This morning when the students at Crow Island Elementary returned to school after the long weekend, they were greeted by the school's latest addition: a giant map of the United States painted on the blacktop. The map was the culmination of hours of planning, approval, fundraising, and coordination of volunteers by John Gaschler for his Eagle Project. John is a member of Boy Scout Troop 18 in Winnetka.

"The kids think it is just great," said Bob Sweene who was John's project contact at Crow Island. "We are so excited to have the map back." There had been a map on the playground when John went to school at Crow Island, but it was removed when the blacktop was redone several years ago.

John raised the $500 he needed for the map template and supplies by holding a car wash back in September. Then, he arranged for about 20 volunteers to help paint the map. "I am very proud of this project. It was so much work, but it was worth it," said John. "The kids will hopefully like the map as much as I did when I went there."