For most people, a park bench, a dugout or a garden pathway is easy to overlook. For four local Eagle Scouts, those community improvements represent years of planning, fundraising, paperwork and hundreds of hours of labor.

Preston Kehs, Ben Ruyak, Chase Eiss and Evan Fegley, members of BSA Troop 31 at Old Zionsville United Church of Christ, recently earned Scouting’s highest rank after completing projects that will benefit residents throughout the Lehigh Valley for years to come.

Only about 4% to 6% of eligible Scouts achieve Eagle Scout status, a distinction that requires extensive planning, leadership and community service. Each candidate must document every stage of a project, from its initial concept through final approval, before earning the rank.

While their projects took different forms, all four Scouts faced similar challenges: managing volunteers, raising funds, coordinating schedules and completing mountains of paperwork.

“Paperwork was the hardest part of the projects,” Kehs said.

“Itemizing every piece of material used such as screws was not fun,” Eiss added.

Fegley noted project binders often ran 30 to 50 pages documenting materials, expenses and volunteer hours.

Despite the paperwork, all four Scouts said the experience taught them valuable leadership and organizational skills while allowing them to leave something meaningful behind.

IMPROVING A FAVORITE CAMP

Kehs, a senior at Emmaus High School, chose to give back to Camp Serranova, a longtime destination for Scouts and youth groups. After a fallen tree damaged three of the camp’s nine benches, Kehs developed a plan to replace them and make them movable so they could be used more flexibly. His project also included construction of a woodshed, installation of a camp sign and cleanup of the surrounding area. The work stretched over two years and required more than 200 hours of labor. Kehs raised approximately $1,200 for materials through the camp but completed the project for about $800, allowing the remaining funds to stay with Camp Serranova. The most rewarding part, he said, is knowing future generations will benefit from the improvements. Kehs is the son of Peter “PJ” Kehs and Chelsea Kehs of Emmaus. He plans to pursue a career as a physician assistant and is considering Drexel University, the University of Pittsburgh and Ithaca College.

SOLVING A WATER PROBLEM

Ruyak focused his project on water issues at Camp Serranova, leading construction of a new 10-foot-by-8-foot pump house. Volunteers excavated the site, poured concrete forms, laid block, framed and roofed the structure and completed the siding and insulation. The project included lighting and heat. Ruyak spent more than 200 hours on the project while volunteers contributed more than 800 additional hours. Donations from local businesses, family friends and supporters helped fund the effort. “I enjoyed being able to see the finished product of all our labor,” he said. The son of David and Erin Ruyak of Emmaus, he plans to attend trade school and pursue an associate degree in electrical technology.

REBUILDING A DUGOUT

Baseball inspired Eiss’ project at the South Fourth Street field in Emmaus. Over two years, he logged 715 hours coordinating improvements that included removing aging benches, regrading the site and constructing a new dugout structure. Materials were valued at approximately $8,000. Support came from Emmaus Borough and numerous small businesses throughout the community. Eiss spent hours visiting businesses seeking donations. “Seeing the new dugouts being used is a great feeling,” he said. Eiss is the son of Steve Eiss and Sara Pike of Emmaus and plans to study international business and logistics, with hopes of eventually owning his own company.

RESTORING A MEMORIAL GARDEN

Fegley focused on restoring the memorial gardens at Zionsville Evangelical Lutheran Church. His project included a defined lighted pathway, retaining wall, new mulch and flowers, plus a bench and trash receptacle. The project took about two years and cost approximately $1,000. One of the first workdays was interrupted by a significant April 2025 snowstorm. Fegley said one of his proudest accomplishments was building the bench and trash receptacle with his father. “You can do it,” he said in encouraging younger Scouts. Fegley is the son of Elliott and Kelly Fegley of Alburtis and plans to study mechanical engineering.

A LASTING LEGACY

Though the projects varied in scope and purpose, all four scouts shared a common goal: leaving their communities better than they found them. Soon, metal plaques will be installed at each project site recognizing the young men for their commitment to service and leadership. Long after the paperwork is forgotten, the improvements they created will remain as lasting reminders of perseverance, leadership and community spirit.