By Liz McBreen
A friend of his who became an Eagle Scout a few years ago, had done a similar project. At the induction ceremony of his friend, Pane met Richard Schary, a volunteer for the Massapequa Preserve. When the time came for Pane to decide on a project, he called Schary and asked if there was more to be done at the Preserve.
Schary told the scout that the Preserve is always looking for volunteers, and since Pane has been interested in ecology since childhood, he decided to work on cleaning up the Preserve for his Eagle Scout Project.
Part of the cleanup required Pane and the other volunteers to dismantle an abandoned car that had been left on the grounds of the Preserve, so that it could be removed in small pieces. The group also removed garbage in areas south of Sunrise Highway left by people who use the area as a "party spot." Grass seed was then planted in the bare spots in an effort to bring the land back to its natural state.
Pane says that his troop is successful because the boys are drawn from several surrounding areas and schools, the leadership is strong and their parents are supportive and involved. Pane's mother Carol explained that "Troop 134 is particularly outdoorsy, and includes boys from Floral Park and Stewart Manor, Kellenberg, Chaminade and Sewanhaka High Schools."
According to Pane, boy scouts need service hours to move up in rank, so the older scouts try to include them in their Eagle Scout projects whenever possible. "The group achieved all of its goals, and it felt good to help the community," said Pane.
Every few years, a select group of scouts is invited on an advanced camping excursion. Pane participated in the most recent trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He received the 50 miler award for 50 miles of hiking during the 12 day trip.
Last summer, Pane also took a trip with Venture Crew, "a co-ed offshoot of the Boy Scouts." Pane explained that the Venture Crew is for those who want to be involved in the activities of the Boy Scouts, without having to earn badges and rank. Two forty foot sail boats sailed down the Chesapeake Bay for 10 days, one holding a crew of seven, one a crew of eight.
Every month, Troop 134 takes a camping trip to different areas and take part in activities ranging from white water rafting to rock climbing. Pane is regular participant in the monthly adventures.
Pane plans on attending New York University in the fall, and wants to major in Computer Science and Law. His goal is to get into copyright law in the future.
