“I loved to go outside and to have class outside,” said Bonovich. “But the only problem with it was that you were on the hot black top, or in the grass, or on the concrete.”
Now a member of Scouting America Troop 732 in Frankfort, the 16-year-old Lincoln-Way East junior decided to change that with her Eagle Scout Project.
“With Rogus having that enclosed courtyard, I thought it would be great to have a nature setting for a seating area,” said Bonovich.
She began brainstorming Eagle Scout project ideas about a year and a half ago before settling on creating an outdoor classroom space at Rogus. She presented her idea to Principal Colin Bradley in 2023 to get approval, then presented it to her Boy Scouts of America Council to get their green light.
After researching, planning, and ordering materials for her project, Bonovich began physically building it in June. It took about a month to make the table and benches, and to paint and seal the 12 mushroom stools.
Using her leadership skills to recruit friends to help paint and seal the mushrooms, Bonovich provided a sample to show them her vision and technique, then worked alongside them to complete the work. Because there were so many pieces and some of them were heavy, she also recruited friends to help deliver the items to the school and set them up. She even asked them for feedback and ideas for the layout of her project in the courtyard.
“Lily's Eagle Scout Project has had an immediate impact on the useability of our outdoor greenspace. Classes have already enjoyed outdoor instruction with her functional and fun tables and seating,” said Bradley. “This was a wonderful idea, and the culmination far exceeded our expectations. We look forward to using this space for many years to come!”
Bonovich, who lives in Tinley Park, began her Scouting career in second grade as a Girl Scout. When the Boy Scouts of America began accepting girls into the program in 2019, she participated in both for two years before her Girl Scout troop disbanded during the COVID-19 pandemic. She then decided to focus on BSA.
Now known as Scouting America, only 5 to 6 percent of Scouts rise to the rank of Eagle Scout, and of those only 2.5 percent of Eagle Scouts are female.
“I think having that accomplishment of Eagle Scout would be amazing because it shows the leadership that I was able to give and shows that I was able to lead a team to get a project like this done,” said Bonovich. “Seeing my friends get Eagle, they were my role models, and now with me getting Eagle, I hope to be like that to younger Scouts like they were to me.”
Bonovich, who comes from a Scouting family, will become the third local girl to become an Eagle Scout. She has earned 47 badges and six awards, and has traveled all over the country from West Virginia to Colorado to Florida for Scouting jamborees and leadership conferences. She is also a member of the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s National Honor Society, as well as Venturing, a Scouting program that focuses on adventure, training, leadership, and personal growth. She was recently elected Vice-Chief of Programming for the OA Lodge, where she will be responsible for planning more than a half dozen major events for hundreds of participants.
At Lincoln-Way East, Bonovich is a member of the Interactive Club, which does volunteer work. She also plans to join the school’s new American Sign Language Club this year.
As a senior patrol leader in her troop for the past year, she also plans a weekly meeting as well as an annual camp out for 200+ people. Bonovich, who wants to leave the Midwest for college, plans to study hospitality and get into meeting and event planning.
She also hopes to follow in her family footsteps and become a Scouting leader someday.
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Looking for more information on Scouting?
Scouting America Troop 732 for girls ages 10-17 meets on Tuesdays, 7-8:30p, at the Frankfort Square Park District Community Room, 7540 W. Braemar Ln. For more information, email [email protected].
Scouting America Troop 237 for boys ages 10-17 meets Mondays, 7-8:30p, at the Frankfort Square Park District Community Room, 7540 W. Braemar Ln. For more information, email [email protected].
Cub Scout Pack 101 for ages 5-10 meets on a variety of days and times based on age. For more information, email [email protected].
For other areas or more information, visit beascout.org.