Ryan Enslow, 18, of North Ogden received his Eagle Scout Award December 7th. Ryan, son of Chris and Rita Enslow, selected his Eagle project with the help of the North Ogden Recreation office. The particular project that caught his eye was building little lending libraries for others to enjoy. Ryan “grew up loving reading and still really enjoys it.” He felt “this would help promote literacy in his neighborhood.” This project included building two wooden houses that would contain books, both children and adult books, for the neighbors to either borrow and return, or keep and replace the book with another one that others would enjoy. He finished them with roof shingles, and a tight sealing door with glass. Ryan stained and sealed each one. Each is mounted on a 4x4 post with braces and cemented 2 feet into the ground.
Ryan began his project by researching the codes and building regulations with the city of North Ogden. He found they needed to be placed on his family’s property and a few feet inside their property lines. The next step was to contact the local HOA to make sure it was allowed. Ryan submitted his planning packet and received approval from them. He then submitted his paperwork to the Boy Scouts of America. Ryan said that his Scoutmaster, Keith Bradford, was “my greatest help in completing this project; He helped guide me through and took time out of his busy life and away from his kids and wife who was expecting their third child any minute.”
“Donations from many amazing people helped Ryan get the materials and with the help of his Scout Troop 235, they successfully constructed two little libraries. “A total of 80 hours of service was a bit more than I thought it would take,” Ryan said. “I really wanted to make something that would last and make a difference in our communities. I couldn’t have done this project without the help of so many wonderful people. It was their hard work and dedications that made this all possible.” Ryan said that “The Eagle Scout is a high honor in the Boy Scouts of America, and I wanted to hold it as such. I strived to choose a project that would really make an impact and that would reflect the ideals of an Eagle Scout.”
Ryan’s library is planted in the front corner of his home at 3475 North and 500 East. The second one belongs to a grateful, former resident of North Ogden, Sue Burnham, who will plant this in her new neighborhood in Twin Falls, Idaho, as soon the ground thaws. Congratulations to Ryan for an outstanding project and a meaningful addition to the neighborhoods.
