World Bird Sanctuary
was honored to attend the Eagle Scout Ceremony of Eric Polashek on Saturday May
26, 2012 at Klondike Park in Augusta, Missouri.
Eric, his family, myself and Myakka, the Bald Eagle...note the unique background
This Eagle Scout
Ceremony took place in a very unique location—cliffside at Klondike Park. Eric was honored, with his back
to the cliff face, in the outdoor ceremony at the amphitheater behind Shelter
#3. Klondike Park is beautiful and
unusual as it had a previous life as a quarry, very close to the Missouri
River.
Myakka our majestic adult
male Bald Eagle and I waited in the shade of a sycamore tree for our part in
the ceremony. Our part of
the ceremony was to thank Eric and his family and fellow scouts for their
project to assist the World Bird Sanctuary in our mission. Eric's project was the construction of
a 50-foot wraparound bench for the outdoor classroom center, located near our
library and very close to the eagles that are on our display line. The bench is
a beautiful piece of outdoor furniture, very comfortable and functional, and
will certainly enhance our outdoor classroom.
Some of the badges and awards Eric earned on his way to the Eagle Scout award
During the ceremony I
could not help but listen and see wild birds going about their lives in this
beautiful park setting. I heard or
saw 14 species of birds during the ceremony. What a beautiful setting to enjoy an Eagle Scout Court of
Honor!
Eric, and Troop 984 have
an interesting history connecting them to the Bald Eagle. Eric’s father, Frank
Polashek, as well as his uncle and a number of other relatives, have all
achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
Eric completed his Eagle project at the young age of 14. Plus—Eric is the 22nd Eagle
Scout from Troop 984 to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. Troop 984 is based in Dardenne Prairie,
Missouri.
While helping me carry
Myaka’s crate, Eric's uncle Dan Martinek, told me that he is from Decorah,
Iowa. You avid Eagle Watchers may
know that Decorah, Iowa, is the home of the Eagle nest and Eagle nest Cam that
has had over 1 million views to its webcast. Dan Martinek told me that the Decorah, Iowa, Eagle
Web cam is the most visited website ever on the internet. Dan grew up
near the Fish Hatchery in Decorah, Iowa, where the Bald Eagles have nested for
the past 2 years. Each year
this pair of Eagles has raised 3 Eaglets.
Our thanks also to Home
Depot for donating the materials for Eric’s project, and
a big thank you to Eric
and his family for a very useful Eagle scout project and a most interesting day
for me!
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