When
Joey Bartu began thinking about finding an Eagle Scout project a few years he
hoped it would involve building something in Exeter.
Joey
began his scouting career in Exeter in Pack 218 and after receiving the highest
award in Cub Scouts, the Arrow of Light, he joined Troop 270 in Friend.
In
2015 Troop 218 was formed in Exeter and Bartu moved his membership to become a
founding member of 218.
As
a Life scout, he ramped up his search for an Eagle project, finally settling on
building a picnic shelter at Edgar Rec Center. Growing up in Exeter, he
was familiar with both parks in town as he and his family had always enjoyed
using them. Gilbert’s Park had a picnic shelter, but Edgar Rec Center did
not.
Once he
found a project that interested him, he met with the church board along with
the park board to see if they were interested in having a shelter. Since Edgar Rec
Center is owned by the Exeter United Methodist Church, Bartu had to get
permission from both the church and the Exeter Park Board which maintains both
of the parks in Exeter. The
boards were very enthusiastic in support of the project and offered to help in
whatever capacity they could.
Bartu
then had to meet with the Cornhusker Council Prairie Winds District Advancement
Board and review the project with them. After the project was approved
Bartu began the next phase of planning and raising funds.
The
shelter, which is 26 x 20, was funded by grants from the Mary Tous Foundation,
the Exeter Community Foundation and the Fillmore County Foundation.
Bonnie
Cudaback, who serves on the park board, was thrilled with the addition to the
park, “My initial reaction when Joey approached me
with the idea was that it would be a marvelous addition to the park.”
And now, with it finished Cudaback and the park board loved
the result, “The shelter is so well built and very attractive. Very, very
nice!! The Edgar Rec Board is most grateful to Joey and his family for the
shelter.”
There
were some obstacles along the way, “There was no electricity at the park so it
was challenging using power tools along with working around the weather,”
explained Bartu.
Bartu
especially appreciated help and advice from Dale Erdkamp at Exeter Lumber and
church member and contractor Mike Anderson, “Working with Mike and Dale was
great because they helped show me both the right materials to use and gave me
construction advice.”
Kim
Dunker, who serves as Pastor at the Exeter United Methodist Church, has planned
a church service in the new shelter soon and envisions its use for many of the
youth activities, “It was so awesome to watch the plan come together and dreams
come true. We are so thankful and grateful for Joey’s gift. It will
be used in a very wonderful way. I know there are so many memories just
waiting to be made there in the park.”
On
March 18, Bartu directed a crew in assembling the roof structure and sheeting
the roof of the shelter. After a lunch provided by the United Methodist
Church and served in their memorial room the crew finished the main part of the
shelter during the day. A smaller crew roofed the structure over the next few
days.
Additionally,
Bartu finished the ends of the structure, added soffit and fascia and put a
coat of sealer on all of the cedar boards. A ceiling and trim were added
to completely seal up the structure. In total, Bartu and his crew spent
about 325 hours building the picnic shelter.
Currently,
Bartu is finishing his paperwork on the project and hopes to turn that in and
schedule a board of review soon so that he can receive his Eagle rank award.
