Weiser Boy Scout paints heli-pad at hospital for Eagle Scout project

Weiser Boy Scout Jayden Anderson’s community project to earn the esteemed rank of Eagle Scout is visible from hundreds of feet in the air.
 Anderson, a freshman at Weiser High School, sanded, prepped and painted the heli-pad on the south lawn at Weiser Memorial Hospital. The concrete landing pad is regularly used by Life Flight helicopters for transporting patients.
 Anderson said he was seeking a project to complete for his Eagle Scout badge. His mom, who works at the hospital, suggested repainting the heli-pad. While a simple enough idea, the project turned out to be involved and required a significant investment of time and energy.
 He started out by putting together a plan and obtaining approval from the hospital, the scout leader and others. He came up with a list of materials needed and also rallied a group of volunteers to help as part of the leadership requirements.
 When he got down to the actual work, Anderson said some of the old paint did not want to come off. He tried to pressure wash it and that didn’t work. Finally, Anderson went to Nampa and brought back a concrete grinder on the stubborn paint. The sanding part of the project to remove the old paint took nearly 10 hours.
 Anderson coordinated the work of volunteers to help out and delegated duties. After the prep work, they applied three coats of white paint and two coats of red paint on the heli-pad. The paint was the same durable kind that is used on roads.
 The Boy Scout had to coordinate efforts through St. Luke’s and Life Flight while the work was going on and also work around the weather. The painting and configuration of the heli-pad had to comply with FAA requirements.
 David Belford, hospital facilities manager, worked with Anderson on the heli-pad painting project. He said the painting was needed and it was not possible just to paint over the old surface. The old paint on the heli-pad was cracked and chipping off, which is not desirable when helicopters come in to land and their rotors churn up the dust and debris.
 Belford said he required Anderson to put together a plan that detailed the amount of labor required and what equipment and materials were needed. The hospital paid for the paint. In total, the project took Anderson and the volunteers a good 40 hours.
 “He did a good job,” Belford said. “He orchestrated it all and it was quite a feat on his part.”
 Hospital CEO Steve Hale presented Anderson with a certificate of appreciation on Thursday for completing his Eagle Scout project at the hospital.
 “We are very thankful that Jayden Anderson chose the heli-pad repainting as his Eagle Scout project. This is a great community service which will ensure that the air ambulance pilots can clearly see their landing spot when flying in for patient transfers,” Hale said.
 Anderson is a member of Weiser Boy Scout Troop 388. He is the son of Jeff and Becky Anderson. Jeff is also the Scoutmaster of Troop 388
 To achieve the highest medal, Boy Scouts must earn a total of 21 merit badges, including 13 specified badges. A scout must serve in the troop in a position of responsibility for at least six months.
 The scout must plan, develop and give leadership to others in an approved service project that benefits any religious institution, school or the community.
 Only about four percent of all Boy Scouts achieve the highest rank in Scouting. To complete the Eagle Scout rank a Boy Scout must complete a number of lower ranks, beginning at about 12 years of age, and finish the requirements before reaching the age of 18.