HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - Among a small grove of palm trees in the Sea Pines forest preserve, an outdoor chapel invites passers-by to recharge their spirits in the shady, peaceful place.

Five wooden benches, engraved with the prayer of St. Francis, face a mahogany pulpit overlooking Lake Joe. Before building the outdoor chapel, John DeZeeuw frequented the location during camping trips as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout.

Faith is important to him and was a factor in his decision to create the chapel, a project that could earn him the Eagle designation. That program requires scouts to finish their projects before they turn 18. DeZeeuw completed the chapel June 5 — the day before his 18th birthday.

DeZeeuw has been a scout since first grade. Gaining the Eagle rank is a tradition that runs in his family — his father and grandfather are Eagle Scouts.

"It's something I've been committed to," he said. "As time went on, it was something I wanted to be a major accomplishment in my life."

DeZeeuw's scout mentor, Mark Taylor, said just 2 percent of Boy Scouts reach the highest rank, achieved by earning 21 merit badges, demonstrating scout spirit, service and leadership and finishing a community project.

"It's been a dream project of his and I'm just pleased to have helped him," Taylor said. "I'm real proud of him."

Taylor owns Southern Heritage Cabinetry and The Handyman Solution and helped DeZeeuw craft the pulpit by carving it with a computerized machine.

The prayer was inscribed on the benches in the same way. DeZeeuw wanted the chapel to be inviting to people of all faiths, so he chose an uplifting prayer not associated with a particular denomination.

"I hope (visitors) get peace of mind and they can just kind of come in here and read all the benches, sit and think about stuff," DeZeeuw said. "I think that's what people need to be doing these days."

DeZeeuw is scheduled to be formally honored this summer by the Eagle Scout program. He then heads to the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where he intends to major in art.