Eagle Project includes new stairs on aging lot.

Nathan White, a student at Central Kitsap Junior High School, wanted to complete an Eagle Project that would meet more than basic requirements.

That’s how the 15-year-old, a member of Boy Scout Troop 1540 chartered to Olympic Peninsula Bible Fellowship, wound up at Brownsville Cemetery June 14 — all day.

White arrived at 8:30 a.m. and finally packed it in at 7 p.m. after working for more than 10 hours to restore the aging cemetery.

“It was a long day,” he said.

His project?

To install stairs into a steep hill and widen the path leading to a portion of the cemetery, founded in 1903 and now crumbling.

“When I saw this one I said, ‘I really like this project’,” White said. “I thought it was an amazing part of history that nobody knew about.”

Accompanied by about 30 friends, family and fellow troop members, White worked with gravel, rebar and 8-foot railroad ties to assemble the section of stairs.

“We cut our way into the hill,” White said of the process. “The steps make it easier to get to the cemetery site.”

While the work was hard, the outcome was pleasant.

“I had a picture in my mind of what it would look like,” White said. “(The help) made it so much more amazing than I thought it could be.”

White wrote a one-page letter to area businesses explaining the project and asking for help. He included information about himself and his troop. The donations he received made the project possible, he said, thanking the donors.

Anderson Hill Dental Center, Brownsville Cemetery Association, Parker Lumber, Lowe’s, Clear Creek Nursery, Starbucks and Holdren Family Dentistry all donated supplies or money.

The oldest of four brothers, White hopes to see his siblings follow his lead and chip in — when their time comes — to help restore the cemetery.

“I hope that they follow up and do another project at the Brownsville Cemetery,” he said of his 3-, 9- and 11-year-old siblings. “It could be a family thing.”

Until then, however, White hopes the cemetery ages well. Hit by vandals in the past, maintaining the cemetery has proved troublesome.

“This is probably the most extensive amount of work that’s been put into it in a long time,” Scoutmaster Lyle Swanson said, who joined the crew and was impressed with White’s leadership.

“He’s a great guy and a great Scout,” he said. “I would say this is probably above the average project.”

Eagle Projects call on Scouts to do work that will benefit the community. Scouts must demonstrate leadership skills by planning and carrying out the project. Every Scout must complete an Eagle Project to become an Eagle Scout.

“The Eagle Project has to be a service to the community or any non-profit organization,” Swanson said.

“It’s a challenge that’s widely accepted,” White added. “I think it’s an awesome thing .”