Marshy Point Nature Center in Baltimore, MD, is a waterfront facility in the Upper Bay and is part of the U.S. National Park Service’s Chesapeake Gateways Network. The Marshy Point Nature Center Council is currently in the process of building a new Children’s Chesapeake Play Area, with help from local Boy Scout troops. Fifteen year-old Boy Scout (and soon to be Eagle Scout) Zachary Barnickel, along with Troop 355, recently constructed a replica skipjack that serves as the centerpiece of the new play area.
The idea for the Chesapeake play area was developed by senior naturalist Ben Porter. Local scout troops often help out with projects at the nature center and Zachary chose to take on the role of leader, in building the skipjack, for his Eagle Scout project. It should come as no surprise that Zach chose this undertaking for his Eagle Scout Project, as he has spent his whole life near the water in nearby Bowleys Quarters, MD. From a young age he spent his summers fishing and crabbing with his family, and quickly earned his water sports merit badge for the scouts after learning to water ski.
The skipjack, aptly named the Z. H, Barnickel, is a 3/4 scale model, based on designs from the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels, MD. Zach visited CBMM back in January with his family. According to his mom Tracie, “it was a rainy day which worked out quite well because he was able to talk to the shipbuilders for quite some time.” They purchased blue prints for the skipjack Rosie Parks and then Zach and his dad used those plans to size their project down to a 3/4 scale. For Zach, this was the hardest part of the project; scaling down the blueprints. He tell us: "I could not buy plans that told me exactly how long each board needed to be. I was hoping that we could have found plans, but we couldn't find them for a skipjack, only pirate ship playsets."
It took a village to complete the Z. H. Barnickel; Zach conducted fundraisers, including a bake sale and a flower sale, and also received a donation from the Marshy Point Nature Council to raise money for building supplies. A local business made the wooden nameplates that adorn the ship’s bow. The entire project took about seven months to complete.
The replica skipjack is 42 feet long and was built around the existing flag pole at the Nature Center, to serve as the mast. We asked Zach what his favorite part of the project was and he said painting the ship and putting on the finishing touches. "I was very happy to see it finally done, knowing that I can now become an Eagle Scout!" Just behind the Barnickel is a replica bald eagle nest, built on an observation platform by another local Boy Scout troop. Children will be able to climb on both exhibits, all while learning about the Chesapeake Bay.