The courtyard at Arborwood South Elementary School has in the middle a pond with fish, several trees and shrubs and a mallard box in one of the corners and even a 12-foot by 6-foot wooden stage, and during the school year, it has all kinds of “Eagles” in and out of it.  But it now has a special Eagle.  As in Eagle Scout, that is.

          Fifteen-year-old Monroe High School sophomore Jarrod Kimble, who was an Arborwood Eagle when he was in elementary school, is responsible for building the stage and working long hours with family and friends to weed and mulch several nature areas inside the lush courtyard.  At 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 6, he will receive his Eagle Scout rank in Eagle Court of Honor ceremonies at St. Mary’s Church Parish Life Center.’

          Jarrod said that much of the work on the stage and on the weeding and mulching was done last year.

          “My grandfather is a certified professional engineer and he helped me to design the stage so it was nice and sturdy.  We also decided to clean up the area around the pond in the center of the courtyard.  We were surprised that we found fish in there,” Jarrod said.  To help the fish in the pond, he saw to it that a new pump and piping were installed.  Two of the areas that he cleaned up were so overgrown by underbrush that it was spreading and killing the grass.

          “We even built a Mallard house for ducks who are migrating, too” Jarrod said.  “It might not look like much but the Mallards seem to like it,” he said.

          Jarrod wanted to do something for his Eagle project that would have a positive impact for the youth in the area.  Because he had attended Arborwood as a child, he felt especially connected to the project.

          The whole project which has led to Jarrod’s Eagle Scout recognition cost about $1,300, all of which he raised.

          “We hope this project has made a positive impact for the students and staff at the school and that the stage will be used for years to come,” said Jeff Kimble, Jarrod’s dad.  “We really appreciate the support Jarrod got from the school administration who really helped our son to succeed and the help he received during the work.”

The entire stage is painted white with about 30 green fleur-de-lis, the symbol of Boy Scouts, adorning it.

          During the school year, it did get used a number of times.

          “My mom (Arborwood South Teacher Dawn Kimble) has brought her class out and the students have used the stage to act out some of the scenes in the books they have read.  You also can sit on it and read to your students sitting in the grass,” Jarrod said. 

          Jarrod is a member of Boy Scout Troop 519 sponsored by St. Mary’s Church and plans to mentor younger Scouts.  He also is active at Monroe High School on the wrestling team and as an active member of choir and drama.

          He is the second MHS student in less than six months to earn the Eagle Scout rank.  The other was Grant Prater whose Eagle Scout project was a clothes closet that benefited Monroe Middle School.