Local teens complete Eagle Scout projects

Two local teens — Joseph “Joey” Wolski, of Windermere, and Doron Cadiente, of Clermont — have put in hours of hard labor in their quest to achieve their rank of Eagle, the highest attainable in Boy Scouts. Both have completed their projects in Winter Garden; Wolski planned, coordinated and landscaped a prayer garden for Resurrection Catholic Church, and Cadiente renovated the bunny farm at Health Central Park.

Wolski celebrated his Eagle Scout Court of Honor on Feb. 28 with U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster, Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn, family, friends and Boy Scouts from Troop 225, in Windermere. Webster presented a special certificate to Joey.

Wolski selected an Eagle Scout service project that would leave a lasting legacy of his scouting values. He spent many hours developing the project, which included fundraising activities to finance purchasing supplies, coordinating deliveries and initiating volunteers.

The scout and his volunteers added plants, trees, rock edging, mulch, a trio of benches and a paved walkway in the garden. The final addition was an angel statue centered in the rose bushes. 

The new space is called Resurrection Serenity Garden. 

Wolski has earned several honors in scouting, including the World Conservation Award, Messengers of Peace Award and several awards from Kandersteg International Scouting Centre in Switzerland. He is a junior at West Orange High School and a member of the National Honor Society and BETA Club. He has been an active member of the Windermere sports community, playing 16 seasons of Windermere Little League baseball and several seasons of travel ball. 

Cadiente is a teen volunteer at Health Central Park, so he wanted to complete his Eagle Scout project there.

As a Life Scout, he has been encouraged to consider the meaning of the symbols behind the badges, particularly the heart symbol. Traditionally, the symbol has signified health and fitness, but it also represents the spirit of caring and giving that is behind the Eagle Scout service project. 

Cadiente’s project was to renovate the bunny farm. His project included researching appropriate rabbit habitats, drawing blue prints and developing a site plan. Five bunny condos were constructed, as well as a feeding hut.  

The condos were built on stilts and include ramps. All of the houses were painted with tropical colors and flowers, which help brighten the residents’ days. The project including power-washing, raking and reinstalling edging to tidy up the bunny yard.

Health Central Park is a not-for-profit long-term care center in Winter Garden.

Contact Amy Quesinberry Rhode at [email protected].