Determined Scout builds Carlsbad fence

By: SHAHRAZAD ENCINIAS - For the North County Times
Community service project a requirement for Eagle rank | Saturday, February 9, 2008 10:05 PM PST ∞

CARLSBAD ---- Autism has not stopped Carlsbad High School senior and honor roll student Ian Mortimer, 17, from accomplishing his dreams, which Saturday included building a 500-foot rail fence.

"It's a good, challenging project," Ian said, as he led a team of volunteers from Troop 784, the Kiwanis Club of Carlsbad and the city of Carlsbad, and family and friends helping to install the fence in "Village H," just off Carlsbad Village Drive.

The fence was created to protect the nearby property and the endangered species of plants and animals that live on it, said Paula Chester, Ian's mother.

"Kids like him don't have leadership skills, and that was his challenge today," Chester said.

Ian is a candidate to become an Eagle Scout, and a community service project is required to achieve the rank. He chose this project because he is good with his hands and likes to build things, his mother said.

"He wanted to be outdoors, and he wanted to build something," Chester said.

"We began working on this project in August, and we were ready to go in October. But then the fires came, and the holiday season rolled around, but here we are," Chester said.

Her son was nervous about it but has done well so far, she said.

"It's chaotic, but order comes out of chaos," Ian said. "It's good."

He said his favorite part of the project was recruiting volunteers.

"As soon as I would say free doughnuts and pizza, people signed up," Iansaid, laughing. "They didn't care they were doing community service. They cared about free food."

The Kiwanis Club of Carlsbad helped pay for the project.

"We're thrilled to be sponsoring this," said volunteer Carol Calvert, a Kiwanis member. "This kid is such a remarkable kid."

Volunteer Elizabeth Mortimer, Ian's sister, said she was impressed with her brother's control Saturday. She said that he gets distracted easily and that it was good to see him concentrating.

"I think it's a big step for him, and it's really great to see him (take charge)," Elizabeth said. "(I would) do anything to help my brother out."

She wasn't the only one impressed by her brother's managing skills. Patrick McConnell, a representative from the Center for Natural Land Development, was "really impressed."

"The fence looks great," McConnell said.

He said it was important for Carlsbad to build the fence because there are two federally threatened species on the property. The coastal California gnatcatcher builds its nests there, and the threadleaf brodiaea plant calls the parcel home.

The primary reason for this fence is to keep hikers and their dogs on the trail, McConnell said.

"It's a big problem in Carlsbad," McConnell said. "We need to protect the preserve."

Ian said that he was glad to help out the environment but that it was a lot of hard work.

"There's a lot I couldn't of done without my parents," Ian said.

It was a huge project that required extensive planning and coordination, Chester said.

"All of this is done by a kid who's challenged with stuff," Chester said.

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