By Sue Moore
Five old-fashioned trash receptacle enclosures for Vicksburg’s Historic Village were built by Nick Akins for his Eagle Scout project. He and his parents delivered them to the Village to be used on the grounds and inside the Community Pavilion for the season’s opening in May.
The idea and prototype of a trash bin to hide the rather ugly barrels usually found on the grounds came from Jim Bird. He works with the volunteers called the Thursday Guys at the Historic Village. Akins took over with the help of his dad and mom, Ken and Theodora, and an uncle, architect Rick Visser. The materials cost $240. His mom pitched in $40 from her cleaning business. Nick put in $40 himself. His advisor was Troy Smith, assistant scoutmaster for Troop 251.
Only a sophomore at Vicksburg High School, Akins attended Philmont Scout Ranch last summer. One of four Boy Scout High Adventure bases in the nation, it challenges Scouts with more than 214 square miles of rugged northern New Mexico wilderness. Backpacking treks, horseback cavalcades and training and service programs offer young people many ways to experience the outdoors. “I climbed 160 miles in two weeks, carrying half of my weight on my back and lost 30 pounds,” Akins said.