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Eagle Scout Aaron Corbin wanted to be part of the solution to foster care in Hamblen County.

The son of Tammy Corbin and Mike Corbin heard about the difficulty of foster placements and decided to build the playground and a covered picnic area behind the soon-to-be-completed Isaiah 117 House in Morristown. This included a perimeter for the playground, rubber mulch, and a playset with toys, concrete pad with roof, a picnic table and an outdoor sharing library.

“I’m aware that the foster care situation in Morristown is terrible,” Aaron said. “We have too many foster kids and not enough foster parents. I just wanted to be part of the solution. I thought this would be a great way to help Morristown.”

A total of 542 hours has been put in on the project. Twelve Scouts and seven other adults, including Aaron’s grandparents, helped Aaron complete the playground.

“This project has exceeded my expectations in so many ways,” Aaron said. “I have learned so much about construction, concrete, mud buggies, mulch, the ever-changing prices of goods, shortage of items, delays, roofing, leadership, time management and we can’t forget about the weather.

“I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support,” Aaron said. “I have also been so moved by the stories of those who have reached out to help in one form or another. From helping to get items needed, discounted goods, donated goods, donated services, monetary donations, advice, came to help spread concrete, dig post holes, deliver mulch, move a heavy playset and just said, ‘Put me where you need me to work.’ Many had no personal connections at all, but were inspired to help.”

Aaron is also thankful to his fellow Scouts who showed up on very cold workdays at 25 degrees and muddy conditions to be his work crew.

“We did three to four work days from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.,” Tammy Corbin said.

This project was late in getting started. The work was scheduled to be completed last summer, but the area where the playground is located was still mounds of dirt. Aaron and Troop 91 didn’t get started on the playground until this past fall.

“All of this was just a big pile of dirt,” Aaron said. “We couldn’t start until the contractor had cleared it out. I understand that they’re donating their time, but we were delayed by half a year. We started working in November.”

A total of $10,155 in materials, including lumber and rubber mulch for placement under the playset, was either donated, discounted or purchased at cost from area businesses. A lot of the lumber was donated for the project. Aaron is also sending thank you letters to these businesses who donated items.

“The playset was graciously donated by someone attending an Isaiah 117 House meeting,” Aaron said. “The playset is valued at $2,500.”

As part of Aaron’s Eagle project, a picnic shelter and a wood fence was also constructed. A book box was purchased so that children may have access to different books to read while playing outside.

‘I would like to thank Isaiah 117 House for allowing me to be a small part of this amazing organization and trusting in me to complete my project,” Aaron said. “Your contribution towards my project not only changed my life, in helping me achieve my Eagle Scout rank, but will change the lives of the foster children in the Isaiah 117 House for years to come. My project truly could not have been accomplished in the scope in which it was if not for your help.”

Aaron has been a scout since 2011, starting as a Tiger Cub with Pack 91. He achieved Wolf status in 2012, then Bear in 2013 and Webelo in 2014. Aaron earned all 20 pins available and earned the “Super Achiever” patch at Crossover when he joined Scouting Troop 91 in 2016. He served as Librarian with Troop 91 in 2016 and 2017 and became Scribe in 2018. He earned the “God and Country” badge in 2016. Aaron joined the “Order of the Arrow,” Scouting’s honor society, in 2019 and has been an ordeal member since.

“The great thing about Scouting it just gives me a place to go and camp,” Aaron said. “We do it four times a year every season. It’s a great thing for me to go out and learn new skills, new things.”

Aaron is not the only member of the Corbin family to achieve Eagle Scout status. His brother Ethan Corbin was an Eagle in 2017 and is currently private first class in the U.S. Army

“Scouting teaches a lot of leadership skills,” Tammy Corbin said. “It lets you get involved in your community.”

Aaron is a senior at Morristown-Hamblen High School West. He will attend Walters State Community College for two years before transferring to Tennessee Technological University to major in accounting. Aaron is active in the Beta Club and was in the Junior Beta Club in middle school. In 2015, he was the statewide winner in the DOR Short Story competition and also finished first place in the Modern Woodmen Public Speaking Speech Contest. In 2016, Aaron was the first-place state winner in the Beta Living Literature Team. He attended the Beta Club’s state convention in 2017 and 2019.

Aaron is an AP Honors student and a member of the National Honor Society. Aaron had his Eagle Board March 8 and will have a ceremony March 19.

The Hamblen County Isaiah 117 house is hopeful for a July opening.