September 6, 2016 at 8:45 a.m.
Boy Scout revives trail for Eagle Scout rank, is on path to earn Hornaday Award
Boy Scout revives trail for Eagle Scout rank, is on path to earn Hornaday Award
By Kayla Thomason-
Martin Hoger, a 15-year-old a sophomore at Rhinelander High School, observed that individuals using the airport didn't have a scenic place to stretch their legs.
"It seemed like a good project to help the community out because all the people at the airport I saw just walking around on the blacktop and everything and I knew that there used to be a trail in there, thanks to one of my friends, Jim Winkler, and he really helped mastermind this new trail and he helped me build a new layout," Martin said.
When a delivery service built a facility in that section of woods half of the original trail was used, leaving what remained unconnected.
Martin used the remnants of the trail and created new segments to make them connect. It took six months of planning and at least 20 people helped execute it.
Those who visit the airport will find white Hodag pawprints leading from the facility to the lawn, guiding people toward the entrance.
"Jim Winkler gave me that idea about that because when he had first built it with 4-H and the charter school they had put the Hodag pawprints down leading out to (the trail) so I thought just redoing that so they were there again was a good idea," Martin said.
A sign and a trail map will be located at the beginning of the path and will be visible from the airport.
Martin has heard from airport staff that patrons have been utilizing the trails.
"They've told me they really liked it," he said. "Joe Brauer, the airport director, he said that everyone really likes the trail and he said he was thrilled with it. They all seem pretty excited about it."
Dean Hoger, Martin's father, is proud of his son's accomplishment.
"It's terrific, it turned out fabulous," he said.
Martin is using this project as one of four he needs to be contention for the Hornaday Award.
"The Hornaday Award is a conservation award where you have to do four series of projects," he said. "You could use your Eagle project as one."
The four projects have to help the environment and certain merit badges have to be acquired to progress.
He already has the required badges and he is hoping to complete his projects by the time he turns 17.
"It should be exciting down the road," Martin said.
There are about 50,000 Eagle Scouts a year, and each year there are about five Hornaday Award recipients.
Several local businesses helped Martin with this project, and he is grateful for their assistance.
"I would like to thank Argonne Lumber, Sherwin-Williams, Dominos and Trig's for helping this project happen. Whether it was feeding kids or giving us supplies for the project, it all helped," he said.
Argonne Lumber donated wood for a bench. Other groups he would like to give a big "thank you" to are the Oneida County Highway Department, which donated safety vests, the Public Works Department which supplied all the wood chips, and Jim Olive, the Department of Natural Resources chainsaw safety specialist who cut the trees for the path.
"It was a nice community effort," Dean Hoger said.
Kayla Breese may be reached at kayla @rivernewsonline.com.
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