Trail Accessibility Improved at Indian Fort Nature Preserve

Hi, I’m Rafael Rutigliano. I’m a Life Scout in Troop 4070 of Geneseo. I just completed my Eagle project with Genesee Valley Conservancy.

Ever since I was little I remember going to the Indian Fort Nature Preserve and learning to skip rocks on the Genesee River and taking a look at the waterfall.

When I started to look for an Eagle project, I immediately thought of the Genesee Valley Conservancy due to all the great times that I was able to have because of them. The Conservancy told me that there were some traversability issues in the Indian Fort and I gladly accepted.

My project included building stairs to prevent falls, boardwalks to prevent hikers from experiencing mud, and installing new trail markers for easier navigation within the preserve. I learned many things from the project, from leadership skills to the best way to drive rebar. Many of the lessons I learned will undoubtedly help me later in life.

The project was a lot of work but fun and rewarding! The Conservancy was great to work with and helped make this a positive experience.