In a dozen years of Boy Scouting, Ty Kassman has learned a lot of things, picking up 22 merit badges along the way. But one of his last lessons from the program might also prove to be among the most enduring — the sense of satisfaction that comes from serving others.

Kassman, now an 18-year-old senior at Corvallis High School, joined the program as a Cub Scout in the first grade. The son of Dustin and Robin Kassman was following in his father’s footsteps, but now he’s taken his Boy Scout career one step further than his dad did by earning the rank of Eagle Scout — the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts.

One of the requirements for becoming an Eagle Scout is to do a community-service project, and Kassman’s involved building a new covered information kiosk for Chip Ross Park. The Corvallis Parks & Recreation Department uses the structure to post notices at the park, a popular destination for runners, hikers, equestrians and picnickers.

Building the kiosk was a larger undertaking than Kassman had anticipated. The 4-foot-by-8-foot message board, covered in Plexiglas and shielded by a wood-shingled roof, is supported by a pair of massive 8-inch-by-8-inch posts. The posts are sunk 3 feet in the ground, with 10 bags of cement anchoring each one.

“It’s going to be here for awhile,” Kassman said.

Designing and building the structure was actually the easy part, Kassman said. He had plenty of help in that department from David Guenther, a local contractor who volunteers with Boy Scout Troop 3. Guenther also let Kassman use his workshop to build the frame for the structure, which went fairly quickly.

Getting donations of cash and materials to build the kiosk, which cost about $1,000, was a much bigger task.

“The huge part, before we even started, was paperwork,” Kassman said. “I wrote letters to lots of local businesses and local contractors.”

Many of them responded, and their generosity is recorded on a plaque that also bears Kassman’s name.

Now that he’s turned 18, Kassman technically no longer is a Boy Scout, but he’s still involved in Troop 3 as a junior assistant scoutmaster. Looking back on his own scouting career, he’s starting to realize just how much he’s learned, and he wants to pass some of those lessons on to the young men coming up through the ranks.

“Scouting has been huge in my life. It’s a program -. that teaches you basic life skills,” Kassman said.

“Now that I’m older, I can give back to younger Scouts. I can set an example.”

Kassman’s not quite sure what he’ll do after he finishes high school this spring. He’d like to spend the summer traveling, then start college. He’s leaning toward majoring in mechanical engineering at Oregon State. And he’s looking forward to having more free time for activities such as running at Chip Ross Park, where he can sit back and admire his own handiwork.

“Now whenever I come back I can say, ‘That was me — I built that with my hands,’” Kassman said. “And that’s pretty cool.”

Bennett Hall can be reached at 758-9529 or bennett.hall@lee.net.

TYNAN WELLS KASSMAN

AGE: 18

SCHOOL: Senior, Corvallis High School

FAMILY: Parents Dustin and Robin Kassman

INVOLVEMENT: Eagle Scout, junior assistant scoutmaster with Troop 3, Corvallis; CHS varsity soccer and track teams, National Honor Society, Z-Club