Boy Scout Troop 325
By George Denise, Scoutmaster
Moreland Woods
An Open Space Dedicated to the Youth of West Valley
Tonight, we had our picture
taken in Moreland Woods. We wanted a
photograph of the entire troop standing behind the pond to submit with our
troop's application for the Hornaday Award. The Hornaday is a national conservation award, presented by the Boy
Scouts of America to scouts, scouters, and Boy Scout troops, for outstanding
conservation projects. It is a rare
award; very few receive it. However, we
feel the work our troop has performed in Moreland Woods qualifies.
Moreland Woods was first
conceived of by Rogers Middle School science teacher Max Averitt in the early
1970's. His dream was to create a
natural area in the 1.5 acre open space
adjacent to Rogers, planted in species native to the Santa Cruz Mountains, for
use by science and other classes at Rogers.
Plans were developed by Mr.
Averitt working with Hoag Land Design. They included extensive plantings of coast redwoods, Douglas fir, big
leaf maple, California buckeye, cypress, black walnut, pine, sycamore, live
oak, and California laurel. The plans
called for grading of the site and development of a pond, artificial creek,
pathways with seating areas, bridge over the creek, drinking fountain,
planters, and amphitheater. Students in
Mr. Averitt’s science classes began work in 1973, planting trees and working on
the site. Much of the work was
completed during the seventies. Following Mr. Averitt’s retirement, however, the site fell into
disrepair and vandalism began to take its toll.
In 1994, a school and scout parent who owns a trucking and heavy equipment company, Don Gagliasso, was asked to raze the site and re-grade it, leaving only the trees. Another parent, Diane Dressbach, volunteered to be the Moreland Woods Coordinator. She continued Moreland Woods Clean-up Days to keep the weeds down and to begin the process of restoring the site. The first project that was developed toward this end was the re-construction of the stone and wooden benches in the seven seating areas located throughout the site. Justin Karren, Rogers Middle School student, former member of Cub Scout Pack 325, and member of LDS Boy Scout Troop 563, completed the benches as his project in 1996.
That same year, Don Gagliasso became the Moreland Woods Coordinator and continued the work to continue the restoration of Moreland Woods. He disked the field each Spring to keep the weeds down, and encouraged his two sons, Donald and Louis, both members of Troop 325, to develop the pathways as their Eagle Projects in 1996 and 1997.
Also, in 1996, Renny Wright, a member of Troop 325, developed the amphitheatre for his Eagle project.
Next came the development of the artificial creek by Christopher Denise in 1999, the bridge over the creek by James Anderson in 1999, the drinking fountain by Michael Rodriquez in 2000, the planter beds by Scott Burroughs in 2001, and “Walden Pond” by Michael Denise in 2002. All of these Scouts were members of Troop 325, all provided this work as Eagle projects.
In addition to Eagle projects, the scouts and parents of Troop 325 have held Moreland Woods Clean-up Days two to three times annually, installed the motor for the pond and creek, installed an irrigation system for the rear half of Moreland Woods, and planted twenty coast redwood trees and ten madrone trees in addition to the plants already there In 2000, Scoutmaster George Denise became the coordinator.
Over the past eight years, the troop has invested over $17,000 and close to 4,000 hours in the development and restoration of Moreland Woods.
Currently, Ben Levy is installing an irrigation system for the front half of Moreland Woods. A campfire pit for the amphitheatre, markers identifying the many Eagle projects, re-painting the front sign, security lighting, an entranceway, and the planting of an additional 200 hundred plants and trees are planned for the near future.
Over
the last few years, a family of ducks have taken up residence in the pond, a
Snowy Egret visits the site regularly, a Peregrine Falcon was spotted sitting
atop one of the redwoods recently (there are only 200 pairs in all of
California), and a covey of doves have made the site their home. Dr. Stebbins, the school principal, donated
several bluegills to the pond a couple of years ago, which are also doing very
nicely, thank you!
At
a recent Rogers School Open House visitors enjoyed strolling the pathways and
visiting our bit of "nature next door". It was fun to hear students say things
like, "Mom, let me show you my favorite spot!" or, "There's a mother duck with
babies here now!"
One
former student remembered the old, vandalized "vacant lot" that Moreland Woods
was. Three other visiting parents (ages
withheld by request) were actually members of the original science classes that
planted those first trees back in 1973. One of them noted, "We were just glad to be out of the classroom,
then. Now that I see the finished project,
I can appreciate Mr. Averitt's vision."
We
are truly blessed to have this taste of wilderness at our doorstep.