Horseshoe Bend Eagle Scout Project Improves Los Padres Forest Campsite

By an edhat reader

For his Eagle Scout Project, Local Troop 26 Scout Owen S. chose a project at one of the troop’s favorite camping spots – Horseshoe Bend on the Manzana River. It’s a popular camping spot, and a toilet would really improve the area for both the sheer luxury of it, but also since not all campers practice ‘leave no trace’ in certain outdoor activities.

A reconnaissance crew went out the week before to drop off supplies about a mile downstream, driving in on a private road, whose owners kindly allowed the drop-off. On the big weekend, scouts hiked in, carrying camping gear, plus some tools, to Horseshoe Bend. The project consisted of digging a deep pit and anchoring the toilet over it, constructing a decorative privacy screen, and installing a sign indicating the direction to the toilet.

From the scouts: “It was a great improvement to a favorite site – and hopefully the public enjoys the upgrades! It was also gratifying to see how everyone, even non-Scouts, practiced the Scout Law ‘helpful’. Many thanks to everyone who participated in the project: Mr. Beckstrand, Mr. Schott, Mr. Bohley, and Mr. Weakliem, Cooper B., Owen S., Nathaniel S., Logan B., and Jonathan W. plus the folks who live out there and saved scouts from carrying all the supplies and wood for 5 miles, the people who donated their old deck to be repurposed into the project, the Los Padres Forest Association, and to Channel City Lumber, who helped Owen pick out needed hardware and wood, and then donated it!”

The Los Padres Forest Association gratefully commends Troop 26 for their hard work and for vastly improving this beloved campsite. Thank you, scouts!