Helping the Community Photo by Jonathan Webb
Boy Scout Troop 7369 was asked by Saint Timothy Parish to build an exhibit for the International festival. The troop’s Scoutmaster, Mike Warsocki, brought up the request during a scout meeting. The troop’s scouts came to a consensus to build a monkey bridge, a bridge where the only place to walk on is a single rope. Roughly half of the 70-Scout troop took part in the early construction of the bridge. This required the construction of three A-frame lashings that were made with 12 foot long logs. The troop used a one inch thick rope to walk on, and installed guide lines putting to use their knot making skills. With more 30 willing workers, the first stage of construction was completed in around 2 hours. The result was a monkey bridge 70 feet long and with the main rope 6 feet off the ground. On the day of the festival, the Scouts rebuilt the bridge in about an hour. The troop used ladders to help children — and adults — on and off the bridge, had two spotters for every participant, and ran the event for nearly 7 hours.