Sandboxes are where childhood memories are made.

And now, thanks to Life Scout Joe Legault, Kingsbury Country Day School in Addison Township has a brand new one for little ones to dig around in and build castles like they’re at the beach.

On Saturday morning, the Oxford High School junior led a group of fellow scouts and adults in constructing a 12-foot-by-12-foot sandbox.

“I went to Kingsbury from (junior kindergarten) until eighth grade,” said Legault, who’s a member of Boy Scout Troop 366. “Their sandbox had pretty much disintegrated, so I figured I’d make them a new one.”

“It looks a little different than I imagined, but I’m pretty happy with it,” he noted.

Legault is working toward the rank of Eagle Scout and this sandbox is his service project.

Eagle Scout is the highest advancement rank in Boy Scouting. Since 1912, more than two million Boy Scouts have earned it. Of any 100 boys who become scouts, only five will attain the Eagle rank.

In order to earn his Eagle badge, a scout must plan, develop and serve as leader in a service project that helps a religious organization, school or community.

Legault approached Kingsbury looking for project ideas and a new sandbox was at the top of the school’s list.

After spending so many years learning and growing at the school, which converted from a private institution to charter public school in 2013, Legault said, “I felt like giving back, showing that I appreciate what they did for me.”

Tom Mecsey, Kingsbury’s head of school, was appreciative of Legault’s efforts.

“Obviously, we are always very happy to have a former student of ours come back and care enough about the school to do something to improve it,” he said.

“He remembers his experiences at Kingsbury because he was a lifer here. For him to give back is really admirable.”

Mecsey noted the school is “very proud” of Legault for striving for the Eagle rank and “how seriously” he takes his commitment to scouting.

“We just want him to know he truly has impacted us in a positive way at Kingsbury with this project,” he added.

Outside of scouting, Legault is a member of the OHS track and cross country teams, and works part-time at the Great Lakes Ace Hardware in Orion.