Published: June 14, 2009 11:23 pm      

Scout landscapes water slide area at church camp

Cody Miller is climbing the rungs in the Boy Scouts through a project others can see as they slide downhill.

For his Eagle Scout project, Cody landscaped the huge area surrounding the water slide at Camp Harmony, a Church of the Brethren complex located near Quemahoning Reservoir.

Cody and up to 25 helpers spent three months transforming the grassy hillside that the slide is built upon into a visually pleasing tract, featuring shrubbery, flowers, mulch and decorative rock.

“I just wanted to make it look pretty for other people,” Cody said.

The 17-year-old from

Troop 114 in Davidsville said he will never forget the great times he had at the camp with his friends through the years.

Cody said the project was his way of giving back to the camp.

Cody started the project by sending a letter to each of the 70 congregations in the Western District of the Church of the Brethren asking for support. He also asked local businesses for help.

The response was tremendous, with the churches donating about $5,000; Bruce Nursery, Davidsville, donating shrubs and flowers, and New Enterprise Stone and Lime Co., New Enterprise, and Kern Bros. Lumber Co., Stoystown, donating materials such as mulch and decorative stone.

The $5,000 also was used to purchase shrubs with the excess being placed in a trust fund to maintain the water slide.

Cody started the physical work on his project in March with the help of his father, Bill, who is Scoutmaster for his troop; his mother, Patty; siblings, Caven, Casadie and Coltin, the latter a Boy Scout; plus fellow Scouts, friends and members of various churches from which he sought support.

Cody and his helpers worked weekends and some evenings for three months to get the project finished in time for the summer camping season.

Cody, who will be a senior in the fall at Conemaugh Township Area High School, said overall, he had plenty of fun working on the project.

“It was hard work, but it was worth it,” said Cody, who is on the rifle and track teams at school.

“I appreciate all the help and support I got.”

Cody and his fellow Scouts enjoy working on projects that benefit others.

He said troop projects include helping at Veterans Day and Memorial Day services and mowing the grass at Union Cemetery in Davidsville.

Cody is an active member at Maple Spring Church of the Brethren, Hollsopple.

For his efforts, Cody, a Hollsopple resident, is the Person of the Week.

Janice Kaltenbaugh, director of Camp Harmony, said Cody’s project looks fantastic.

Highlights of his project are a cross and the camp’s initials, both of which Cody created with shrubbery, she said.

Cody also is a volunteer at the camp and helps anywhere he is needed, she said.

Michele Naugle, advancement chairperson for

Troop 114, said Cody’s project was a beautiful addition to a wonderful camp.

“I’m very proud of him,” she said. “He did a wonderful job.”

She said Cody, just as the other Scouts in the troop, likes to help the community.