Date: Fri 13-Oct-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

Scouts-Eagle-Orchard-Hill

Full Text:

WITH PHOTO: Scouts Help Make Nature Accessible

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

Newtown is sprinkled with a confetti of small, diverse parcels of open land

but these acres are not always accessible to residents. That is why two young

men have taken on Eagle Scout projects at Orchard Hill Nature Center.

Russell Zinn, 15, will build an information booth on the edge of the newly

constructed parking lot which will house a trails map, register, and other

information being developed by the Parks and Recreation Department to help the

public enjoy the 27-acre parcel. Scott LaBianco, 16, has almost completed the

laborous task of clearing an overgrown trail and extending it.

"We've had this property since 1976, but people couldn't get out to enjoy it,"

said Parks and Recreation Director Barbara Kasbarian. "We received $75,000

grant from the Iroquois gas transmission line funds to establish the nature

center. The largest portion of that was spent on the parking area; the balance

will be used for materials needed by the Eagle Scouts, maybe some benches,

maps and hand literature explaining the flora and fauna and history of the

area."

Scott, a junior at Newtown High School who moved here seven years ago from

Yorktown Heights, N.Y., had helped out on four other Eagle Scout projects but

had never worked in a natural setting. So he choose to do trail work at the

nature center for his own leadership project.

"It's been very difficult, so I haven't felt very satisfied yet - I've been

too busy working and planning ahead," said Scott, who hopes to complete his

work by the end of October. "So far we've put in 100 man-hours and have had 6

to 12 people working on the crew."

The scout began planning in December of 1994. He wrote multiple drafts of his

project proposal and the seventh version was finally accepted by his Eagle

advisor, Bob Hays.

"He wanted it to be as detailed as possible so it would just pass through,"

said Scott. "I see it as 'helpful harrassment.' Without him being there I

would still be on Step 1 of the project."

A youth who considers things carefully, Scott commented that this experience

has shown him you should plan well in the beginning. "If you're going to slop

it down in the first step, it's not going to come out right." The invaluable

guidance of his advisor has also shown him, "there is always going to be

someone there who can and will help you if you ask them to."

The purpose of an Eagle Scout project is to give a young man the opportunity

to demonstrate leadership ability by planning and executing a project, and by

supervising a crew. But leadership is not a new role for Scott, who has been

serving as Senior Patrol Leader of Troop 370. "I think I was pretty prepared

for supervising a project like this," he said.

The physical work involved walking the area to determine what needed to be

done and how to extend the trail. He discussed the path with volunteer Holt

McChord who advised marking a path around , instead of through, a colony of

briars in order to leave as much of the natural flora alive as possible.

"I weaved my way through the forest," said Scott. "We dug out smaller trees,

cut a few, mowed the three or four-foot high vegetation from the field." He

will now dig holes and install posts and trail markers to guide people through

the trail, which covers just less than half a mile.

The anticipated reward of accomplishment and public contribution is within

sight, however. "It will be something everyone can use," said Scott. "I can

bring my grandma over and walk the trail with her. I can tell my family, `I

did this; I made this trail.'"

Something Permanent

Russell was also offered the opportunity to do trail work as his project, but

he said he wanted to do something "permanent." So Ms Kasbarian suggested the

information booth.

"It was a lot of written work," Russell said. "I had to contact the Scout

Board and they okayed it, and then present it at a town meeting to get it

okayed. I drew a sketch of the plan and gave it to architect Calvin Blackwell

to make a professional blueprint."

Next week he hopes to pick up the materials and begin construction. Russell

describes the booth as two posts with a canopy roof and plywood back that will

display a map. Four or five weekends will be needed to complete the work, he

added.

The Newtown native said he has already learned a good deal from the extensive

planning phase of the project. "You get things done step by step and do it the

right way," said Russell. "It takes takes so long before you can even build."

The scout anticipates supervising and working with three or four people each

weekend to produce a structure that reflects quality craftmanship.

"I wanted to do something permanent so when I'm older I can come back and see

it - it will still be there," he said.

"The scouts have been a tremendous help," said Ms Kasbarian. "It's saving us

from going out and finding contractors to do the work. We've been working with

the Eagle scouts a number of years and we're thrilled to have them."