Eagle Scout Partakes in Rain-Filled Trailblazing at Lowell Woods

One characteristic of an Eagle Scout is to be able to adapt well to the elements of nature.

So it wasn't surprising that on Sunday morning, during the first steady rain Westwood has seen in a while, Troop 3 Life Scout Ben Pincus was more than ready to embark on Lowell Woods for some GPS mapping and trailblazing as part of an Eagle Project.

"Whenever we go together, it seems to rain," said Pincus, referring to the times he and his father, Jeremy, have worked on the path at Lowell Woods.

The duo was at it again Sunday, and through his Eagle Project, which the final step towards becoming an Eagle Scout, Pincus aims to use GPS technology to map out Lowell Woods and the new extension into the Fox Meadow development.

This trail includes the path that extends from the gas lines on Thatcher Street to Westwood High School, past Thurston Middle School, into the woods behind First Baptist Church ending at the Starbucks parking lot on High Street.

Pincus marked the trail Sunday morning with white paint after chiseling a small piece off of a dead tree.

He and his father walked along the trail equipped with an iPhone that featured a GPS application, a can of paint and a couple of saws to cut through any logs blocking the trail. Clearing tree limbs and brush that encroaches on the Lowell Woods trail is also part of Ben's project.

At one point during the trip, Pincus and his father encountered a local hiker, walking through the trailer with her dog.

"We cleared it up a bit for you," Jeremy Pincus said to the passerby. Just minutes before, both he and Ben cleared away a large piece of wood obstructing the path.

Ben Pincus has already led a group of five scouts, who mapped the area of Starbucks to Thatcher Street.

Pincus has been working on the project for about six months, which has included a substantial amount of planning and red tape. Jeremy said that his son has been ambitious, having met with the Westwood Pedestrian and Bike Safety Committee and getting things cleared with the Westwood Conservation Commission.

"It has been a good experience because it taught him a little bit about town politics," said Jeremy.

As he spoke, Ben finished up another marking, ready to roll to the next one. He explained that the Eagle Project needs to be something that benefits the community in some way. He said his intention is to help create a safe place for people to walk and ride their bikes in Westwood.

He then reminisced of his friend who was recently hit by a car while riding his bike, which he said helped motivate him to complete the project.

While it will not be a designated biking trail, the path Ben and Jeremy Pincus worked on Sunday will be a great place for people to mountain bike, as well as walk and run.

Eagle Scout is the highest rank for Boy Scouts of America. Since it began, there have been about 2 million Eagle Scouts.

However, this rank isn't just a walk in the woods. Aside from the Eagle Project, requirements include earning at least 21 merit badges and demonstrating Scout Spirit through the Boy Scout Oath and Law, service, and leadership.

Ben said that there is no real time frame for how long the project must be completed, but that if all goes according to plan, he could have everything done by next summer.

"Some people never finish, and others take a long time," he said.