Help Reconstruct a Seating Area at Teatown Nature Preserve

Hello everyone,

I am Henry Martin, a Life Scout from Croton on Hudson, New York, and a member of Troop 28 working on my Eagle Project. Since I was 6 years old, Teatown has been my local nature preserve and has helped shape my appreciation for the outdoors. One of my first scout hikes was on this preserve, and over the past 11 years, Teatown has witnessed my growth as a person. I have countless fond memories here, and it holds a special place in my heart. I wanted my Eagle Project to be a meaningful contribution to the organization that I love so much.

Teatown is a nonprofit nature preserve and environmental education center in the Lower Hudson Valley. It boasts 15 miles of hiking trails, a two-acre island refuge for over 230 species of native wildflowers, year-round programming, wildlife exhibits, and natural science day camps. Their mission is to inspire our community to lifelong environmental stewardship, and I have experienced firsthand the profound impact of their work.

For my Eagle Project, I have partnered with Teatown to reconstruct a seating area on the Bailey Brook. The current learning area is insufficient for the needs of Teatown's education department, which runs camps and school trips to educate youth about the local ecosystem. I collaborated with the education department to design a new, robust seating area that will provide a place for students, campers, and visitors to learn, relax, and enjoy nature.

This project aims to create an area for people to connect with nature and enhance their enjoyment of the outdoors. Having spent a significant part of my life participating in scouting and outdoor activities, I have developed a deep appreciation for nature. These experiences have given me adventures, personal challenges, and moments of awe. By encouraging more people to engage with the outdoors, I hope to share this sense of wonder and appreciation that I feel when I am in nature.

Teatown is generously providing most of the materials for this project. This fundraiser is for any additional costs associated with the project, such as PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), refreshments, and extra hardware. Your support will help cover these costs and ensure the project's success.

Project Specifics:

Beneficiary Organization: Teatown Nature Preserve Education Department

Location: Within the Teatown Nature Preserve, along Bailey Brook on a gentle hillside overlooking the brook, approximately 75 yards north of Teatown Lake, on the east side of the Northwest Trail. The site will be accessible to the public and educational groups led by Teatown.

Deliverable: Construct and install a three-tiered seating platform for use by Teatown visitors, educators, camp counselors, and staff. This new construction will replace an existing broken-down seating area and meet Teatown's current needs and will seat 25 people.

Design: Three-Tiered Education Platform with a rectangular design, 16’ long by 20’ wide, consisting of 3 tiered sections made from pressure-treated pine wood.

Your support, whether big or small, will bring us closer to our goal and help create a valuable resource for Teatown's educational programs. Together, we can inspire a deeper connection to nature and foster lifelong environmental stewardship.

Thank you for your generosity!

Henry Martin