Little by little, the 60-year-old El Segundo Scout House is becoming a shadow of its former self, thanks to a face lift organized by Boy and Cub Scout parents.
For the past three years, Scout parents have been slowly making improvements to the aging structure. However, it’s the newest addition of a rock-climbing wall that has really gained the attention of both Scouts and outsiders.
Complete with blue skies and a soaring eagle, the rock-climbing mural, soon to be turned into an actual climbing wall, was painted by the El Segundo husband-and-wife art team of Neal and Dawn Von Flue. The couple, who own and operate a full-service art studio, has painted several large murals in the South Bay including Hermosa Beach’s centennial mural, located on the west wall of Cantina Real on the pier plaza.
Although they enjoy working throughout the South Bay, it was the opportunity to work in their hometown at a place Neal use to frequent, which really made the Von Flues enjoy this job.
“For me, having the opportunity to paint the Scout House was cool because as a kid growing up in El Segundo, I was a Scout and spent time in that building, so it was nice to go back and create something for the Scouts that I knew they would enjoy,” Neal said.
Neal, who recently signed his son up for Cub Scouts, was not only born and raised in El Segundo, but is a fifth-generation city resident. “I loved growing up here and being part of Scouts,” he said.
Assistant Scoutmaster Mike Rotolo explained the Von Flues worked within the Scouts’ budget and donated some of their work.
“They did a great job and were very generous,” Rotolo said. “It’s exciting for us to have such a unique mural in our Scout House.”
The climbing wall is located on the stage portion of the Scout House. The wall is 20 feet wide, 15 feet deep and 8 feet high.
The climbing wall and mural may be one of the largest makeover projects the Scout House has seen, but it’s just the latest in a long list of completed projects that Scout parents have completed since forming their committee three years ago.
“The committee was formed so that we could organize a way to upgrade and improve the Scout House, while staying within our budget,” Rotolo said, adding that the budget comes from the funds raised at the annual Scout Christmas tree lot. The committee started out three years ago with a long list of to-dos. A few of those completed to-dos have included painting both the interior and exterior of the Scout House, new light fixtures and kitchen appliances. Rotolo explained that the group gets together the first Saturday of every month for “Scout Work Day.”
“We just keep working on checking off things on the list,” Rotolo said. “Our next projects are to redo the floors and install an audio/visual system. We hope that will be done by spring.”
Besides the annual Christmas tree sale, Rotolo said local business and parents have volunteered their time, and given their money and materials to see renovations happen.
“To date, we have had $23,000 in donated material and work, and as of last June we had more than 800 hours worked by volunteers,” he said, adding that of the 200 parents at least half if not more have volunteered throughout the last three years.
Now that the mural is completed, Rotolo said that holes will be made in the wall for climbing and rubberized flooring will be laid down on the floor of the stage for safety.
“The boys were really excited about the idea of a climbing wall and now with the mural complete, they are very anxious to try it out,” Rotolo said, adding that the parents are also very pleased. “The mural is a great attraction for scouting, we are excited to have it. It shows boys in El Segundo how much fun scouting is.”
Little by little, the 60-year-old El Segundo Scout House is becoming a shadow of its former self, thanks to a face lift organized by Boy and Cub Scout parents.
For the past three years, Scout parents have been slowly making improvements to the aging structure. However, it’s the newest addition of a rock-climbing wall that has really gained the attention of both Scouts and outsiders.
Complete with blue skies and a soaring eagle, the rock-climbing mural, soon to be turned into an actual climbing wall, was painted by the El Segundo husband-and-wife art team of Neal and Dawn Von Flue. The couple, who own and operate a full-service art studio, has painted several large murals in the South Bay including Hermosa Beach’s centennial mural, located on the west wall of Cantina Real on the pier plaza.
Although they enjoy working throughout the South Bay, it was the opportunity to work in their hometown at a place Neal use to frequent, which really made the Von Flues enjoy this job.
“For me, having the opportunity to paint the Scout House was cool because as a kid growing up in El Segundo, I was a Scout and spent time in that building, so it was nice to go back and create something for the Scouts that I knew they would enjoy,” Neal said.
Neal, who recently signed his son up for Cub Scouts, was not only born and raised in El Segundo, but is a fifth-generation city resident. “I loved growing up here and being part of Scouts,” he said.
Assistant Scoutmaster Mike Rotolo explained the Von Flues worked within the Scouts’ budget and donated some of their work.
“They did a great job and were very generous,” Rotolo said. “It’s exciting for us to have such a unique mural in our Scout House.”
The climbing wall is located on the stage portion of the Scout House. The wall is 20 feet wide, 15 feet deep and 8 feet high.
The climbing wall and mural may be one of the largest makeover projects the Scout House has seen, but it’s just the latest in a long list of completed projects that Scout parents have completed since forming their committee three years ago.
“The committee was formed so that we could organize a way to upgrade and improve the Scout House, while staying within our budget,” Rotolo said, adding that the budget comes from the funds raised at the annual Scout Christmas tree lot. The committee started out three years ago with a long list of to-dos. A few of those completed to-dos have included painting both the interior and exterior of the Scout House, new light fixtures and kitchen appliances. Rotolo explained that the group gets together the first Saturday of every month for “Scout Work Day.”
“We just keep working on checking off things on the list,” Rotolo said. “Our next projects are to redo the floors and install an audio/visual system. We hope that will be done by spring.”
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| Neal and Dawn Von Flue (photo by Chris Miller) |
Besides the annual Christmas tree sale, Rotolo said local business and parents have volunteered their time, and given their money and materials to see renovations happen.
“To date, we have had $23,000 in donated material and work, and as of last June we had more than 800 hours worked by volunteers,” he said, adding that of the 200 parents at least half if not more have volunteered throughout the last three years.
Now that the mural is completed, Rotolo said that holes will be made in the wall for climbing and rubberized flooring will be laid down on the floor of the stage for safety.
“The boys were really excited about the idea of a climbing wall and now with the mural complete, they are very anxious to try it out,” Rotolo said, adding that the parents are also very pleased. “The mural is a great attraction for scouting, we are excited to have it. It shows boys in El Segundo how much fun scouting is.” |
from Archives: El Segundo News 
