BOARDMAN — Evan Sweder, a 2024 graduate of Boardman High School, recently earned his Eagle Scout award for his project constructing eight bluebird houses along a trail in Springfield Forest.

Evan, son of Christie and Jeff Sweder, attends The Ohio State University in Columbus, where he is pursuing a major in civil engineering.

“I have been back to see all eight boxes and the last time I checked them, several had full nests,” he said.

He said when it came time to do his Eagle Project in the spring, he wanted to do something to benefit Mill Creek MetroParks. He spoke with the park’s natural resources manager Nick Derico and agreed constructing the bluebird boxes was a worthy project. Springfield Forest, a part of Mill Creek MetroParks south of Evans Lake in New Springfield, was the selected site.

Almost all the materials Evan needed were donated by Lowe’s, Home Depot and Welsh Hills Sawmill.

“Obtaining the materials was a long process of writing letters to the companies, finding time when the manager was available to meet, waiting for the materials to be properly checked out by the store, and then finally bringing the materials home,” Evan said.

He did some preliminary work at home, then finished up on site. He also included some info on the boxes.

“I included the information because I felt it was a great way to educate people on several features of the birds such as habitat, food sources, predators and more,” Evan said.

On Aug. 10, Evan had his Court of Honor with Boardman Troop 46.

Evan said his experience with the project and with Scouting has played a role in the direction his life is heading.

“My Scouting experience solidified the fact that I am an outdoorsy person,” Evan said. “I knew civil engineers often work outside on projects. On top of that, going through the process of creating the bird boxes was enjoyable. So with these things in mind, civil engineering felt to be the right fit for a major (in college).”

He said he is looking to return to Scouting as an adult leader when time and circumstances allow.

Evan joins his brother Jason, who completed his Eagle Scout award last year at Camp Frederick in Rogers, where he added signage and built a fire ring.

“Christie and I are extremely proud of our sons for their perseverance and dedication to Scouting beginning at age 6 through age 18,” Jeff Sweder said. “The vast majority of children who start the Scouting journey never reach the rank of Eagle for one reason or another. This achievement requires a tremendous amount of time and effort to complete. We feel that the lessons the boys have learned throughout their Scouting years have prepared them well for what lies ahead.”