One of the challenges a young man can take on is becoming an Eagle Scout.
In Scouting, only about 8% of Boy Scouts eventually earn Eagle Scout standing, so it isn’t something that every boy can accomplish. Along with earning 21 merit badges, an Eagle candidate needs to do a major service project. This project includes finding something meaningful to do to help others, planning the project, funding it through fundraising, organizing its construction or completion with others and documenting it all.
Bennington has benefited from Eagle Scouts over the years. In the last year and several months, Bennington and its Conservation Commission have been the beneficiaries of such a service project. It was the work of aspiring Eagle Scout Danny Veverka, recently of Hancock, a 2021 ConVal graduate and now of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Bennington’s Conservation Commission needed improvements to the Bruce Edes Memorial Forest and approached the Boy Scouts of Troop 2 in Antrim to see if any or all of the Scouts would like to help out. The forest needed better plant identification and an information board to greet visitors. Veverka, who was in the process of earning his Eagle standing, took up the challenge.
Over the next 22 months, Veverka worked closely with the commission designing the information board and every step of the project. He found several people and organizations to help fund the construction and then rallied his fellow Scouts, family and friends to assist with the labor. The pandemic added a bit more of a challenge and lengthened the period for the project, but the pandemic didn’t slow Veverka’s enthusiasm for completing it. He was tenacious in soliciting area businesses and individuals to help fund the project and get in-kind donations of supplies and materials.
Belletetes Lumber, Antrim Lumber and Edmunds Hardware were all generous in their donations and discounts on materials. Donations came in from The Verney Foundation and Rick and Diane’s Pizza in Antrim, as well. The work began with the guidance of woodworker Val Berghaus of Deering, who taught Veverka how to construct a mortise and tenon kiosk.
During the project, Veverka learned and demonstrated skills in planning, organizing people and materials, fundraising, design, communication, construction, woodworking and painting. Once the kiosk was underway, he turned his attention to creating plant identification markers. He created markers for 15 different plants and features in the forest and installed them throughout the woods.
Now that the forest is in a better place to walk and enjoy nature for many years to come due to Veverka’s work, the Conservation Commission congratulates him on earning his Eagle Scout badge.