Local scout plants trees for Eagle Project

Brandon Kathman

District Executive

A local scout has planted twenty white pine trees at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church to fulfill the service requirement for his Eagle rank, the highest honor a youth can achieve in the Scouting program.

Theo Krentz of Troop 284 in Lake Orion said he chose a service project with the church after earning the Alpha Omega Award, a religious emblem offered by the Orthodox Church in partnership with the Boy Scouts of America. While working toward the medal, Krentz identified an opportunity to give back to the congregation while increasing Scouting’s visibility.

“I’ve been a member there for several years,” Krentz explained. “Working with Father Michael Manos on my Alpha Omega Award really opened my eyes to just how much Scouting could be mutually beneficial there, despite St. Nick’s not currently having a troop of their own.”

Krentz worked closely with the church leadership in planning the project. The church presented a few options, and together they decided to plant the twenty white pines on the church grounds.

Within the Scouting movement, Eagle projects often see youth from multiple units come together and work toward the common goal. Volunteer recruitment and management are essential tasks for the prospective Eagle. Krentz’s project attracted dozens of scouts from across Oakland County, with youth in attendance representing five different troops.

Though the workday occurred after a series of storms, and the ground was quite muddy, Krentz and his volunteers persevered to plant, fertilize and mulch the new trees.

“In the hours immediately following the project, I was really just tired,” Krentz said. “I just wanted to go home and take a nap. After I rested up, it started to sink in that this was the culmination of all my years in Scouting, and I reflected on how far I had come.”

With his service project complete, Krentz will soon go before a “Board of Review” comprised of adult volunteers and community leaders, which will determine his readiness to receive the Eagle rank. When he passes the review, he will join a unique fellowship, one that only 6% of youth in the program ever attain. For his part, Krentz is thrilled with his project and hopeful it will have a special legacy.

“I think my project served as a great starting point to cultivate Scouting in a community without much exposure to the program, and I’m excited to see where that leads to,” Krentz said.