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Fulfilling a dream years in the making, a local young man will become an Eagle Scout by this fall, and his efforts will help hunters with disabilities enjoy an activity many take for granted.
Lane Coffey, incoming freshman at Mahomet Seymour High School, said this project to help hunters with disabilities has been important to him for as long as he can remember.
The Clinton Lake State Recreation Area Handicapped Deer Hunt has been around for about 15 years, said Randy Coffey, Lane’s father and Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 25. Hunters with disabilities apply for a special permit to participate in the hunt, which takes place at Clinton Lake the week before normal shotgun season for deer begins. This is the weekend past Veteran’s day, he added.
Because of their disabilities, the hunters cannot access deer blinds like able bodied hunters can. The disabled hunters rely on specially constructed, wheelchair accessible blinds where they can sit and wait to get a good shot at passing deer. Lane’s project involved securing the funding for construction of a new blind, and managing the construction crew to build it. There at 26 such blinds at Clinton Lake, Mr. Coffey noted.
Lane said began planning for the build this past winter. On May 9, he had materials, a crew, and a plan to construct a hunter’s blind. When the day was over, Lane’s crew efficiently managed to build two blinds in seven hours, which, according to Mr. Coffey, was unexpected.
Lane’s mother, Penny, said her son’s inspiration for the project began after he heard what the accessible blinds meant to the hunters.
“He has always wanted to help out,” said Mrs. Coffey.
The disabled hunter’s weekend is partially funded by organizations with an interest in hunting, such as the National Rifle Association and White Tails Unlimited. These organizations helped Lane fund the building materials, and they also help maintain the program. His construction crew was comprised of local friends and family with building knowledge and an affiliation with Boy Scouts, according to Mr. Coffey.
Members from Lane’s Boy Scout troop were not eligible to help with the build.
“You have to be over 14 to use the power tools.” Lane’s Dad explained this is one of the Department of Natural Resources’ rules. Illinois DNR maintains the blinds, with much help from the private organizations.
Another key player in the project was the man who founded the Clinton Lake hunt, Rodney Seaman. Sadly, Seaman wasn’t able to see the new blinds. He passed away last fall. His family designated money from his memorials toward construction of new blinds, according to Mr. Coffey.
“Another Mahomet resident, Tom Parrett, who works for Clinton Lake SRA, also was instrumental in helping Lane get this organized,” according to Mr. Coffey.
Lane said he is looking forward to the fall when he can see his blinds in use and talk to the hunters who are using them.
Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout is the highest rank a young man can achieve in scouting. In order to achieve the rank, a young man must complete 21 merit badges, develop and carry out a project that must be sustainable and benefit the community, present the completed project at a Scoutmaster’s conference, and go before the Eagle board of review, all before a Scout reaches his 18th birthday.
Mr. Coffee said he encourages boys in his troop to work on their Eagle Scout requirements early in their Boy Scout career.
“It gets tougher as the boys get busier in High School, with sports and activities,” he said.
Lane, who began working on his Eagle Scout requirements in sixth grade, said he had another reason for wanting to finish his Eagle rank earlier in his Boy Scout career.
Scouting runs in the Coffey family. Lane said his Dad is an Eagle Scout and his grandfather achieved the rank of Silver Beaver. Lane is especially proud he finished his Eagle Scout rank and his grandpa will get to see it.
The hunters who use one of the two blinds can enjoy modifications Lane made to the design provided by DNR. Lane said he added a drink shelf, a wall on one side to keep hunters out of the elements, a coat hook and a gun rest. Those hunters also will find a bright orange sign in the blind, stating the blind was Lane’s Eagle Scout project in memory of Rodney Seaman.
Lane’s parents are especially proud of their son’s achievement.
“I am proud to see his leadership,” said his mom. “He took control of the crew and worked beside them.”
“I’m proud to see he wants to follow in my footsteps and be an Eagle Scout,” said his dad. “I’m proud he embraces the program and thankful it paid off for him.” Mr. Coffey also noted how taking part in the Eagle Scout program benefited his leadership skills through participation in the National Youth Leadership Program.
The Coffey family hopes to have the Eagle Scout ceremony by the end of the summer. Lane’s mom said she wants to prepare pictures of Lane from when he was a Tiger Cub (a first grade boy in Cub Scouts) all the way up until now. She also wants to have photos of the generations of Scouts in Lane’s family.
To document his achievement, Lane had to keep a log of all his activities. It is handwritten and shows page after page of the hours invested by Lane and others, people contacted, and work completed.
Lane said the best part of the project, other than achieving his dream of the Eagle rank, was the day of the build.
“I wouldn’t do anything different,” Lane stated. “I didn’t really like the paperwork,” he added when asked what he didn’t like about the project.
Lane said he plans on sticking with Boy Scouts. He and his family said they enjoy working with the younger scouts and teaching them what scouting is all about. For example, Lane and his family have helped Cub Scout pack 25 with their Christmas Party. Cub Scouts is for boys aged 1st through 5th grade. Boy Scouts starts when a young man reaches 6th grade.
Lane can help mentor the elementary school aged boys in Cub Scouts, whether it is teaching them to fish, use a pocket knife, or build a camp fire. And maybe when today’s Cub Scouts see Lane and hear what scouting has meant to him, he will inspire one of them to follow in his footsteps and achieve the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout.
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What is an Eagle Scout?
According to the Boy Scouts of America’s Web Site, A young man over the age of 10 years and past 5th
grade must do the following to earn the rank of Eagle Scout:
Progress through the 5 ranks of Boy Scouts
Earn 21 merit badges
Serve six months in a troop leadership position.
Plan, develop, and give leadership to a service project for any religious organization or any school
or community.
Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.
Successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review.
These requirements must be met before a Scout reaches his 18th birthday.
Eagle Scout is the highest advancement rank in Boy Scouting.
In 2013, 56,841 Scouts earned the Eagle Scout rank.
From 1912 to 2013, 2.3 million Boy Scouts earned the Eagle Scout rank.
Around 7 percent of all Boy Scouts earned the Eagle Scout rank in 2013.
In 2013, the average age of boys earning the Eagle Scout rank was 17 years of age.
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