By Meg Peters
Review Staff Writer
Orion Township resident Jack Sielicki is on his way to earning his wings.
Sielicki, 14, is in the review process of becoming an Eagle Scout, the highest rank a Boy Scout can earn, and is set to achieve it almost two years sooner than the average scout.
Before the cold set in, Sielicki completed his final Eagle Scout project to be submitted to the Boy Scouts of America National Council for approval. Installing several birdhouses along the border of Friendship Park, Sielicki not only helped out Orion Township, but did so in honor of the future addition to Friendship Park: the Let Them Play wheelchair accessible playground which will be built in the spring.
‘This was a great project and will benefit the community in multiple ways, and Jack was enthusiastic about it,? Aaron Whatley said, Orion Township Parks Director. ‘Purple Martin birdhouses are naturally mosquito repellent, and they look good too.?
To prove his leadership skills, a major requirement of the final project, Sielicki rounded up his fellow scouts from Troop 128 to dig holes, pour cement, and mount the donated birdfeeders. Each of the 13 birdfeeders was purchased with an engraved brick as a gift to raise money for the Let Them Play playground.
‘I just think it was a really great thing to do, and it’s a good way to prove a lot of leadership skills,? Sielicki, a freshman at Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, said.
Sielicki attended St. Joseph Catholic School in Lake Orion before advancing to Brother Rice.
While younger ranks of the Boy Scouts are required to perform physical tests, such as camping outside for a number of nights or preparing a full course meal, becoming an Eagle Scout is more of the mind.
‘The main requirement is showing leadership,? Sielicki said. ‘Basically I taught them what the process was [to install the birdfeeder] and made sure everything ran smoothly.?
For Sielicki, the work surprised him.
‘I think it was more of a challenge than I initially thought, but it was good in that fact because sometimes you will face adversity and know you have to persevere through it and finish the job.?
Troop 128 operates out of St. Mary’s in the Hills Episcopal Church of Lake Orion, located at 2512 Joslyn Court. So far 15 scouts have earned their Eagle Scout ranking since 1995, according to the website http://lotroop128.org/.
‘I think there’s a lot of tradition [earning the Eagle Scout rank],? Sielicki said. ‘My dad was never able to get there, and now regrets it, so it was great I was able to finish.?