The strength behind a community Millstone's Michael Waldron believes Boy Scouts help keep the community strong. JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Michael Waldron, 16, of Millstone Township Boy Scout Troop 116, built this information center at Abate Park in Millstone in order to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. The 16-year-old junior at Allentown High School joined the Boy Scouts 11 years ago when he lived in New York. "I wanted to join when I saw what Boy Scouts did - climbing, biking, backpacking," Waldron said. "And since [joining], I have learned a lot of leadership roles and how to do things I probably wouldn't have, and [I've] just had fun." Now a member of Millstone Boy Scout Troop 116, Waldron will be recognized alongside fellow Scouts Tim Collins and Arjun Shah with an Eagle Scout Court of Honor Nov. 24. Waldron is proud of having accomplished Eagle Scout status. As part of his requirements to do so, he built an information station at Millstone's Abate Park. "Achieving Eagle is what I've been wanting to do for 11 years," Waldron said. "It's been my goal from day one. It entailed me working hard at what I had to do, living by the Scout oath and law and working up the ranks. There was also a lot of paperwork and badges involved." Waldron designed the information station but had to get the design approved by township officials, which required various presentations. He said that while the preliminary process took four months, the construction of the station only took three days. He built the pieces of the station and led other Scouts in assembling it on site. He also created a stone flooring in front of the installation. "It looks like it was easier than it was actually doing it," he said. "Once you get through the ground-level layer, it's all clay. And, I had to level out the posts." The station will contain special-event information in addition to educational information such as insect spraying and Amber Alert notices, he said. "It's a nice place for people to come for information," he said. "Hopefully, it will get used in this beautiful park." He thanked his parents, township Business Administrator Jim Pickering and Scoutmaster Bill Meyer for helping him achieve the goal of his project. Waldron said he will definitely stay involved with the Scouts and continue to take on leadership roles in the troop. Eagle Scouts can go on to obtain Eagle Palms, and Waldron said he will work toward those by reconfiguring the troop's library. He will have to obtain five merit badges for each palm and can earn palms in successions of three until he is 18, he said. "I love the Boy Scouts," he said. "It's a great program. You learn a lot, and you have a lot of fun in it. You just completely have a different outlook on life after you join the Boy Scouts. It teaches kids different leadership skills and fun ways to stay active and help the community." The Millstone Scouts participate in road cleanup projects, soup kitchens, pancake breakfasts and the local Relay for Life, which helps raise funding for cancer research for the American Cancer Society. Waldron said it's important for today's youth to help the community. "It's the right thing to do. Community service helps keep a community together," he said. "If people don't help other people, we wouldn't have as strong a community as we do now." His proudest achievement in the Boy Scouts beyond achieving Eagle Scout rank was getting the Order of the Arrow, he said. "Beyond that," he said, "probably the best thing is just meeting different people from different troops when going on different outings." The Millstone troop currently has 50 members. When asked why he thinks the troop's membership is so strong, Waldron said, "We already have a wooded place with camps just 10 miles away. Kids out here just like scouting." He also said that a troop is only as strong as the parents and volunteers involved. "There are so many highly skilled adults who have gone through the many requirements just so that they can be our leaders," he said. - Jennifer Kohlhepp