Scout helps refurbish wall at WMCC

Garden Spot High School (GSHS) senior Ayden Valotta has fond memories of spending time at the Welsh Mountain Community Center (WMCC) Park when he was younger. Not only did he play and sled there, but later, when he was a Den Chief in the New Holland Scouting America Troop 48, he participated in camping activities and Scouting ceremonies held at the facility.

So, in the summer of 2024, when Ayden was looking for an Eagle Scout project, he contacted WMCC board member Joe Flaim. "Originally, when I was looking for projects, I was interested in (the WMCC) playset," recalled Ayden, who ended up focusing on the wall that surrounds a section of the playset.

"(The wall) was 40 years old," noted WMCC board member Sherry Bonham of the semicircular retaining wall that Ayden eventually removed and replaced.

Ayden, who lives in East Earl with his father, Robert; mother, Tyffany; and brother, Castiel, who is a Scouting America Tenderfoot, went to work securing materials to replace the wall, which is located at the foot of a long stairwell in the park. Funds were donated by local individuals and businesses and the park itself, and work began in October 2024. Removing the old retaining wall required demolition with an auger, provided by J.B. Zimmerman Ace Hardware in New Holland, and a jack hammer. "Digging was hard," stated Ayden. "It was mostly concrete, and there was extra fill." Materials to replace the approximately 70 feet of wall were provided at a discount by Lezzer Lumber. Ayden completed the work, which included a drainage system in addition to the new and improved wall, in November 2024.

Bonham said that the wall was in need of replacement for some time. "We have been wanting to replace a lot of playground equipment," said Bonham. "Every time we start to work on (the playground), something happens," noted Bonham, who said furnace issues in the WMCC building have set back the cause of updating the playground. "We are open to new ideas for playground equipment and help with that," she said, adding that the park must create more space for parking in the future as well. Ayden noted that working on updating the playset is a project he hopes to help with on his own in the future.

Looking back, Ayden noted he is grateful to WMCC for trusting him with the project, and he is thankful to the local companies for their donations and to family friends, fellow Scouts, and park members for helping him to turn his plans into reality.

Ayden's journey with Scouting began when he joined Cub Scout Pack 148 of New Holland as a Wolf. After earning the highest Cub Scout rank - the Arrow of Light - he crossed to Troop 48. He served as Den Chief in Webelos under Shane Bicking, who passed away in 2022. Ayden received his Den Chief award in 2023. He was nominated for Scouting's Order of the Arrow that same summer. After being accepted into Wunita Gokhos Lodge 39 and receiving his brotherhood in the fall of 2023, Ayden participated in the Order of the Arrow Conference held in Denver, Colo., in the summer of 2024. At the conference, Ayden enrolled in leadership training and public speaking seminars, along with taking part in outdoor activities. As a Scout, Ayden has enjoyed canoeing, hiking, and camping, but he was especially interested in community service activities, including Scouting for Food and placing flags on the graves of veterans prior to each Memorial Day. With the completion of his project at the WMCC Park, he has satisfied all his Eagle Scout requirements. His Court of Honor is being planned for later this year.

Currently, Ayden is looking forward to graduating from GSHS in June. As a student at Lancaster County Career and Technology Center, he is studying architectural and CAD/Design with the goal of eventually becoming a civil engineer working on road design.

WMCC is situated at 564 Sandmine Road, New Holland, where it borders both East Earl and Salisbury townships. It was founded as the Welsh Mountain Youth Center in 1970. When the center was destroyed by fire in 1981, it was reconstructed as WMCC with a board to help oversee serving area residents with recreational and educational programs. Reservations for both the building and the park may be made by calling 717-354-2624. "We are a well-guarded secret up here," shared Bonham. More information about WMCC may be found at http://welshmtpark.org.