Visitors to the Genesee County Fish and Game Protective Association’s Godfrey’s Pond in Byron will notice brand new canoe racks at the site. The community can thank Byron-Bergen High School senior and now Eagle Scout Matthew Hilbert for the convenience. Hilbert is a member of Bergen Scout Troop 6031 of the Seneca District, Iroquois Trail Council whose sponsoring organization is the Bergen United Methodist Church. The final step to attain Eagle, the highest rank in scouting, is to develop and coordinate a major community service project. Hilbert believed the racks would be a great addition to Godfrey’s Pond.
Hilbert formulated a working plan for the project, managed all the paperwork involved, and then contacted the caretaker at Godfrey’s Pond with his idea and showed him the drawings he had prepared. He was invited to attend a board meeting where he presented his plan and welcomed questions and input. The Godfrey’s Pond Board of Directors gave Hilbert their approval and even earmarked funds toward his project. Funds were also solicited from area businesses.
With the help of fellow scouts, friends, family members, and Godfrey’s Pond personnel, Hilbert began the construction process. The racks were built, stained, and installed in about a week. Upon completion of the project, the Eagle Board of Review at the Batavia Courthouse conducted a very thorough interview with the candidate. An Eagle Court of Honor, where Hilbert will be formally presented with the Eagle Award, is scheduled to take place later in June.
To attain Eagle recognition, a scout is required to earn at least 21 merit badges, including 12 in specific categories, and the scouting ranks of Second Class, First Class, Star, and Life. It has been a great learning experience on the road to Eagle and, like most scouts, Hilbert is thankful for the skills and leadership training he received throughout the years. In the scouting program, he is a member of the Order of the Arrow, attended the 2010 National Jamboree in Virginia, was staff member at NYLT at Camp Dittmer, and climbed Mt. Marcy five times and Algonquin Peak once with fellow troop members.
This fall, Hilbert will attend Genesee Community College and plans to transfer to SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, majoring in sustainable energy management.
He is the son of Christopher and Wendy Hilbert.
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