Help a Boy Scout Give Back to the Heroes Who Protect Our Community

My name is Derek Clatt, and I’m an Eagle Scout candidate with BSA Troop 73 in Lisbon, Connecticut. I’m asking for your help to give something lasting back to the volunteers who show up for our community every single day — the men and women of the Lisbon Volunteer Fire Department.

The Project

For my Eagle Scout Service Project, I am designing and leading the construction of a 20×20 foot post-and-beam BBQ Pavilion at the Lisbon Volunteer Fire Department on Newent Road. The pavilion will cover an existing masonry barbecue pit and a second pit the LVFD plans to build, creating a permanent, sheltered outdoor gathering space — built to last for decades — where the community can come together for fundraisers, cookouts, public events, and department celebrations.

This isn’t just a structure. It’s a home base for community connection.

The pavilion features:

1. Heavy-duty 8×8 pressure-treated posts and doubled 8×12 beams
2. A vented metal roof with a continuous ridge vent designed to let smoke from the pits escape safely
3. A 10-foot peak with a classic gable design
4. Built on an existing concrete slab — engineered for permanence and safety

Why It Matters

The Lisbon VFD is a mostly volunteer fire department. These firefighters and first responders give their time because they care about us. For years, their old firehouse had barbecue pits that were the heart of community fundraisers and gatherings. When the LVFD moved into their new firehouse last year, they built a new masonry barbecue pit to carry on that tradition — and they plan to add a second. But there’s still no shelter over them. Rain cancels events. Sun beats down on volunteers. There’s no covered space to gather.

This pavilion will change that. Every community cookout, every fundraiser, every appreciation dinner for these heroes will now have a proper home — rain or shine.

What Your Donation Does

The total estimated materials cost for this project is approximately $12,500. I am personally leading this build and recruiting Scout volunteers to do as much of the labor as possible — site prep, staging, finishing, staining, and cleanup — to keep costs down. Licensed contractors will handle the structural framing and metal roofing for safety.

Every single dollar donated goes directly to materials and supplies and possible contractor costs for this project. Nothing else.

About the Eagle Scout Rank

The Eagle Scout rank is the highest achievement in all of Scouting — earned by fewer than 4% of all Scouts. One of the final requirements is to plan, fund, and lead a meaningful community service project entirely on your own. This pavilion is mine. Every decision, every call, every volunteer shift — I’m responsible for making it happen.

I’ve spent months designing this structure, developing construction drawings, writing a safety plan, and reaching out to local businesses for support. Now I need the community’s help to get it built.

Let’s Do This Together

The Lisbon VFD has served this community for generations. This is my chance — as a young man who grew up here — to say thank you in a way that lasts.

If you’ve ever been grateful for the men and women who volunteer to keep our families safe, please consider making a donation today. No amount is too small. Every dollar brings this pavilion one step closer to reality.

Questions? Contact me directly:

Derek Clatt · 860-215-1436 · derekclatt@gmail.com

Endorsed by Scoutmaster Ken Bomba, BSA Troop 73, and Fire Chief David Gifford, Lisbon Volunteer Fire Department.