Boy Scout Troop 4070 at Indian Fort Nature Preserve

Over the past year, Indian Fort Nature Preserve has served as a meeting place and outdoor learning lab for Geneseo Boy Scout Troop 4070. Due to the pandemic, all meetings had to be held outdoors and Indian Fort provided a great place for this.

The troop assisted with the construction of the new Jones Bridge Trail and helped plant trees in areas of high white ash tree die-out. The troop also went on a guided hike with Land Steward Lina to learn about invasive species and the management strategies the Conservancy is using on the preserve.

Each of these events helped the scouts develop new skills and were part of the Troop’s efforts to earn the World Conservation Award which encourages scouts to “think globally and act locally.”

To earn the World Conservation Award, scouts first studied and earned the three merit badges of environmental science, soil and water conservation, and citizenship in the world. The troop then completed three hours of work on a conservation project—invasive species removal at Indian Fort.

Fourteen Scouts earned the World Conservation Award, which was presented by Executive Director Ben Gajewski at the Troop’s Court of Honor in October. Congratulations to Elliot Carman, Henry Christie, Jacob French, Noah French, Eric Hammond, Jason Hammond, Billy McMaster, Garren O’Brien, Luke Rubeck, Rafael Rutigliano, Jacob Scherer, Zach Struble, Sam Taranko, and Greg Treutlein!