A St. Michael-Albertville High School senior, Ethan Nesbit, mixed his Eagle Scout project with recreation for a new activity at the high school that can be used for years to come.
High school principal Bob Driver gave Nesbit the idea for a nine-hole disc golf course last year as he was brainstorming ideas for his Eagle Scout project. Nesbit’s initial plans called for the school’s industrial technology department to construct the baskets, but when that idea fell through he did fundraisers for the better part of a year to raise about $1,400 to purchase baskets from a company in California. Nesbit said he raised most of the funds through local Dairy Queen fundraisers.
STMA High School Principal Bob Driver and Eagle Scout Ethan Nesbit.
In June, Nesbit and a team of around 12-18 volunteers set out to construct the course. They got the job done in about six hours, he said. Nesbit thanked Driver, high school activity director Brian Benson, high school instructor Gregg Greeno and the grounds crew staff for their help with the project.
The course has been well received so far, Driver said, with students heading out to play after school on nice days. He said they also plan to have students use the course during physical education time.
“You always want kids to be at the high school,” Driver said. “You want them to be part of the high school experience and part of the community, and so what Ethan has created has been great because we’ve had tons of kids showing up and playing Frisbee golf during non-school hours. We’ve heard a lot of positive feedback about it.”
Nesbit said that Greeno, a long-time high school instructor, played an instrumental role in helping with the project, and Driver said Greeno has already asserted his position as the curator, now and forever, as well as the course record-holder, Driver reported.
“But just so you know, Greeno is not the actual course record holder,” Nesbit added to laughter from board members and meeting attendees.
“It was a great undertaking to do this, and Ethan was very organized,” Driver said. “It’s just another piece of the puzzle at the high school to get kids involved.”
Driver said right now disc golf players need to bring their own Frisbees, but in the future he said they hope to stock Frisbees at the recreation center window for players to check out, like they currently do for basketballs and other gym items.
“Thanks so much, Ethan, for helping our community, your fellow students and friends,” board chair Gayle Weber said. “You’re what helps make us a great school district.”