Garrett Bailey is building 20 handcrafted wood duck nesting boxes for the Cubihatcha Outdoor Education Center — a legacy of habitat and conservation for Henry County's wildlife.
Garrett Bailey is a member of Boy Scout Troop 1011 working toward the Eagle Scout rank — the highest achievement in Scouting, earned by fewer than 4% of all Scouts. His Eagle project is a hands-on conservation effort that will benefit the natural landscape of Henry County for decades to come.
With the help of volunteers from his troop and the wider community, Garrett will design, build, and install 20 wood duck nesting boxes at the Cubihatcha Outdoor Education Center. Every box is cut, assembled, and weatherproofed entirely by hand.
These boxes will give wood ducks safe places to raise their young, support local biodiversity, and give future visitors a front-row seat to wildlife — a living classroom at Cubihatcha for generations to come.
Cubihatcha Outdoor Education Center in Henry County, Georgia is a cornerstone of environmental education for students across the region. Thousands of young people visit each year to learn about the natural world firsthand.
The center's wetlands, ponds, and forested areas provide ideal wood duck habitat — and its ongoing education programs mean these boxes will be monitored, maintained, and used as teaching tools for generations of students.
Garrett selected Cubihatcha because it will serve as a lasting classroom where future Scouts can observe the wildlife conservation legacy he's building — and where every duckling that leaves a box is a lesson in action.
The wood duck (Aix sponsa) is one of North America's most stunning waterfowl — and one of Georgia's most beloved. Unlike most ducks, wood ducks nest in tree cavities and nesting boxes near water, making them the perfect beneficiary of this kind of conservation effort.
Considered one of the most beautiful birds in North America — iridescent green heads, chestnut breasts, and intricate white markings.
Wood ducks naturally nest in tree hollows near water. As old trees are removed, natural cavities become scarce — nest boxes are critical.
A hen lays 9–14 eggs per clutch. Within 24 hours of hatching, ducklings leap from the box to the ground and head straight for water.
Once nearly extinct due to over-hunting and habitat loss, wood duck populations rebounded dramatically thanks to nest box programs just like this one.
Each nesting box is constructed to Ducks Unlimited proven wildlife management specifications. Garrett and his volunteers cut, assemble, and weatherproof every box themselves. The design ensures proper ventilation, drainage, easy monitoring access, and a predator guard to keep eggs and ducklings safe.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Interior Floor | 7.75″ × 9.25″ |
| Interior Height | 24″ |
| Entry Hole | 4″ × 3″ elliptical |
| Lumber | Rough-cut cedar or pine (1″ nominal) |
| Interior Face | Rough-cut inward — aids duckling exit |
| Bedding | 4–6″ wood shavings |
| Drainage | 4 corner holes in floor |
| Predator Guard | Stovepipe / metal cone baffle on pole |
| Access Door | Hinged panel for annual cleaning |
| Mount · over water | 3 ft above historic high water |
| Mount · on land | 6 ft high, within 200 yds of water |
| Total Units | 20 boxes |
This project succeeds because of community support. Whether you give a few dollars or a few hours, every bit of help directly benefits local wildlife and outdoor education in Henry County.
100% of donations go directly to materials. No overhead, no fees — just lumber, hardware, and nesting boxes handbuilt by a Scout and his community.
Reach Garrett at captain.garrett.bailey@gmail.com — for donation questions, build day interest, material donations, or to follow along as the project comes to life.
The Eagle Scout rank is the highest achievement in Scouting, earned by fewer than 4% of all Scouts. A cornerstone requirement is planning and leading a substantial community service project — entirely from scratch. Garrett chose conservation because of his passion for the outdoors and the wildlife that calls Henry County home.
Garrett researches wood duck requirements, selects the box design, meets with Cubihatcha staff to map installation locations, and submits his Eagle Project proposal for troop committee approval.
Community donations fund lumber, hardware, predator baffles, and mounting supplies. Garrett leads outreach to family, neighbors, local businesses, and online supporters.
Garrett organizes and leads volunteer build sessions where Scouts, family, and community members cut, assemble, and weatherproof all 20 nest boxes together.
Boxes are mounted on poles and posts throughout the wetland areas of Cubihatcha Outdoor Education Center in Henry County, Georgia.
Cubihatcha staff and future Scout troops monitor occupancy annually, clean boxes each winter, and report nesting success as part of the ongoing education program.