In the LymeLight: Lyme-Old Lyme Troop 26 Bridges the Gap at Champlain North Preserve

Lyme-Old Lyme Boy Scout Troop 26 built a 33-foot bridge at Champlain North while learning about environmental stewardship and history in the woods of Old Lyme.

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In the LymeLight
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April 28, 2026
A Boy Scout bends over a section of the footbridge while five Boy Scouts look on.
Boy Scouts from Troop 26 work on a span of the new footbridge at Champlain North preserve. Photo courtesy of Old Lyme Open Space Commission.

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OLD LYME, CT – Lyme-Old Lyme Boy Scout Troop 26 recently partnered with the Old Lyme Open Space Commission to construct a new footbridge over a muddy stretch of trail at the Champlain North preserve. 

The project resulted in a 33-foot-long, 24-inch-wide bridge built in three sections. 

Troop leader Jon Goss, in the green sweatshirt, explains layout and measurements as Peter Norris, chief steward for the Open Space Commission, looks on.

Open Space Commission member Andrea Fenton credited the Boy Scout troop, led by Jon Goss, with putting problem solving, science, math and design skills to work throughout the build.

She said the commission hopes projects like this one will help teach young people about environmental work and the varied career paths it can take. 

A man in a green fleece jacket stands in front of members of the Boy Scout troop, some of whom are drinking from red cups.
Old Lyme Open Space Commission member Evan Griswold tells the Boy Scouts about the Barbizon Oak. The 300-year-old tree is one of Connecticut’s largest white oaks and was named in honor of the Lyme Art Colony, which was created in 1899 as an American equivalent to the French Barbizon School of painting.

The effort was part of the commission’s ongoing collaboration with local youth groups. Since 2019, the Commission has worked with Lyme-Old Lyme High School students in what is now known as the ECOS (Environmental and Community Organization of Stewards) Club. Members have helped with a range of hands-on conservation projects, including footbridges, benches and duck nesting structures across town preserves. 

The Commission regularly partners with students on advanced service projects required for top scouting honors, including Eagle Scout and Gold Award efforts. One recent example is a 26-foot-long bridge at the Bartholomew Open Space property. 

Do you know a neighbor worth celebrating? Awards, accomplishments and quiet acts of kindness all belong in the LymeLight. Please share your suggestions by emailing editor@lymeline.com.

Author
Community Desk
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