By THERESA HOGUE
Gazette-Times reporter | Posted: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 12:00 am
High above Timberhill, as oak leaves slowly drifted downward, Terry Dunworth silently and steadily chopped away with a pick ax, working on a trail with each methodical thunk. In his wake, he left a tidy border.
Dunworth, 17, had begun the first of four days of hard work smoothing and graveling trails above Timberhill. It was a task he needed to complete to become an Eagle Scout. He'd enlisted the help of some fellow Scouts. The teens had a few days off from school because of parent-teacher conferences, so they had plenty of free time to devote to working on the trails.
Eagle Scout applicants must lead a community project as part of the requirements for the honor. Dunworth enlisted donations from Spaeth Lumber, Corvallis Rental and Mid-Valley Gravel as well as individual donors to make the project happen.
Since he was 10, Dunworth has been a loyal Boy Scout with Troop 3 in Corvallis. He joined because he had some friends in the troop, and he liked what they told him about Scouting.
"It teaches you a lot of good things, and a lot of good skills," he said. "They teach you how to survive in the wilderness."
Not that Dunworth plans to ever depend on his training, but he's glad he feels confident that he could survive if he had to.
"I'd rather have (the skills) and not need it, than need it and not have it."
Dunworth likes to be in the woods, but it's usually under noisier circumstances. Dunworth is a huge fan of Airsoft, a popular combat sport using compressed air guns that fire non-metallic pellets about the size of BBs.
"It's like "Dungeons and Dragons," he said, in reference to the fantasy role-playing game, "except you get a work out." Usually the events are themed, and a number of participants take to the woods and have a major shoot-out (all wearing protective eye gear, of course). Some are in costume, some wear camouflage and others prefer street attire.
"The last one I went to, there were 300 people out in the forest," he said.
The compressed air guns are often replicas of real guns, and Dunworth admits he just made a major purchase when he picked up a replica AK-47 to use at Airsoft events.
"It's a good hobby," he said. "It changes your life for a day."
For real life and a real job, Dunworth has another activity in mind: He plans on attending Western Culinary Institute to become a chef. His interest in cooking started with a CHS food class and led Dunworth to the high school's cooking team, where he has placed in competitions. His most recent favorite is Asian food. He said he makes wicked sushi and rice balls.
Although he's lived in Corvallis since he was 5, he is willing to relocate to find work as a chef.
"I'll go where the wind takes me."
AT A GLANCE
Who: Terry Dunworth, 17
What: Corvallis High School senior, Eagle Scout hopeful
Family: Parents Kathy and Jim, brother Christopher, 21, sister Nicole, 19
Lived in Corvallis: Since age 5
Iron Chef-worthy skill: Sushi making