Nathan Gerlovin is a Senior at Ashland High School and a leader in Ashland Boy Scouts Troop 232.  

He recently completed an Eagle Scout community service project that he worked on for more than a year. It took about 150 hours of his time, used about 60 volunteers, and all of volunteer time spent on the project totaled close to 500 hours!

The project involved building a mobile two-bin recycling structure for Ashland High School’s cafeteria and gymnasium, which previously lacked any recycling receptacles.   

Nathan saw the need for recycling in his high school and worked with the school principal (Kelly St. Coeur) and Ashland’s Sustainability Coordinator (Samantha Riley) to come up with a plan to improve the school’s sustainability.  

He then needed to get the project approved by both the School Committee (which did not initially approve it but ultimately approved it with the condition that it be built with composite materials) and also by Boy Scout Council.  

There was then a massive fundraising effort as the structure required more than $2500 of materials!  Local businesses and families generously donated materials and funding for the project, and Ashland Boy Scouts constructed it over four separate building sessions requiring more 30 scouts as well as help from family and friends!  

Needless to say, it was very exciting when Nathan was able to deliver the recycling structure to Ashland High School last month!  

It has been well-received by students and faculty alike.  

The recycling structure will be emptied on a regular basis by the school’s student-run Environmental Action Club. 

Nathan would like to thank the local sponsors and helpers of his project, which include Ashland Lumber, TLC Painting, Lowe’s Milford, Monnick Supply and the Witte and Gerlovin families, by holding a “ribbon cutting ceremony” by the recycling structure at Ashland High School and inviting them, along with Ms. St. Coeur, Ms. Riley, and his Boy Scout troop leaders.