Local Boy Scout Troop 36 Eagle Scout candidate, Michael Baker, has selected the Ocean County YMCA facility grounds located off Whitty Road for the focus of his Eagle Project. Helping the environment and giving back to the community is the goal. The construction of this project kicked off this past weekend, with great success.
This community outreach has been graciously supported by local families and businesses alike, to create both a successful and impactful project. Reclamation of the ordinary front basin of the YMCA will be naturally enhanced with a myriad of plant life to encourage and support a wide variety of birds, butterflies and small animals. Michael’s vision is to provide a difference in the community for both environmental and educational purposes at the OCYMCA.
This new basin will serve as a natural conservation area and a proper habitat for native birds and animals. The project will also become a beneficial learning area with walking trail and informational signage that can be incorporated into new and existing OCYMCA programs for children, as well as offer beauty for all seasons.
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Lee G. Webb, L.L.A., P.P., of FWH Associates, a local engineering firm specializing in land surveying, civil engineering, planning and landscape architecture, worked closely with Michael and Troop 36, donating his time and resources to plan and help implement the project. The Ocean County YMCA has also volunteered not only their land, but also their time, support and ideas to the new Conservation/Reclamation Basin. Local business support also came from Prima Homes, Design 446, Blair’s Rental, Ocean County Remanufacturing Center, Kens Farm Market and Four Seasons Nursery and Landscape, just to name a few.
“The support that I received from the community and the help of family and friends taught me a valuable lesson”, commented Michael, “I hope with my help and the help of the community we can make a difference with environmental awareness and youth education in our future”.
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The ultimate goal of this project is to offer local children the opportunity to learn about their environment through hands-on education, as well as garner a sense of community and support of this, and all of Troop 36’s socially and environmentally beneficial projects.
For additional information regarding this project and other community missions, please visit OCYMCA.org or Troop36TomsRiver.com.
