William Maley of Independence Township bridged out of Cub Scouts with its highest award, the Golden Arrow.
Now at the end of the trail as a Boy Scout, he leaves with its highest award as well, the rank of Eagle Scout.
“The Eagle award means I accomplished something for the community,” said Maley, who has been a scout since second grade. “It’s something I can look back on and say, ‘I did this all by myself.”
Maley is a member of Boy Scout Troop 192, which meets at The Knoll building in Springfield Township and sponsored by Rotary Club of Davisburg.
William is the son of Gary and Tammy Maley and has a has a younger brother, Johnathon. His father is scoutmaster of the troop, and Johnathon is a fellow scout.
William plans to stay involved in scouting, such as helping out with his brother’s Eagle project.
“I’ll give him some pointers,” he said.
For his Eagle project, William worked with the Oakland Land Conservancy to plan, design, and install a new heavy-duty gate and fencing for the 34.4-acre Golden Preserve for Biological Diversity in Springfield Township.
“Nature is one of the Boy Scout’s principles ? helping to conserve it is one of our values,” he said.
Most challenging part of the project?
“All the planning ? getting approval by the land conservancy took months,” said Maley, who logged 368 hours in the project.
It also included gathering supplies, arranging for the state to mark utilities, and organizing volunteers.
“It was fun,” he said.
It will also look good on college and employment applications, William said.
The Golden Preserve contains diverse native habitats including streams and wetlands that are part of the headwaters of the Shiawassee River. Heather Huffstutler and Donna Folland of the Oakland Land Conservancy helped Maley during his entire project.
The new gate replaced a rusty old gate that had no padlock. Previously four-wheel-drive vehicles and motorcycles had free access to the property. Scouts from Troop 192 of Davisburg helped install the custom-made cedar welcome sign and new heavy-duty gate. Fourteen Boy Scouts and 10 parents helped on the service project.
William raised money for his Eagle project by working at Davisburg Rotary’s Haunted House.
Donations included steel by Contractors Steel Company, workplace to build the metal gate at Detroit Pump & Manufacturing, wood poles to create the fence by Lori and Tom Isaacs, design consulting and labor by Darren Artero, and discounts for supplies by Tractor Supply Company and The Home Depot. The service work was provided by Troop 192.
According to Boy Scouts of America, about four percent of all scouts earn Eagle. Requirements include success through seven ranks, at least 21 merit badges, and leadership in the troop.
William earned 29 merit badges. Throughout his scout career, he attended summer camps at Lost Lake and Camp Tapico, and memorable field trips to historic sites such as U.S.S. Silversides exhibit in Muskegon. He learned outdoor skills such as camping, first aid, and fire building, and forged many friendships, he said.
“What I experienced in scouts will help me later in life,” he said.
Maley was elected and served his troop in leadership roles, librarian, patrol leader, assistant patrol leader, historian, and chaplain’s aide.
He especially enjoyed and excelled in the position of chaplain’s aide, Gary said.
“Billy jumped in, and did the training and found a comfort level in doing it,” he said. “I believe it gave him confidence and a sense of accomplishment within the troop. It also gave him a better understanding of what his involvement should be within his own church community at Saint Dan’s. Any time help was needed, Billy would eagerly step-in.”
Participation includes alter server, usher, pancake breakfasts, and clothing drives, he said.
A senior at Clarkston High School, William is a member of the school’s Military History Club and volunteers at the local public access television station.
After graduation from Clarkston High School in June, he plans to studying civil or mechanical engineering at Oakland Community College and Michigan Technical University. As a career, he is interested in city planning and building, or design and testing of cars, airplanes, and boats.