On Dec. 6, 2024, Charles Samer and Evan Borkowski celebrated earning the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America: Eagle Scout.

Their Scouting careers began in 2014 as Tiger Scouts in Pack 439 at St. Thomas More, Salisbury Township.

They have been actively participating in Scouts ever since.

The final step before earning Eagle Scout is the planning and execution of a service project led by the Scout.

Samer began his project by consulting with the camp director and recently hired nature experts of Camp Fowler, Orefield, to investigate what aspects of the camp needed to be improved.

Camp Fowler allows local youth the opportunity to experience breakthroughs and healing often resulting in positive behavioral changes aiding their future growth.

Samer decided to construct, with the help of Troop members, family and friends, a nature education zone for the campers.

The zone includes two large sandboxes and a portable chalk board specifically built for younger campers. The sandboxes feature covers. When unfolded, the covers turn the sandboxes into seating benches. The nature experts wanted a place where they could teach lessons, but also somewhere for younger campers to enjoy time by themselves.

Borkowski’s project involved renovating a small vegetable garden used by Mercy School for Special Learning in Allentown.

The school uses the garden as a part of their life skills program, allowing students to grow their own produce and use it for cooking.

Borkowski organized a team of volunteers to help install several new garden beds.