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American Lighthouse Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 565
Rockland,
Maine 04841
Phone: 207-594-4174
Fax: 207-596-1091
info@lighthousefoundation.org
The American Lighthouse Foundation is a
Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization dedicated to the
preservation of America's historic
lighthouses & lightships and
their heritage.
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Boy Scouts from Maine’s Troop 23 Work & Learn
at
Little River Lighthouse
By Bob Trapani, Jr.
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| The Boy Scouts are synonymous with the
environment and community service projects that make our neighborhoods a
better place to live. While learning the vital importance of giving back
to others through their community service, the scouts also gain
invaluable experience that teaches practical outdoor skills, self- |
Photo by Tim Harrison
Boy Scout Troop 23 from South Portland,
ME camped and worked on Little River Island
for a week in August
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confidence,
camaraderie and personal responsibility. The diversity of such experiences
makes a lasting difference in the lives of both the scouts and those they
have touched around them.
Yet despite the many outdoors adventures and service projects under the
belts of Boy Scout Troop 23 from South Portland, Maine, lending a helping
hand to a historic lighthouse was not one of them. That all changed when the
boys and their scout leaders journeyed five hours north from southern Maine
to Cutler Harbor on August 6th to spend a week working on and
enjoying the spectacular beauty of Little River Island and its charming
light station that stands sentinel at the head of the harbor.
For Boy Scouts like Connor Igo, the first-time opportunity to camp on an
island while working and learning in the shadow of a lighthouse was quite |
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Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
(L to R) ALF president Tim Harrison looks
on as scouts Connor Igo, Nathaniel
Alexander and Hunter Blondin work to
remove large rocks from the lawn
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a thrill. According to Igo, “This camping trip was
different than any other we had been on before. We had a lot of fun
doing many things such as climbing a lighthouse, camping on an island,
helping paint a lighthouse and swimming in freezing water!”
The scouts did more than just assist with a variety of
painting projects at the site, which included helping the American
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Lighthouse
Foundation (ALF) and United States Coast Guard volunteers with applying a
fresh coat of paint to the station’s boathouse, as well as the keeper’s
house and lighthouse. The energetic boys also helped with removing huge
rocks from the station’s lawn, building a new concrete support wall for the
cistern in the basement of the keeper’s house and clearing overgrown brush
along the station’s wooden walkway, which spans the length of the 15-acre
island.
Having the chance
to work side by side with the adult volunteers from ALF and the Coast Guard
made quite an impression on the boys. The concept of this teamwork was never
more evident than during the project of repainting the light tower. Though
ALF and USCG volunteers did all the |
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| prep and high work from ladders and Bos’n
Chairs, the scouts were provided the opportunity to put their
“signature” on the project as well by painting the base of the
lighthouse that could be reached at ground level. Boy Scout Chris Harle
notes, “It is so awesome out here (at Little River Island). I liked
doing all the work and helping out |
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Scout leader Rick Alexander (right) helps
the boys mix concrete to build
a support
wall for the cistern
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with the
lighthouse. I also enjoyed working with the Coast Guard. This has been one
of my best trips and I love it!”
Chris Harle’s sentiments were echoed by peers like Nathaniel Alexander who
noted, “I chose to come here because I wanted to work on a lighthouse. My
favorite part of the trip was being able to hang out with my friends and
having a chance to paint. I liked being a part of history.” Hunter Blondin
sensed a similar chance to make a connection with our nation’s lighthouse
heritage when he commented, “I too came here to work at the lighthouse, do
some painting and help to restore some of America’s history.”
Though the scouts enjoyed many aspects of their weeklong camping experience
on Little River Island, there were some surprises the boys had |
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Photo by Tim Harrison
(L to R) Chris Harle, Jo Picoraro,
Alexander Latendresse and Lynne Teague help
paint the keeper's house
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to cope with as well. For starters, the
scouts quickly learned that though the idea of sleeping at a lighthouse
was a cool one, the fact that Little River is a working light station
meant that they would have to adjust to the doleful warning sounded by
the station’s foghorn, which was ceaseless in its operation 24-hours
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a day. In
addition, the pesky island flies “welcomed” the boys with their own version
of Downeast hospitality, but in the end, the noise of the foghorn and
nuisance of flies were but a small inconvenience to deal with in return for
an experience of a lifetime.
Boy Scout Alexander Latendresse noted, “I like going on scouting trips and
have always had a great deal of fun on each one. This lighthouse trip was no
exception – it was awesome! During this trip I was happy to help out doing
service while helping preserve the history of the lighthouse as well.”
Performing service, helping with a lighthouse restoration project and
studying America’s lighthouse history was just part of the experience the
Boy Scouts garnered from their trip to Little River Island. No matter which |
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| direction the scouts peered out from
their campsite, they were able to view nature at its absolute finest.
Little River Light Station is not simply a historic site worthy of our
best efforts to save and preserve, but it is also an environmental
paradise. The island and its surrounding natural environment overlooking
Grand Manan Channel to the east and the |
Photo by Tim Harrison
(L to R) Nathaniel Alexander, Rick
Alexander, Hunter Blondin and
Connor
Igo help paint the station's
boathouse
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picturesque
fishing village of Cutler Harbor to the west presented the Boy Scouts with a
priceless opportunity to enjoy one of the finest outdoor living classrooms
that nature affords.
Like his peers and scout leaders, Alexander Latendresse developed a quick
appreciation for the stunning beauty and environmental resources of Little
River Island. According to Latendresse, “This trip was a new and exciting
experience for me in many ways. I have never camped with the unique
possibilities that camping on an island like Little River presents. I
enjoyed exploring the rocks and the island while searching for firewood for
our campsite. I loved the experience overall and would recommend this unique
opportunity to anyone else.”
The American Lighthouse Foundation is excited about the educational
possibilities Little River Light Station affords youth groups like the Boy |
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Photo by Tim Harrison
Scout Chris Harle works on painting the
keeper's house
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Scouts. In
fact, ALF president Timothy Harrison is hoping the organization can
continue to expand its outreach program to maximize the island’s outdoor
living classroom potential. “Boy Scout Troop 23 began the process of
surveying nature trails on the island – something they are looking to
complete next year when they return,” said Harrison. “Once this is done,
the exploration and learning possibilities will be endless for young and
old alike. It is our hope that many other scout and youth groups will
take advantage of this one-of-a-kind environmental experience, and in
doing so, gain a greater appreciation for preserving both historic
lighthouses and their natural environments for future generations.”
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Photo by Tim Harrison
(L to R) Connor Igo, Nathaniel Alexander,
Chris Harle, Hunter Blondin and
Alexander Latendresse prepare to paint
the base of the lighthouse as a TV
cameraman records the moment
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Posted: 8/24/06 |
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