
While this might be her first service project, Cleary knows it won’t be her last, saying, “I know that I’ll be doing many more Eagle Scout-like projects over the course of my life, they just won’t have that title.”