| July 31, 2008 - Another Great Eagle Scout Project Back to News Index |
Whispers in the Forest
Newtown Forest Association
Connecticut's Oldest Private Land Trust
Connecticut's Oldest Private Land Trust
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In another effort to expand the long-standing relationship between local Boy Scout Troops and the Newtown Forest Association (“NFA”), teenager
Shane Price, Troop 370, completed his community service project requirement towards achieving the coveted rank of Eagle Scout. Shane
approached the NFA extending the offer that he wanted to his Eagle Scout community service project on one of the NFA preserves and asked from
some ideas. The NFA is never at a loss for identifying one of the projects on its “to-do list” to an eager and will young Scout. Scouting has a
history of instilling youth with qualities of leadership, character building and community service while gaining an appreciation and respect for the
outdoors and our environment. The Eagle Scout rank is achieved after fulfilling a variety of advancement requirements plus the completion of a
community service project that can demonstrate the candidates’ leadership qualities.
The project that Shane formulated and approved by the NFA involved the NFA’s 78 acre Holcombe Preserve located at the corner of Great Hill and
Birch Hill Road and involved a combination of trail maintenance, bridge building and wildlife enhancement. There are three aspects to a project,
first the planning, second the securing of supplies and manpower and lastly the execution.
Trail maintenance aspect of the project involved the replacement of a 7-foot walk bridge that crossed an environmentally sensitive area and the
clearing of debris scattered on the trail and created multiple brush piles to serve as wildlife habitats. Brush piles serve as a common wildlife
enhancement tool for conservation and promote shelter for a variety of ground nesting species. The larger part of the project involved the
installation of a new 16-foot walk bridge to improve the safety of visitors who hike a section of the trail. Shane was able to secure the donation of
IPÊ wood from Rings End Lumber yard in Bethel to use as bridge decking material.
The NFA recommended the use of IPÊ as this wood is an environmentally responsible choice which naturally resists rot, decay, insects, and mold
without the use of toxic chemicals used in other decking products. It is naturally fire resistant and is an incredibly strong, dense wood, and is most
often harvested from naturally sustainable forests. It has very high wear durability in daily use, and is resistant to splintering and checking.
It's also beautiful and has been awarded the best decay resistance rating available - "HIGH 25+ years", however it has been known to last longer,
there just isn't a higher rating! Weather has little to no effect upon the structural integrity of IPÊ wood. The sun will eventually transform the wood
from it's original reddish-brown to a beautiful silver patina. Due to the dense cell structure of IPÊ (all heart wood) it's not only naturally resistant to
insects but also to decay, rot, and molds.
Shane solicited his family, friends and members from his Scout troop to volunteer to assist him with the completion of this project that involved
approximately 100 hours of community service.
The project was a great success for the NFA and, similar to many Eagle projects in the past, will benefit the entire community by enhancing the trails
that the NFA owns, maintains and opens to the public. The NFA is grateful to Shane for his project and he should be proud of his efforts and the
efforts of his volunteers. We hope that the many visitors appreciate Shane’s efforts and congratulate him on his Trail to Eagle.
Shane Price, Troop 370, completed his community service project requirement towards achieving the coveted rank of Eagle Scout. Shane
approached the NFA extending the offer that he wanted to his Eagle Scout community service project on one of the NFA preserves and asked from
some ideas. The NFA is never at a loss for identifying one of the projects on its “to-do list” to an eager and will young Scout. Scouting has a
history of instilling youth with qualities of leadership, character building and community service while gaining an appreciation and respect for the
outdoors and our environment. The Eagle Scout rank is achieved after fulfilling a variety of advancement requirements plus the completion of a
community service project that can demonstrate the candidates’ leadership qualities.
The project that Shane formulated and approved by the NFA involved the NFA’s 78 acre Holcombe Preserve located at the corner of Great Hill and
Birch Hill Road and involved a combination of trail maintenance, bridge building and wildlife enhancement. There are three aspects to a project,
first the planning, second the securing of supplies and manpower and lastly the execution.
Trail maintenance aspect of the project involved the replacement of a 7-foot walk bridge that crossed an environmentally sensitive area and the
clearing of debris scattered on the trail and created multiple brush piles to serve as wildlife habitats. Brush piles serve as a common wildlife
enhancement tool for conservation and promote shelter for a variety of ground nesting species. The larger part of the project involved the
installation of a new 16-foot walk bridge to improve the safety of visitors who hike a section of the trail. Shane was able to secure the donation of
IPÊ wood from Rings End Lumber yard in Bethel to use as bridge decking material.
The NFA recommended the use of IPÊ as this wood is an environmentally responsible choice which naturally resists rot, decay, insects, and mold
without the use of toxic chemicals used in other decking products. It is naturally fire resistant and is an incredibly strong, dense wood, and is most
often harvested from naturally sustainable forests. It has very high wear durability in daily use, and is resistant to splintering and checking.
It's also beautiful and has been awarded the best decay resistance rating available - "HIGH 25+ years", however it has been known to last longer,
there just isn't a higher rating! Weather has little to no effect upon the structural integrity of IPÊ wood. The sun will eventually transform the wood
from it's original reddish-brown to a beautiful silver patina. Due to the dense cell structure of IPÊ (all heart wood) it's not only naturally resistant to
insects but also to decay, rot, and molds.
Shane solicited his family, friends and members from his Scout troop to volunteer to assist him with the completion of this project that involved
approximately 100 hours of community service.
The project was a great success for the NFA and, similar to many Eagle projects in the past, will benefit the entire community by enhancing the trails
that the NFA owns, maintains and opens to the public. The NFA is grateful to Shane for his project and he should be proud of his efforts and the
efforts of his volunteers. We hope that the many visitors appreciate Shane’s efforts and congratulate him on his Trail to Eagle.