Thank you, surveyors and Eagle Scouts
Bronze marker provided by Berntsen International, Inc.
Back in February 2021, 15-year-old Henry Spoering asked Berntsen to help support his Eagle Scout project creating an Orienteering Course at Camp Waluhi'yi in Duncan, Oklahoma. He’d heard about Berntsen’s support for young surveyors from his project sponsor, Marcus Heilman, PLS, of Section 37 Surveying and Mapping. Henry is a seasonal employee of Section 37, so Henry approached the project like any other, applying the skills he’d already learned.
Heilman came to know many of the core members of Troop 4434 through his service to the Camp Waluhi'Yi Association. The 120-acre camp features a private lake for fishing and kayaking, numerous primitive campsites, hiking trails and a 2,400 square foot fieldhouse for gatherings.
At the Camp, Heilman had many opportunities to serve both the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. However, ultimately his involvement originated with Henry, who also happens to be his nephew.
Orienteering Merit Badge
Bernsten was also happy to help with the project and provided three bronze markers. After that, it was up to Henry to complete his project and achieve Eagle Scout.
Orienteering Merit Badge
Earning an Orienteering Merit Badge is no easy endeavor. Along with raising funds to complete the project, Henry had to demonstrate the ability to administer first aid, teach others how to use compasses and read topographic maps, and lead an orienteering event – and that’s all before the project started. Then comes the project. According to the Orienteering Merit Badge rules, Henry had to:
Newly-planted kiosk and monument set at the start of the course.
Set up a score orienteering course with at least 12 control points and a time limit of at least 60 minutes.
Set point values for each control.
Prepare the master map and control description sheet.
Wait, there’s more!
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Part of the project is to not only create the course, but to build a kiosk and post a map at the beginning of the course. Henry spent the winter and spring surveying and mapping out the project. In September 2021, his father, Ryan Spoering, related : “As Henry began this project, the price of lumber was reasonable. When the time came to begin building the kiosk, his budget for wood for a map kiosk station had been blown and he had to step up the fundraising portion of the project to address this. There was a troop camp out scheduled at Camp Waluhi'yi at the end of October, and it had to be ready to test out the course. Nothing like a deadline to drive progress!”
Marcus Heilman and Eagle Scout Henry Spoering at the kiosk commemorating the completed project.
By April of 2022, the project was very close to being completed. The sign kiosk was finally planted and Marcus and Henry were ironing out the final details of the map in preparation for submitting it to a sign company.
On October 26, 2023 the project was finally completed and officially Henry achieved his Eagle Scout rank. It was a well-earned achievement – capping off a project that took nearly three years to complete. And it isn’t the only project that he worked on – Eagle Scouts must accumulate at least 21 merit badges before earning the Eagle Scout rank.
Always a Scout
Being an Eagle Scout was always part of the plan, for Henry. He said “I was first introduced to scouting in first grade when my elementary school held a scouting introduction meeting. I went to a cub scout pack meeting and really liked it. I loved the outdoors aspect and really wanted to go camping and explore all the activities that scouting had to offer. Scouting has contributed to my life in many ways. I now have a huge desire to explore the U.S. and the world and have also found a love of sailing and fishing from a scouting high adventure sailing trip to Key West, Fl.
I have learned a great deal about leadership through scouting and I see myself in a leadership role in my future occupation. Overall, Scouting has opened my eyes to beneficial personal development skills.”
Heilman says that his favorite part of the project was watching Spoering complete the field work with only a little help here and there. He says “It was satisfying to see Henry earn his Eagle, knowing that I helped a little bit.” Heilman says that anyone with a specialized skill set can have the satisfaction of improving their community by being involved in Scouting.
What’s next for Eagle Scout Henry Spoering? He intends to study mechanical engineering at Oklahoma State University next year, continue working at Section 37 Surveying and spending his free time playing guitar, camping and playing tennis. His dream is to take an overlanding trip around the U.S. National and state parks
Thank you, Scouts and surveyors!
Here at Berntsen, we are so grateful for surveying and surveyors and for their contributions to making their communities a better place. Henry's project was designed in such a way that it is not specific to just the scouts but to anyone wanting to learn orienteering and see Camp Waluhi'Yi . The Boy Scouts can use the course to earn the Orienteering Merit Badge and groups like 4H, Royal Rangers and other youth/adults can utilize the course.
Berntsen is proud to have contributed to this project, and proud to serve surveyors as they make a positive impact on their communities. As a Bernsen customer, Heilman says “High-quality products and superior customer service are paramount. Berntsen is the benchmark in that regard.”
Delivering great products and service is what we strive for here at Berntsen, and we’re thankful for every customer and for their amazing contributions.