Boy Scout Troop 123 of Colorado Springs has been very helpful to various nonprofit organizations the last few years. Scout Master Mike Anthony's young men are meticulous workers that take their Eagle projects quite seriously. My experience with this Troop the last few years has been excellent work done quickly, cheerfully, and well, and with great spirit and teamwork.

David Cihan's Eagle project for Ellicott Wildlife Rehab. Center was building perches, platforms, and ladders for convalescing raptors in rehab. David had a lot of work to do before he could even begin building his project. After meeting with the nonprofit manager he would be working with, outlining his project, and making building plans David needed to gain approval for his project. Ultimately he received approval and then got down to business. Since he needed a lot of materials to do this work, he needed to first raise funds and/or contact local businesses for donated materials. David received cash donations and then proceeded to price building materials. At the checkout at one store he realized his cash wasn't going to nearly cover all of the materials he needed.

Thanks to Dave at Carpet Exchange for donating outdoor carpet and Rampart Supply for the huge discount on metal pipe, David was able to get the materials to complete his project.

David and Troop 123 began building their project. The first day was spent cutting plywood for the perches, platforms, and ladders. Day 2 was spent wrapping rope around the wooden perches, assembling and carpeting the 10-foot ladders, building and carpeting the metal perches, and carpeting and securing brackets to the platforms. This work was done in the July heat, and around other Scout projects this Troop was completing.

Upon completion of the Eagle project, David, his dad, and Scout Master Mike drove the new, sturdy cage "decorations" all the way out to Ellicott, where they will be placed in raptor flight enclosures for the birds' physical therapy. And there were some dollars left over that Troop 123 donated to EWRC to feed the wildlife in rehab.

Thank you, David, and thank you once again Boy Scout Troop 123! We appreciate your hard work, good attitude, and helping our native wildlife!

Thank you also for donations:

Nighthorse Enterprises

Dougherty, Inc.

David at Carpet Exchange

Rampart Supply