http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP.html The “Tree Trail” at Pine Hill Park   This past spring I began working on my Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project, which is constructing an interpretive nature trail at Pine Hill Park in Rutland City.  This project combines my enjoyment of the outdoors with my interest in teaching others about the environment.  The park is located within easy walking distance of an elementary school, and it is also within the Rutland City limits, so quite a few people will be able to make a short trip to spend time walking the trail and learning valuable information about the natural world that is right near their home or workplace.    I identified a walking path where the trail is relatively flat and is accessible to walkers of all abilities – Middle and Lower Giorgetti Loop.  I identified ten key tree species and created signs on posts that identify the tree’s species, common name, identifiable characteristics, a picture of the leaf and seed, and other information for educational purposes.    I presented my project to Michael Smith, Pine Hill Park President and Cindi Wight, Recreation Director of Rutland Recreation and Parks Department and obtained approval to proceed.  My scoutmaster, Paul Wells, and my Troop’s Advancement Committee Person, Steve Burd, approved my project, and then Larry Gauthier, the Ethan Allen District Advancement Committee Member, approved the project.  I requested donations from many local businesses for construction materials, and then scheduled a construction day and a rain day to put in the signs.  Nine scouts and four adult troop members spent a full day digging post holes, hauling gravel, pouring cement, pounding nails and screwing on signs to bring the “Tree Trail” to completion.    I would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous donations of materials:  Giancola Constuction, Countryside Glass, Noble Ace Hardware, Marble Valley Reprographics, Goodro Lumber in Killington, SVE Associates, The Home Depot of Rutland and Pete Franzoni, L.S.  Little Caesars and Price Chopper donated food and beverages on construction day.    A big thank you goes to the construction crew:  Scouts - Justin and Nick Coton, Will and Jamie Peterson, Andrew and Matt Burd, Justin and Michael Reynolds, Scoutmaster John Record, Assistant Scoutmaster Fern Fryer, Steve Burd, Jim Coton, Sean Mallon, and my friend, Tyler Unwin and his pickup truck for hauling concrete and gravel.  I would also like to thank my parents, Donna and Carl Zeller, for their patience and guidance during the whole project.   Conrad Zeller, Troop 112 Rutland, Vermont September, 2009 http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP.html#0 7c41e460-394d-44b8-9f96-64b1147969cc http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/1-Staging%20materials%20in%20the%20parking%20lot.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/1-Staging%20materials%20in%20the%20parking%20lot.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Staging materials in the parking lot</p></div></div> http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP.html#1 5ff0c52c-30a1-46c4-b86d-3fba3dfeebb7 http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/Pine%20Hill%20Park%20Tree%20Trail%20Eagle%20Project%209-5-09.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/Pine%20Hill%20Park%20Tree%20Trail%20Eagle%20Project%209-5-09.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Pine Hill Park Tree Trail Eagle Project 9-5-09</p></div></div> http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP.html#2 58438354-dbf8-4654-8c2b-1b993a980fbc http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/2-Digging%20post%20holes%20on%20Middle%20Georgetti%20Trail.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/2-Digging%20post%20holes%20on%20Middle%20Georgetti%20Trail.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Digging post holes on Middle Georgetti Trail</p></div></div> http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP.html#3 2c04a004-2060-4b2d-9544-3c0cdb3d3828 http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/3-Digging%20the%20hole%20for%20Striped%20Maple.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/3-Digging%20the%20hole%20for%20Striped%20Maple.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Digging the hole for Striped Maple</p></div></div> http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP.html#4 3aaa88f3-1785-4d22-a517-10f776d28211 http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/4-Mixing%20the%20cement%20in%20the%20post%20holes.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/4-Mixing%20the%20cement%20in%20the%20post%20holes.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Mixing the cement in the post holes</p></div></div> http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP.html#5 1525a507-feb2-4a20-aa6a-2fc370720a89 http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/5-Plumbing%20the%20sign%20posts.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/5-Plumbing%20the%20sign%20posts.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Plumbing the sign posts</p></div></div> http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP.html#6 32df274f-3203-4ea2-8b52-b4b3078c6d65 http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/6-Nailing%20temporary%20support%20posts.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/6-Nailing%20temporary%20support%20posts.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Nailing temporary support posts</p></div></div> http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP.html#7 3a277206-eb9e-4135-9ac5-932a4607c4ff http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/7-Attaching%20sign%20backing%20to%20post.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/7-Attaching%20sign%20backing%20to%20post.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Attaching sign backing to post</p></div></div> http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP.html#8 19c4a5a7-3455-4762-a8cf-f1c247e20aab http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/8-Centering%20sign%20on%20the%20backing.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/8-Centering%20sign%20on%20the%20backing.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Centering sign on the backing</p></div></div> http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP.html#9 42b34de6-ba18-45e6-afde-e160caa3e525 http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/First%20Tree%20Sign%20is%20Done.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/First%20Tree%20Sign%20is%20Done.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">First Tree Sign is Done</p></div></div> http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP.html#10 750feb53-b20a-4126-ac1a-09dfdda739e0 http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/9-Drilling%20sign%20holes.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/9-Drilling%20sign%20holes.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Drilling sign holes</p></div></div> http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP.html#11 2edd5294-85ca-47b1-97ef-de082b3f38b5 http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/10-Attaching%20the%20lexan%20sign%20cover.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/10-Attaching%20the%20lexan%20sign%20cover.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Attaching the lexan sign cover</p></div></div> http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP.html#12 2afc6318-846d-4aec-a367-f1a4751fdccd http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/11-Finished%20sign.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/11-Finished%20sign.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Finished sign</p></div></div> http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP.html#13 f8e2ef5a-4f70-40ea-bfc2-cbf8dd0d8821 http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/12%20The%20Generous%20Sponsors%20donated%20all%20materials%20for%20this%20project.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/12%20The%20Generous%20Sponsors%20donated%20all%20materials%20for%20this%20project.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">The Generous Sponsors donated all materials for this project</p></div></div> http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP.html#14 d9bfaf1d-0faf-4783-a5eb-0df9591373bf http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/DSCN3252.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/DSCN3252.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Conrad at Information Kiosk</p></div></div> http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP.html#15 e9ce6f3a-44a5-4453-91f7-e340d936aa9e http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/DSCN3254.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.pinehillpark.org/php/Tree_Trail_in_PHP_files/Media/DSCN3254.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Conrad &amp; Michael Smith<br/></p></div></div>