Kirschenmann completes Eagle Scout project

Another Boy Scout from Troop 1971 in Libby has reached scouting’s highest achievement.

Adam Kirschenmann recently completed his community-service project at Turner Mountain Ski Area.

Under the guidance of Kootenai Winter Sports President Bruce Zwang, Kirschenmann requested permission from Kootenai Winter Sports to restain five buildings on the mountain.  The buildings are used for lift attendants and storage for the generators. Through the years of use and weather these buildings were in need of restaining.

“I love the mountain,” Kirschenmann said. “I love to keep it pristine and well-cared for. Being able to fix the mountain for my project was a dream come true.”

Kirschenmann began organizing and planning early in the summer and in July led three trips to the ski area to complete the project. He was aided by 13 scouts and youth volunteers including Lance Ehmann, Declan Faulkner, Blake Knapp, Josh McGough, Steven Shuey, Caleb Thomas, Patrick Faulkner, Travis Baker and Taylor Cook. Four adults also assisted, including Zwang, Adam Kirsschenmann’s parents, Scott and Hope Kirschenmann and Scoutmaster Frank Votapka.

“He’s our assistant scoutmaster now,” Votapka said. “As a scout, he was a steadfast leader. I could assign him any task, and he would follow it through.”

Historically, about 2 percent of all boys who join scouting become Eagle Scouts. Votapka said the recent flurry of Eagles goes to beyond the norm.

“Adam is among a group who all joined together,” Votapka said. “They’re all seeing it through.”

Kirschenmann and volunteers scraped, climbed ladders to stain the buildings, painted trim and cleaned up afterword.

Kirschenmann, a senior at Libby High School, has been a volunteer with Kootenai Winter Sports for five years. He spends many hours there for leisure and maintenance.