The apex of Boy Scouts is becoming an Eagle Scout.

For someone like Kevin Brasier, who has been involved with Boys Scouts since he was 6 years old, earning his Eagle Scout award was a high point, but then he went one better. The 18-year-old, senior at Enumclaw High School, was chosen one of the top Eagle Scouts in the state for 2008 and was invited to be a part of the Scouting Report to the Washington state Senate in Olympia Feb. 11.

Approximately five Eagle Scouts from each of the seven councils in the state of Washington were invited to visit Olympia.

The event started with dinner that included speaker Lt. Governor Brad Owen. The following day, Brasier received a tour of the Capitol building, which included Attorney General Rob McKenna’s office. Then, a job with Jay Manning, the director of the Department of Ecology. Brasier will be starting college in the fall and wants to major in computer science or electrical/mechanical engineering.

Brasier picked up some engineering experience when he put together his Eagle Scout project.

An outdoor lover, Brasier decided his project would not only have to incorporate that passion, but would have to make a lasting impression.

He met with Flaming Geyser State Park Ranger John Ernster, who showed him several projects that needed to be done prior to the park’s centennial celebration in 2013.

Brasier got excited about one project in particular, the renovation of the bridge and viewing platform at the Bubbling Geyser exhibit. As part of the project, Brasier had to secure the materials and direct the labor. He raised more than $1,600 in donations and, with the help of others, logged more than 400 hours to complete the project.

He had groups of volunteers haul the old lumber down a one-quarter mile trail next to a stream, at the same time bringing new lumber up, all by hand.

Not only did his project replace the old bridge and platform, it improved upon them with cement foundations, stronger stringers for the bridge and a railing made from a rot-resistent, wood-like material.

“It all looks really good and is a huge improvement from what was there before,” Braiser wrote to friends on the blog he kept during the project. “The railing is all Trex (composite) and the color blends really well with the pressure treated wood. If you live near Flaming Geyser State Park, stop by sometime and check it out. It is just a short hike up the trail to the Bubbling Geyser.

“I would just like to give a big thank you again to everyone that made this possible.”

After the recent storm, Brasier couldn’t maintain his curiosity and headed to the park expecting to find damage. What he discovered was a lot of erosion around it, but the structure was sound.

To learn more about the project or to see more photographs visit Brasier’s Web blog at http://kevinseagleproject.wordpress.com/.