Sandstrom earns Eagle Scout rank with construction project

Samuel Sandstrom built an obstacle course to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – By earning the Eagle Scout Rank, Samuel Sandstrom proved to himself that he could master a difficult challenge.

For a service project, Sandstrom designed a low-ropes obstacle course to partner with an existing high-ropes course at a local youth camp. “I oversaw construction of the first two obstacles, a nine-foot wall and two corrugated pipe tunnels,” he said.

He also supervised planting trees for future shade.

The construction required drills, lag bolts, screws, tampers, shovels, saws, levels, post-hole diggers, wheel barrows, rope, screwdrivers, generators and air compressors. Overall, his project involved 100 man-hours.

“John Fellows was a huge help to me, and one of the main reasons the project was as good as it was,” Sandstrom said. “My dad also worked tirelessly to help me and gave up so much of his time to help it come together and guide me in putting everything together.”

“Many people are very impressed, have expressed gratitude and disbelief and agree it’s a good addition to the camp,” Sandstrom said.

Samuel’s parents are Leif and Minna Sandstrom. He works as an engineer. Samuel’s oldest sister Sofia is a freshman at Brigham Young University-Idaho. His younger siblings are Noah, Benjamin, Saara and Emmah, who all attend Madison City Schools.

“At first, I wanted to become an Eagle Scout so I could get my license; my parents had made a rule,” Sandstrom said.

However, about halfway through Scouting, all his friends were working for Eagle rank. “I wanted to get it with them. Then, I ended up wanting it, ” Sandstrom said.

Samuel was born in Finland. The Sandstroms moved to Harvest, where he attended school until third grade. Then, they moved to Madison for the school system and proximity to Leif’s job. Samuel attended Heritage elementary and Liberty middle schools.

Now a junior at James Clemens High School, Sandstrom is involved with theatre and recently helped with “Little Shop of Horrors.”

The family attends The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Slaughter Road.