Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse Alex Zedaker, right, and his dad, Rob Zedaker, take five after installing a new split fence post at Poland Municipal Forest, also known as Poland Woods. The repair of the fence is part of Alex’s Eagle Scout Project.

POLAND — Troop 44 Scout Alex Zedaker took advantage of nicer weather recently to begin work in Poland Municipal Forest for his Eagle Scout project.

Last month, Alex was given the green light for the Poland Woods Indian Trail entrance refurbishment. He is the son of Rob and Angela Zedaker.

“The project includes repairing, refurbishing or replacing split rail fencing,” Alex, 17, said. “There are approximately 20 to 30 posts and the corresponding rails. It also includes clearing debris and detritus clogging the entranceway, rehabilitating and cleaning two dedication plaques and their foundations, cleaning existing aluminum signage, repairing a kiosk roof structure and replacing cedar shakes on the roof, and repairing existing trash receptacles and replacing all the hardware.”

In essence, Alex’s project is a total face-lift of the Indian Trail entrance.

One part of the project was in raising funds for the purchases needed and the rental of a coyote posthole digger. He secured the rental of the coyote, but under scouting rules, had to have an adult operate it. The post holes were dug and the new post set in place over Valentine’s Day weekend. Alex can now turn his focus to other components of the project and continue fundraising to buy fence rails and cedar shakes.

Alex chose the forest project out of a desire to improve the entrance.

“I’ve always found the Poland forest to be beautiful and enjoyed my time visiting,” he said. “The entrance looked like it needed to be elevated to match the grandness of the rest of the forest.”

Alex is not the first Zedaker to earn an Eagle Scout award. He actually comes from a long line of Eagle Scouts.

“Scouting has been a family thing since the 1930’s when my great uncle earned the rank of Eagle Scout in Troop 44,” said Alex’s father, Rob Zedaker. “I am proud to count my brother, brother-in-law and two cousins as Eagle Scouts. Poland Municipal Forest, known to many as “The Woods” has been significant in our family for generations. Family members have served on the Forest Board and the Forest Foundation Board. It has countless opportunities to volunteer and learn. My father worked a summer to help clear Thatcher Trail before he started college. My brother John’s Eagle project was the gateway near Zedaker Pavilion. Appreciating the Forest is family tradition.”

Rob Zedaker serves as Scoutmaster of Troop 44.

“I have held nearly every leadership position within the organization,” he said. “I have been the Scoutmaster for almost nine years. My father served as Scoutmaster for 25 years. My grandfather served as Scoutmaster for the Troop as well.”

He said Troop 44 was founded in 1922, making it the oldest continually operating Troop in the Mahoning Valley.

As for Alex, he joined Troop 44 in the first grade when he was 6. He went through the Poland Local School District and is spending his junior and senior years at the Mahoning County Career & Technical Center.

“I am enjoying the aviation maintenance program at MCCTC,” he said. “This will allow me to become a FAA Certified Airframe and Powerplant Technician by the end of this summer.”

What he remembers most about scouting was the many camping outings with his friends.

“We have had a ton of amazing opportunities,” Alex said. “I have done whitewater rafting, rock climbing, engineering and other hard sciences, sailing, and shooting sports. I also met new friends when I was at the National Jamboree in Bechtel, West Virginia.”

He is now adding to the memories with the restoration of the Poland Woods entrance.