A storm had ripped the footbridge from it anchors, sending the 41-foot structure and its foundation of telephone poles downstream, where it came to a rest in front of a culvert, blocking a ravine and preventing water from flowing into the Cal-Sag Channel.
Perpetually inundated with nature-made challenges, from clearing invasive species to maintaining habitat for plants and wildlife, this time the folks at Lake Katherine Nature Center & Botanic Gardens in Palos Heights put out a call for help.
Enter Matt Karge.
Then an eighth-grader at Wilkins Junior High in Justice, Matt heard the plea and offered to tackle the formidable task of clearing the waterway for his Eagle Scout project.
Over seven weeks, in all kinds of weather, Matt planned, organized, supervised and rolled up his sleeves to get the job done.
“We didn’t want the wood to go to waste, so we reused it to rebuild a deck near where the bridge was located,” Matt said.
Today, visitors can take in the vista from the new viewing deck on the east side of Lake Katherine’s prairie, an area called Kupchick Garden.
Most boys are around the age of 18 when they make Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scout program. Matt was 13.
Part of his incentive to get an early jump on the distinction came from his older brother, Mark, who made Eagle Scout when he was 15, his mother Chantal Karge said.
“We’re really super proud of Matt,” said Chantal Karge, who is advancement coordinator for Troop 13 in Bridgeview, where the family lives. Matt’s dad, Chris Karge, is the troop leader.
More Top Picks Best Garden Hose
Eagle Scout projects can run the gamut, Chantal Karge said, but should benefit the community or a nonprofit.
“The key is for the kids to demonstrate leadership, to sketch out details of what needs to be done and then act as the foreman or supervisor,” she said. “They have to be able to motivate people to do the tasks. Matt had about 20 people he had to supervise.”
Now 14 and headed to Argo High School, Matt said he thinks the deck revival project “turned out really well, maybe better than I expected.”
Building a bridge, he said, is not something most people would be able to do well.
“But my grandpa built his own deck, so he gave use a few pointers and suggestions,” Matt said.
The biggest challenge, he said, was weather. But the biggest surprise was how many people showed up to help.
Gareth Blakesley, Lake Katherine director and chief naturalist, said, “Matt did a great job of revamping an area that has been somewhat forgotten.”
Now, he added, the Kupchick area “is fantastic, and with the revival of the deck and clearing of the culverts, it now lends itself as an area for people to get back to nature. We are so grateful to Matt for all his hard work in completing this project for Lake Katherine.”