13-year old Eagle candidate leads environmental initiative at Robertson School

The answer is a lot if you ask Eiriana Fairbairn Summers, a Life Scout with Scouts BSA Troop 77 Buttonwoods, who exhibited her dedication to community service by planning, organizing, and leading an Eagle Service Project at Robertson Elementary on March 16.

An 8th grader at Veterans Memorial Middle School, Eiriana aims to complete requirements to become an Eagle Scout before her 14th birthday on June 1 making her the youngest female Eagle Scout in Narragansett Council. 

Eiriana’s  scouting journey began when she was seven years old with Cub Scout Pack 1, Warwick. There, she embraced the program's recent inclusion of girls and continued to excel upon advancing to BSA Troop 77 Buttonwoods.

"I am in scouting for three reasons. One, I wanted to have fun outdoors, two, I wanted to learn survival skills in the wilderness, and three, I desired to expand my knowledge beyond school,” she said. “I wanted to know how to 'Be Prepared.'”

Last year, Eiriana read that her former school, Robertson Elementary, was awarded a Learning Inside Out Outdoor Classroom grant from the Rhode Island Department of Education to facilitate outdoor education. While Robertson is using the funds to build an amphitheater habitat and sensory garden, Eiriana recognized an opportunity for volunteers to clean and clear the trails through the woods and further support the environment behind the school that would not be part of the grant funded work. She decided to help by dedicating her Eagle Project to the cause.

A habitat for bats

"I chose this project because I wanted to support the ecosystem and the community,” said Eiriana. “After some research, I discovered that while birdhouses are popular, bat boxes and bee hotels are often overlooked, so I chose bats because they are not usually recognized as pollinators, even though they are very important to the wetlands ecosystem, like what is located at Robertson Elementary.”

Eiriana reached out to Brian Dillon, principal of Robertson, who was excited to have a former student plan the project for the school. She also reached out to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Bat Biologist Jennifer Brooks, who recommended using rocket box style bat house designs to cover the school’s grounds.

Approximately 15 scouts from both the girls and boys of Troops 7 and 77 Buttonwoods, respectively, participated in the project, along with about 30 other family, community, and local school members.

“In the end, I directed the construction of two bat boxes and cleared the trail of all trash, fallen limbs, and overgrowth. I am proud of what my team of volunteers accomplished, and that trail is still very natural but easier and safer to traverse for the students and community,” said Eiriana. “I hope the migrating bats enjoy their new homes and help control the insect population while supporting this important ecosystem."

Currently serving as Senior Patrol Leader for Troop 77, Eiriana has proven herself to be a capable leader and role model for the girls in her troop, with a passion for service and environmental conservation.

"We are very proud of Eiriana and the work she has put into this multi-layered project. As with all things, there were ups, downs, and hurdles, but she set her goal from the moment she crossed into Scouts BSA at wanting to achieve the rank of Eagle and has worked toward that relentlessly,” said Eiriana’s mother and Troop 77 Assistant Scoutmaster Jeniece Fairbairn Summers. “It is her dream to help other girls achieve their own scout goals and journeys, so we know she is looking forward to the next part of her scouting path. We have seen her gain confidence in progressively more responsible leadership roles, as well as watched her learn and grow from her mistakes."

The Eagle Scout rank is the highest achievement attainable in the Scouts BSA program. Eagle Scout projects like Eiriana's play a pivotal role in achieving the rank, of which only six percent of those who join scouts achieve. These projects require scouts to demonstrate leadership, planning, and execution skills that will make a lasting impact on their communities while upholding the Scout Oath, "To help other people at all times."

Eiriana thanked her Cubmaster Patty Gomm, Scoutmasters Christine Fitzgerald and Brent Sunderland, and Eagle Counselor James Williams for their support; Builders Surplus Warwick for donating the wood to build the bat boxes, Nathan Kinder and the Quaker Lane Lowe’s for donating bags of cement and materials, and her fellow scouts and volunteers.

"I feel relieved; I was so stressed out from all the attention on me, but I managed to get through it all. I am overjoyed that the overall project was successful,” said Eiriana. “I greatly appreciate those who volunteered their time and hard work and supported me on my Eagle Scout journey.”

To learn more about Troops 7 and 77 Buttonwoods, please contact troop77buttonwoods@gmail.com for the girls’ troop and troop7buttonwoods@gmail.com for the boys’ troop. Meetings are typically held on Wednesdays beginning at 7 p.m. at Saints Rose & Clement Church, 111 Long Street, Warwick.