The rank of Eagle Scout is the highest rank one can achieve in the Boy Scouts of America. Most Boy Scouts reach this rank while they are in high school. Among other components, one of the requirements of becoming an Eagle Scout is completing a service project that benefits the community in some way. There are many types of Eagle Scout projects, such as helping improve conditions at a local park, making life better for shelter animals, organizing a litter pick-up day, and many more.
If you are working on becoming an Eagle Scout and enjoy crafting or DIY, the following Eagle Scout project ideas may interest you! They all contain a PVC component. It is a versatile, strong, and inexpensive material that can help you bring your final project with the Boy Scouts to life.
1. Build PVC Dog Beds for Your Local Animal Shelter
Animal shelters can often lack sufficient funding to purchase all the supplies they need. This can leave dogs and other animals without beds. These elevated PVC dog beds are great for indoor and outdoor use and can be made for any size dog. This specific dog bed consists of four legs and a rectangular frame. Heavy duty, durable fabric is attached to the frame, allowing a dog to rest comfortably on something more comfortable than concrete or asphalt.
While the sizes and lengths of pipes and fittings can vary depending on the type of dog that will be using the bed, the following PVC parts will be needed:
In addition to the PVC materials, you will also need some strong fabric and bolts to hold the fabric onto the frame. To put it together you will need a screw gun and maybe another person to hold the frame steady while you attach the fabric. These usually take under an hour to make each!
2. Hold a PVC Dog Wash to Raise Money for a Charity or Dog Shelter
On the topic of dogs: no one likes giving their dog a bath. Help people out by putting together a Saturday dog wash for your Eagle Scout project! It could be at a park, school, church, or even outside your local dog shelter. This can help raise money for any cause you see fit. Now, you could always wash dogs the regular way, but for a creative and time-saving touch, try making an awesome PVC dog washer. It works a little like a car wash. A dog can walk in and they will be sprayed with water from all directions. You can then add soap and rinse while the pups enjoy the shower.
This project is very simple and only requires a few different PVC parts, but also requires cement and thread sealant to keep the joints watertight:
- Schedule 40 PVC Pipe
- Schedule 40 Side Elbow Fittings
- Schedule 40 Tee Fitting
- Schedule 40 Garden Hose Adapter Fitting
- PVC Cement
- PVC Pipe Thread Sealant
Holes drilled into the frame allow water to spray toward the inside of the box. Anything inside the box will get a thorough shower! To make sure all dogs will fit in this dog washer, you may want to slightly increase the lengths of the pipe sections given in the guide.
3. Clean Up a Local Park with a PVC Trash Bag Holder
Some of the most beautiful places to relax can often be overrun by litter and other refuse that gets in the way of that location's natural beauty. One Eagle Scout project idea is to take a park or street and organize a clean-up! Get a few fellow scouts and pick up all the trash in sight. A common issue during this type of project is that trash bags will blow away, adding to the trash you have to clean up. Luckily, clever PVC lovers have developed a solution.
A PVC pipe trash bag holder is exactly what it sounds like. It acts as a frame, in which you can place a trash bag. The materials you will need for this project are as follows:
A PVC pipe trash bag holder is exactly what it sounds like. It acts as a frame in which you can place a trash bag. It is a lightweight piece of equipment, so you can move it around easily during the work day. You may need some small clamps to keep your trash bags in place, depending on the size of the bags.