Old Town High School senior Davey Roderick enjoys running cross country, but he found the course for the school to be rough.

So it wasn’t too hard for him to find his Eagle Scout project – improving about a two and a half mile stretch of the trail that will now benefit not only runners, but also skiers, walkers, and others who use the trail.

Roderick, the son of David and Tina Roderick of Old Town, has been active in scouting since first grade. He enjoyed it through Cub Scouts, but then struggled a bit at the Boy Scout level; the idea of becoming an Eagle Scout, however, spurred him on to stay at it.

“I’m glad I did it. I really have enjoyed it a lot,” said Roderick.

The idea of working on the cross country course for his Eagle Scout project arose when Roderick was a sophomore, giving him plenty of time to prepare.

“The wooded section through (UMaine’s) DeMerritt Forest was really rough in places,” said Roderick. “I focused on that, along with volunteers who pitched in. We went over about two and a half miles, but the primary focus was about a quarter mile that was quite bad.”

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Roderick and his helpers spent an estimated 51 hours, with most of that time concentrated in a three week period, working on the trail removing rocks, replacing a culvert, trimming brush and filling mudholes.

“I was very happy with the way it came out. I think the trail is much better,” he said.

Others agree, such as Steve Kanoti, a forestry manager with UMaine.

“Davey did a great job,” said Kanoti. “We don’t have a big budget to maintain our trails, and this project not only helps us, it benefits the community. We’re glad that this came together.”

In addition to scouting and cross country, Roderick has participated in numerous other activities while at OTHS, including bands, swimming, track and JROTC. He is also a highest honors student.

And even with all that going on, he’s been making some other long-range plans as well – his career plan, which he developed just before entering high school.

“I’m going to go to college, spend ten years in the Air Force, and then become a long haul commercial pilot,” he said. “It will allow me to be paid to see the world. It will be worth it.”


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