Montclair Scout’s Eagle Project Is Good News For Wildlife Preserve

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A Scout in Montclair has completed his Eagle Project, and it’s good news to anyone who appreciates the Third River and the Alonzo F. Bonsal Wildlife Preserve.

Logan Bateman of Montclair Troop 13 is a lifelong Montclair resident and lover of the outdoors, and it shows in his effort, which he’s dubbed “the Alonzo F. Bonsal Trail and River Restoration Project.”

The project is the culmination of Bateman’s drive to become an Eagle Scout, an honor only about 5 percent of Scouts achieve.

It’s an effort near and dear to his heart; Bateman is also a captain of the Montclair High School crew team and has spent “countless hours” on the Passaic River, of which the Third River is a tributary. Read More: Montclair HS Team Rows Home With Haul Of Medals To Close 2022

Recently, Bateman organized a group of 30 volunteers, including fellow Scouts, Montclair High School rowing teammates and friends and family. Together, they built four walking bridges and planted 40 native trees throughout the Bonsal Preserve.

Bateman said he hopes the new walkways will open up the trails for exploration and make the Preserve a safer and more enjoyable space for members of the community. Meanwhile, the native plantings will help fight against invasive species, improving the water quality of the Third River, which flows through the preserve and into the Passaic River, he added.

To kickstart the project, Bateman reached out to Jonathan Grupper, president of the Bonsal Wildlife Preserve Conservancy, to better understand the needs of the preserve and areas where he could look to protect and nurture the integrity and ecosystem.

As part of the planning process, Bateman worked closely with Mr. Grupper, Friends of the Preserve Conservancy, Executive Members of the Nature Conservancy of New Jersey, the Montclair Township Department of Community Services and Boy Scout Council on all approvals and details of his proposal including the location of walkways and trees as well as species of native trees and building materials.

Grupper praised the youth for his contribution to the community.

“It takes the energy and investment of the community for the preserve to thrive,” Grupper said. “But Logan and his team went above and beyond. We’ve now got Bonsal 2.0 thanks to him and Troop 13.”

Even though the official project is completed, Bateman continues to visit the preserve weekly to ensure trees are watered, growing and protected, especially given the extreme temperatures the state is continuing to experience during one of the hottest summers on record.

“I'm really happy with the outcome of the project and proud of what we were able to accomplish together,” Bateman said.

He added a humble disclaimer in a statement to Patch:

“But I could not have done any of this without the wonderful guidance of Mr. Grupper at the Preserve and Ms. DiBlasio at the Nature Conservancy who helped me with all of the important up-front planning needed to ensure the best long-term outcome. I also want to thank my Scout leaders, Councilman Peter Yacobellis and all of our volunteers from Troop 13, the MHS Crew Team as well as my family and friends who came out to support and to Major Hardware in Cedar Grove and all of our friends in the community for their generous donations. As a Montclair Scout, rower, builder and lover of the outdoors, it was important for me to do my part to protect this neighborhood treasure for generations to come. I hope everyone will take the opportunity to visit the preserve and enjoy some of our enhancements -– it’s really a special place!”

Boy Scout Troop 13, a part of Northern New Jersey Council, has been operating since 1911 as a charter member of Union Congregational Church in Montclair and is one of the oldest troops in the United States. It has celebrated eight Eagle Scout advancements in 2022. For information on how to join Troop 13, contact Scoutmaster Michael Bateman at michael.lenapetrail@gmail.com.

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