Scouting America Scout James Inscoe achieved the coveted Eagle rank last week. His capstone project for the award involved installing a new map at the LJCC trailhead plus other wayfaring signs along The J’s extensive network of trails. A rising senior at Mountain Brook High School, James is hoping to study forestry in college. We caught up with the intrepid teen long enough to ask a few questions…
LJCC: How did this particular project here at The J come about?
JI: As a mountain biker, the LJCC trails are the most convenient trails to use in our community. I am on the Mountain Brook Cycling Team and when my teammates and I practice here, navigating the trails gets confusing. The old trail map had faded and I thought a new one in addition to trail signage would make it easier to understand the trail system. So I worked with The J to create a plan to improve these trails and make them more enjoyable for others.
What was the most challenging aspect of the project?
The planning phase to make sure we got the signage correct and user friendly, in addition to getting the construction and roofing plans correct. Once onsite, the toughest part was leveling the foundation and digging out the base and installing layers of rock, gravel, and sand to allow for proper drainage and retention of the mulch. I had a lot of help from other Scouts and friends, which made it a lot easier!
Why did you become a Scouting America Scout*?
I joined Cub Scouts in elementary school and then the Scouts in 6th grade. I joined because it all looked so interesting and I wanted to serve others. I never would have expected to learn all of the life skills that I have learned when I first joined.
Did you always know you wanted to be an Eagle Scout?
That’s always been my goal. While my family has a long history in Scouting, I am proud to be the first Eagle Scout in my family, which made me want to earn this rank even more. Being an Eagle Scout is something that is very important to me, and I would not be who I am today if it weren’t for the Scouts.
What are the expectations of an Eagle Scout project?
A main part of the Scout Oath is “To help other people at all times.” The goal of an Eagle Scout project is to accomplish a difficult task and show leadership while providing something positive to your community. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to do my Eagle Scout project at The J. This trail network is a great gift and I wanted to improve it for others to enjoy.
Attaining Eagle Scout status comes only after earning a variety of merit badges. What were your biggest challenges along the way?
You have to earn 21 total Merit Badges to be an Eagle Scout and 14 must be from the required list. The biggest challenge for me was going through part of my Scouting experience during the pandemic, which of course changed how we worked together as a troop. At that time I was trying to earn many of my Merit Badges and it was definitely a challenge trying to learn things virtually or on my own.
*Boy Scouts of America was renamed Scouts BSA in 2020 and became Scouting America in February 2025.
