Cooper Hewitt earns Eagle Scout rank with final project at park

The picnic pavilion in the Groton Memorial Park on Sykes Street now offers an opportunity for community fun in every season — a permanent chess board, complete with the chessmen needed to play the game!

This unique new addition to the park is the project that completed an Eagle Scout rank for Cooper Hewitt of Groton Boy Scout Troop #77, who said he hopes that “it will be an enjoyable spot for adults to use and for kids who might enjoy chess.”

Cooper, a senior at Groton Jr./Sr. High School (GHS), has been a Boy Scout since fifth grade. He spends some time with his dad, David Hewitt, and the rest with his mom, Kristen Likel, who also happens to be one of his Scout leaders, and his sister, Claire Hewitt, who is a sophomore at GHS. Cooper said, though, that he spends almost every day after school at the Groton Public Library, where he also works part time.

“Monday through Wednesday, I play Dungeons and Dragons. Thursdays, I’m learning to cook from Justin, and on Fridays I play computer games,” Cooper said. “I also like reading. I burn through a lot of books!”

Despite his busyness at the library, Cooper has dedicated a lot of his time to scouting. He began as a Webelo in Cub Scouts and moved up to Boy Scouts in the middle of fifth grade. He then earned both his Scout rank and Tenderfoot that following summer. Over the next year, Cooper earned his Second Class and First Class ranks, then Star and Life. In seventh and eighth grades, he worked diligently on earning merit badges.

“There are 14 specific badges required to earn Eagle Scout,” Cooper explained. “They involve many levels of citizenship, personal finance, first aid and physical fitness. For that, you need to do one of swimming, hiking or cycling, but I did both hiking and swimming.”

Cooper further explained that the hiking piece was a total of 50 miles. He did most of those in the Adirondack Mountains throughout his high school years, including a 10-mile hike up one of the highest peaks there.

“I learned survival skills in most environments,” Cooper said. “Some of my favorite things were going to Binghamton Rumble Ponies games and pitching a tent in their outfield, but without using stakes. I also liked snowboarding at Swain Mountain.”

By the time Cooper was ready to work on his final project for his Eagle Scout rank, he had earned a total of 21 merit badges. He also earned three additional badges in Collections, Indian Lore and Genealogy.

“I was looking a long time for what I could do for my Eagle Scout project,” Cooper said. “And then, one summer I saw a chess board painted on a table at Myers Park in Lansing. I thought to myself, ‘This could be done nicer and better.’ So, I decided to do it at Sykes Park.”

Cooper worked hard to make his vision come to fruition and is grateful for all the help he received. Baker-Miller Lumber donated the base and middle boards for the chess board, and his grandfather, Fred Likel, donated the walnut and maple wood for the squares. Fred also allowed Cooper to use his basement to build the board and the wooden cabinet that holds the chess pieces. Dan Ward donated the varnish, and Rob Eckert, who is a former Eagle Scout himself, did the 3-D printing of the chess pieces.

“I found the model for the chess pieces and had T-77 printed on the bottom of each one to represent Troop #77, but Rob printed them for me,” Cooper said. “I also want to thank a lot of other people who helped and guided me through the years. My mom and the other Scout leaders — Rae Avery, Julie Faber, Ed Brewer, Carl Coté, Joe Miller and also Rick Burt, the Troop #85 leader. I attended Scout camp with his troop, and Rick helped me a lot with my merit badges.”

“It takes a community,” Kristen added. “I’m appreciative of all the people who helped Cooper and the Scouts in general. It’s a lot of work. Cooper persevered, and he helped others, too.”

Going forward, Cooper hopes to attend either SUNY Oneonta or Rochester Institute of Technology to study computer science. He would like to pursue web development or information security as a career.

“I had to earn the Eagle Scout before I turned 18,” Cooper said, “and I did it just in time. This was my last step before college, and probably the last big thing I will probably do before college.”

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com or text or call Linda at 607-227-4922. 

In brief:

Fire department chicken barbecue

The Groton Fire Department will hold a chicken barbecue Saturday, Feb. 8 with beans, macaroni and cheese and a dinner roll. Half-chicken will be $8; dinners will be $12. Available from 10 a.m. until gone.

Groton Community Cupboard hours

Just a reminder that the Groton Community Cupboard, 122 Spring St., is there for you during these frigid days. Plenty of food is in stock, and you are encouraged to reach out if you need something. Hours are Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Mondays noon to 3 p.m. and Thursdays 5 to 6 p.m.

Taco Tuesdays are back

Thursday Grill Nights at the Groton American Legion Post 800 are from 5 to 7 p.m. weekly, but if Thursdays don’t work for you, come out for Taco Tuesdays. Tacos and taco salads are offered every Tuesday beginning at 5 p.m. — eat in or take out. It’s a nice way to get out during the week and enjoy a reasonably priced meal, with all profits going to the Post.