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Scout project is just ducky
The Vindicator
Photo
Eagle Scout candidate Joe Lonardo, 15, of New Springfield, looks over one of the nest boxes he and fellow Troop 119 members built and installed at the Mill Creek MetroParks’ Lake Newport. The boxes are designed to give wood ducks a place to safely nest their eggs.
By Elise Franco
YOUNGSTOWN
Joe Lonardo spent nearly a year planning and implementing a project that will culminate this summer with the highest honor a Boy Scout can receive: the Eagle Scout Award.
Lonardo, 15, of New Springfield and other members of Boy Scout Troop 119 recently completed the installation of 10 duck-nesting boxes throughout Mill Creek MetroParks, he said.
The high-school freshman said that because this was his Eagle Scout project, it was his job to meticulously plan every aspect, get it approved by the Greater Western Reserve Council and lead his troop through the implementation and installation of the duck nests.
“We built 16 boxes,” he said. “Ten of them we put up ourselves, and five were installed by the park.”
Lonardo said he chose to build the duck boxes after looking at a list of projects the MetroParks needed help with. He said planning began last summer, and the troop installed the boxes in April.
“I like conservation, and I happen to live right by a lake with a lot of ducks around,” he said. “I really was interested in building the boxes.”
Kirsten Peetz, MetroParks environmental land manager, said the boxes provide nesting structures for wood ducks that usually nest in hollow trees.
“At times, the hollow trees just aren’t as numerous,” she said. “The benefits of the boxes are they have a predator guard so raccoons and snakes can’t climb up the pole and eat the eggs.”
Peetz said local Boy Scout troops often choose to do their community-service and Eagle Scout projects within the MetroParks.
“This is an example of something we’ve wanted to install for several years, but it’s hard to find the money to build a bunch of them,” she said, “It’s great when the Scouts are able to help with these projects.”
Joe Angelo, a Scout master for Troop 119, said the Eagle Scout project, like the entire Boy Scout experience, is meant to build character and leadership skills.
“What Joseph did out here, not a lot of young people are doing, stopping and saying, ‘What can I do for my community?’,” Angelo said.
Lonardo is the son of Rich and Debbie Lonardo of New Springfield.
Now that the project is complete, Lonardo must submit his application for Eagle Scout to the local council for approval. He said he also has a few additional badges to earn and hopes to achieve Eagle Scout status by June.
“Achieving Eagle Scout is definitely worth the work,” he said. “It’s one of the best opportunities I’ve had. Other Scouts should always stick with it and drive on to get their Eagle award.”
Though Lonardo is close to receiving the coveted Eagle rank, he said he’ll continue his scouting career for as long as he can.
“I’ll continue to work on merit badges, and hopefully become an adult leader eventually,” he said.