Geauga Park District has been proud to partner with Boy Scout Chris Wilson, a freshman at Berkshire High School, of Troop 91 of Munson Township, this fall on his great Eagle Scout project.
The project consisted of restoration and habitat construction at Sunnybrook Preserve in eastern Chester Township.
Last year, near a portion of the stream valley, invasive plants were smothering the area. These invasive plants included common reed grass and European alder, which were then removed during a different conservation project by Troop 91, chartered by Munson Fire Department.
Chris’ main project was to help restore this disturbed valley area by planting 200 native shrubs and trees along the flood plain and in an adjacent ground water-fed wetland. The Eagle Scout candidate found donors for 100 of the shrubs, while Geauga Park District purchased the other half, and planted most of them with about 10 volunteers from Troop 91. The conclusion of his plantings will occur this Sunday, October 14th, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
“I liked the actual planting the most,” Chris said, “because, to be honest, we had 200 plants, but it went by faster and we got more done then I actually expected. Now all we have to do is plant 40 or 50 more.”
Native species being planted include buttonbush, gray dogwood, sycamore tree, cottonwood tree, bladdernut, red osier dogwood, silky dogwood, witchhazel, nannyberry viburnum and swamp rose.
In addition, Chris was able to use the previously removed invasive European alder trees to build three brush piles, which will provide cover for birds and small mammals in the park, said Joel Firem, Park District land steward, who worked with Chris on his project.
“Chris’ Eagle Scout project has restored an area of the park that had been unproductive for wildlife due to smothering nonnative invasive plants that were present,” Firem said. “Now that Chris has planted these native shrubs, the site will have a significantly greater amount of habitat available for wildlife.
“What’s more, his project has improved stability of the stream banks, reducing erosion and improving stream quality. Chris was great to work with, and his attention to detail was apparent throughout the entire project.”
At his young age, Chris has already gone through National Youth Leadership Training, offered only to 40-50 scouts a year, and this past summer was elected into Order of the Arrow, scouting’s national honor society, said Chris’s grandparents, Wayne and Cindy Frimel. Next year he plans to attend Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.
Chris said he started on his Eagle Scout-required badges early with the goal of becoming the youngest Eagle Scout his troop had seen. Early badges, first aid and emergency preparedness, excited him; he aspires to become a paramedic, then firefighter.
“He’s been outdoors basically his whole life,” Wayne said. “I couldn’t be more proud of him. He’s 15 and already doing his Eagle work, and now we’re looking at all kinds of other opportunities in scouting.”
Sunnybrook Preserve is a 73-acre preserve at 12474 Heath Road and includes an indoor-outdoor reservable shelter. Please visit Geauga Park District or call 440-286-9516 to learn more about this popular park.
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