Three Local Boy Scouts Soar to Eagle

On Sunday, March 16, 2014 at Radnor Boy Scout Troop 284’s Annual Dinner and Court of Honor, Kevin Janson, Michael Lanzone and Aviel Shalev earned the highest advancement award the Boy Scouts of America offers to scouts, the Eagle Scout Award. In order to earn the rank of Eagle Scout a scout must earn 21 merit badges, achieve seven ranks and successfully complete a community service project.  The Eagle Award is the culmination of the years spent as a Boy Scout mastering leadership positions, managing responsibilities and living by the Scout Oath and Law. “To help other people at all times”, the third line of the Scout Oath, is the foundation of the service project chosen by each prospective Eagle Scout as they strive for excellence.

Kevin Janson, son of Eric and Laura Janson of Wayne, PA, started on his trail to Eagle in 2007.  Through his years in scouting he held many positions of responsibility, most recently Senior Patrol Leader, an elected position and liaison between the Patrol Leaders and the Scoutmaster.  Kevin, an avid outdoorsman, saw a need at the Ithan Valley Park for a new trail that would connect two existing trails.  This need became Kevin’s service to the community.  The trail would run downhill so Kevin designed and implemented a connecting path keeping in mind water drainage and foot traffic. ”I worked with the Friends of Ithan Valley Park to determine the work that needed to be done, and I would like to thank Peter Kingsbery for giving me guidance.” Kevin was able to utilize the abundance of rocks already in the park to build a dry wall along the new trail and learned the engineering needed to build this trail and wall. Kevin will graduate from Radnor High School in June and will attend college in the fall.

Michael Lanzone, son of Anthony and Beth Lanzone of Wayne, PA, started his trail to Eagle in 2007.  Mike held the position of Eagle Patrol Leader for six months managing 8-10 scouts and helping to plan and implement scout activities. In May of 2013, after conversations with Radnor Historical Society leader Ted Pollard, Mike started a renovation project on part of the First Baptist Church Cemetery on West Wayne Avenue. “The cemetery that I worked on was the resting place for many veterans from wars. Civil War vets, Spanish American War vets and even WW1 and WW2.”   It was important to Mike that this cemetery continues to honor our fallen heroes so its renovation became his service to the community.  The cemetery initially needed a cleanup of debris.  Then as part of the renovation the grass and weeds were removed around the base of the grave markers and a layer of gravel was placed in a neat rectangle as a surround to help with future mowing of the land.  It was a challenging project and Mike gained skills in group leadership and teamwork.  Mike is a junior at Radnor High School.

Aviel Shalev, son of Daniel and Sheila Shalev of Bryn Mawr, PA, started his trail to Eagle in 2009.  Aviel’s passion for the protection of the environment was evident as he spent two days attending “Leave No Trace” training.  He brought this training back to the troop to instill an awareness of our footprint in nature.  Aviel is a determined young man with strong leadership abilities.  He saw that a section of one of the nature trails within The Willows Park, in Radnor, was in desperate need of repair.  The trail was being degraded by water and foot traffic through mud.  Aviel designed and built, with the help of others, a raised wooden foot bridge over the tree roots and muddy surface.  This raised walkway will allow the ground to recover and give trail walkers a smooth surface to hike.  Along with learning about walkway design and group leadership he also was introduced to fundraising in order to finance the project.  Aviel will graduate from Radnor High School in June and will be joining the Israeli Defense Force.