Apple Valley Scout Earns Eagle Rank After Leading Outdoor Classroom Project in Burnsville
Photo captured by Rod Oman at The Imagery in Burnsville, MN.
Published: August 18, 2026.
APPLE VALLEY & BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA - An Apple Valley Scout has earned the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout after leading a major service project that transformed an outdoor area in Burnsville into a space now being used daily by students and community members.
Jackson Bents, a member of Scouts BSA Troop 9293 in Apple Valley, earned the Eagle Scout rank after planning, organizing, and leading the construction of a joint outdoor classroom and meeting space for Mary, Mother of the Church Catholic Church and Unity Catholic High School in Burnsville. The project required Bents to coordinate a large team of volunteers and oversee several stages of work to prepare and develop the site.
Volunteers first cleared the area and installed a weed barrier before undertaking one of the project's most labor-intensive tasks: moving approximately seven tons of baseball-diamond dirt into the site using wheelbarrows. The team also constructed seven benches, providing seating for students and groups using the space. In addition, volunteers built a storage unit and a fire pit, creating an area that could serve several purposes for both the school and church.
The finished project has quickly become a regularly used part of the property. Since its completion, the outdoor space has been used multiple times each day for classes at Unity Catholic High School. Mary, Mother of the Church has also used the area for youth gatherings, meetings and other activities.
Jessica Bents, Jackson's mother, said representatives from the school and church have been impressed with the finished project and the work performed by the Scouts. According to Bents, representatives told the family that the Scouts did a better job on the project than professional contractors they had hired for previous work.
Project Highlights Leadership and Community Service
Earning the Eagle Scout rank is the culmination of years of advancement, service and leadership within Scouts BSA. A major component of reaching the rank is planning, developing and leading a service project benefiting a religious institution, school or community. Rather than simply participating in the work, an Eagle Scout candidate is responsible for demonstrating leadership throughout the project, including developing a plan, organizing resources and volunteers, and overseeing the project's completion.
Bents' Burnsville project brought those requirements together through a substantial construction and improvement effort that required both physical work and coordination among a large group of volunteers. The result is also intended to provide a lasting benefit to the organizations it serves. With students already using the area for outdoor classes and the church incorporating it into youth activities and meetings, the project has become a functional gathering space for both organizations.
Bents' completion of the project and achievement of the Eagle Scout rank recognizes his leadership, service, and commitment to his community, qualities at the heart of the highest rank available through the Scouts BSA program.
Photo Captured By: Jessica Bents
Written by: Will Wight
