Above: Scouts of Troop 71 construct boardwalk at Jackson Pond Preserve.

Troop 71 of Doylestown was busy this past summer! The local Boy Scout troop took on two major projects to serve its community: a new boardwalk at Heritage Conservancy’s Jackson Pond Preserve, and an information kiosk at Russell-Mandel Preserve.

In completing these, the troop also surpassed 2,000 hours of cumulative service to Heritage Conservancy since they started working with us in 2020. That’s a lot of volunteer time with a major local impact!

Work at Jackson Pond Nature Preserve

The next time you enjoy a walk around Jackson Pond in Doylestown, you will see a new boardwalk section. Eagle Scout candidate Mitav Mehta planned, funded, and led this project.

The new boardwalk at Jackson Pond Preserve

Work at Russell-Mandel Nature Preserve

And, when you visit the Russell-Mandel Preserve, check out the new information kiosk which was planned, funded, and led by Eagle Scout candidate AJ Strazza.

Scouts from Troop 71 build the information kiosk at Russell-Mandel Preserve

“These young men have done amazing work,” says Jim Drennan, Land Conservation Manager at Heritage Conservancy. “Their work ethic is impressive. The projects they completed will have long-lasting and far-reaching impact for local wildlife habitat and will be enjoyed by the people in the community that use our nature preserves on a regular basis.”

The new information kiosk at Russell-Mandel Preserve

The Boy Scouts and Heritage Conservancy: Five Years of Partnership

Over the past five years, Troop 71 has steadily worked with Heritage Conservancy in helping to maintain and improve public properties. The Scouts of this industrious troop, sponsored by Forest Grove Presbyterian Church, have completed these improvement projects and many others:

• They have cleared downed trees, kept trails mowed and mulched, and removed litter.
• They have built and installed picnic tables and boardwalks.
• They have planted native species and removed invasive ones.
• They have undertaken conservation efforts to construct and install wood duck boxes and chimney swift towers. (See photo of the pollinator meadow and towers below.)

During the installation of their  work on the information kiosk at Russell-Mandel Preserve, the troop crossed the milestone of 2,000 service hours for Heritage Conservancy. This feat is even more amazing when you learn they have put in an even greater amount of hours for other groups in our community over the same timeframe!

We are grateful for the continuing efforts of these Scouts, and look forward to sharing more of their exploits in the future. Well done, Troop 71!

Learn more about volunteering with Heritage Conservancy.

Visit Heritage Conservancy’s Russell-Mandel Nature Preserve at 1515 Holicong Road near New Hope. Visit Jackson Pond Nature Preserve in Doylestown.