Denise Watson, the Executive Director of Mountain Valley Hospice, had informed David Taylor, Committee Member of the Dogwood District/Old Hickory Council, of the need for a playground at Woltz Hospice Home. Welch, 14, and a freshman at Mount Airy High School, was an enthusiastic candidate for the job. He had even done house-sitting for H. Woltz III, the son of Joan and Howard Woltz.
Not long after Welch’s project was approved in March, his grandfather was placed in hospice in-home care in Pipers Gap, Va. The elder Welch died in July, adding a new level of poignancy to Welch’s playground project.
From the beginning, Welch’s determination and leadership skills kicked in. He quickly raised $1,280 in cash and obtained $2,250 worth of materials. He assembled 17 of his Scouting friends to help build the playground from the ground up. What started out as a patch of grass evolved over the following months into a deluxe play space, complete with swings, slide, gazebo, sand box, rock climbing, rubber mulch and other features. The playground took 337 man hours to complete, Welch said.
“The play set was delivered in five boxes and some of the feedback posted on the supplier’s Web site suggested that the assembly time was about 16 hours,” Welch said. “But it took at least 16 hours to sort out all the parts before we could start the assembly. I was very fortunate to have my family and my Scout troop help me with this project.”
Welch and his Scout Troop’s perseverance was tested in early August, when lightening struck the partially-erected playground. After a minor delay the Scouts regrouped and had the playground finished by the end of August
“The playground is phenomenal and fits right in with our high-quality new facility,” said Denise Watson, Mountain Valley Hospice’s Executive Director. “Jack and his team did a tremendous job.”
With his Eagle Scout Leadership Project completed and all merit badge requirements satisfied, Welch is now an Eagle Scout candidate. He is in the final review stages of completing the Eagle application approval with Troop 596, Dogwood District of Old Hickory Council and National Boy Scouts of America.
Welch has been involved in Scouting for the past eight years, moving up the ranks from Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, Webelos, to Boy Scouts, and from Tenderfoot to Eagle Scout candidate. As a Cub Scout he earned the Arrow of Light, Cut Scouting’s highest honor, which requires completing several requirements. He has recently become involved in the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s National Honor Society.
Welch enjoys camping, fishing, soccer and many other activities. After high school, he would like to pursue a degree at N.C. State University and become a radiologist.
He is the son of Robert and Ellen Welch and the brother of Sam Welch, who is also an Eagle Scout from Troop 596.
Scout’s Initiative
Leads to New Playground
for Woltz Hospice Home
Completed August 2009
Jack Welch, a member of Central United Methodist Church Boy Scout Troop 596, has proved that a little Scouting initiative goes a long way.
When Welch was looking to advance to the Eagle Scout rank earlier this year, he chose an unusual and meaningful way to fulfill the community-service project portion required by that scouting level: Raise money and build a playground for the new Joan & Howard Woltz Hospice Home of Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care.
