District 5 Student Uses Eagle Scout Project To Design Literacy Garden

When Lexington-Richland School District Five student Eric Zimovan began thinking about his final Eagle Scout project, he knew he wanted to give back to his community. He didn’t look far, choosing to help educators who helped him and students who may one day follow in his path. 

“I loved the idea of helping out another school in our district,” said Zimovan, who contacted River Springs Elementary Principal Melanie Cohen for ideas on a project at her school. “And when Ms. Cohen shared what could be done at her school, I knew it was what I wanted to do.”

The Chapin High School senior settled on a project to turn a garden area at the school into a literacy garden, where students could sit and read and that teachers could utilize for outdoor lessons.

Once his project was approved by his troop committee and Eagle Scout representatives, Zimovan went to local businesses asking for donations for the project. He then gathered what other supplies he needed and recruited volunteers.

His project design implemented rubber mulch, river pebbles, posts shaped into No. 2 pencils and Scrabble®-like tiles spelling out words like read and learn. Cohen was thrilled with how it turned out and said Eric’s service proved the willingness students in District Five have to give back to others. 

“The garden area was in much need of an update, and Eric and his team turned it into a beautiful space for our students,” said Cohen. “The literacy garden is not only a wonderful celebration for our school, but for our district as well.  We have so many students like Eric willing to give back to our community in such a meaningful way.” 

Zimovan added that he didn’t really have any landscaping experience beforehand, but thanks to careful planning and all the help he received along the way, he thought the whole project flowed very smoothly.

“If I didn’t have a plan going into it, things probably would have turned out much different,” said Zimovan. “I am very satisfied with how everything turned out and know Ms. Cohen and the students at River Springs Elementary will really enjoy their literacy garden.”