Local scout seeks community support for project

Chase serves as Honor Guard. Photo provided by Chase Cordon.

Canyon Lake teen Chase Cordon is working toward the rank of Eagle Scout. He has completed many of the requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout and is working towards his Eagle Project. His plan is to build a 10-station fitness trail at Evans Park on Canyon Lake Drive North. Currently, this park is a dirt trail and grass field.

The goal of the project is to increase active use of this park and encourage fitness activities. Improvements at the park will allow members of the community a place to walk or run off of the streets of Canyon Lake. Chase projects this project will cost approximately $7000. He has raised about two-thirds of the funds and needs approximately $3000 more to complete the project. He hopes to raise funds by Apr. 15 to be able to complete the project installation by the end of May or early June.

Chase is working with Canyon Lake Director of Operations Steve Schneider and his staff for this project and plans to bring other scouts together to help with the project installation. For more information or to make a donation to Chase’s Eagle Project, visit cordoneagleproject.weebly.com.

Chase as a Tiger Scout in Canyon Lake. Photo provided by Chase Cordon.

“No one can pass through life, any more than he can pass through a bit of country, without leaving tracks behind, and those tracks may often be helpful to those coming after him in finding their way,” said Founder of the Scouting Movement Robert Baden-Powell These words speak to the actions of the few scouts who seek the highest rank in scouting, Eagle Scout.

Chase began his Scouting career in 1st grade as a Tiger Scout in Cub Scout Pack 346. He spent five years in Cub Scouts, enjoying the amenities of Canyon Lake with events at Holiday Harbor Park and camping at Happy Camp. He looks back fondly on his experiences racing derby cars and designing water rockets.

In March of 2012, Chase earned the highest award in Cub Scouts, the Arrow of Light. At that time, he bridged to Boy Scout Troop 444 in Menifee. He is an active member of the troop, serving in Quartermaster, Historian and Honor Guard positions.

During the summer of 2017, Chase and others from his troop attended the National Scout Jamboree in West Virginia. Over 25,000 Scouts from all over the country attend this event which occurs every four years. He was chosen to be the assistant senior patrol leader for the California Inland Empire Scouts who attended. He describes the trip as “an amazing experience, meeting Scouts from all over the Country.” He tells of the “day of service” where the Scouts cleaned a park and re-painted the parking lot, and the opportunity to organize and lead the Scouts during the trip.

Outside of Scouting, Chase enjoys surfing and dirt biking in his free time. The Temescal Canyon High School junior is a varsity athlete on both the water polo and swim teams. His water polo team achieved the ultimate goal for the first time in the school’s history of winning the 2017 CIF Southern Section Division 5 championship.

Chase hopes to raise enough money to build a 10-station fitness trail at Evans Park on Canyon Lake Drive North. Photo provided by Chase Cordon.

The points on map of Evans Park show where each of the fitness stations will be located. Photo provided by Chase Cordon.