Boy Scout leads effort to beautify gazebo area

Fifteen-year-old Boy Scout Brandon Wildemuth saw an opportunity to help others and earn the rank of Eagle Scout with a project that would transform the gazebo at the Oak Woods Senior Residence Housing Complex in South Brunswick.

Brandon Wildemuth, of South Brunswick, recently completed his Eagle Scout project, creating a nature area for residents of the Oak Woods senior housing building in Monmouth Junction. Karen Scalera, the executive director at Oak Woods, said that Brandon planned and implemented an undertaking that required a significant fundraising and volunteer effort. Thanks to Brandon's project, Oak Woods residents can now enjoy a view of a 65-gallongoldfish pond with a fountain that was installed near a gazebo built last year.

"We had recently put in a gazebo for the residents when he came to me," Scalera said.

The senior community is a nonprofit organization providing housing for income-eligible seniors, Scalera said. She noted that residents get exercise by walking to the gazebo, which they walk to in order to watch the fish in the pond, look for nests in the six birdhouses that were installed, or enjoy the butterflies that are attracted to the flowers planted there.

Wildemuth said that he researched the project by visiting nurseries and using print and Internet resources to find out what flowers and shrubs he should plant there. He ultimately decided that 200 daffodils, five trees and 25 perennials were appropriate for the site.

"It feels really good to have done that and to accomplish it knowing you did something huge at a young age," he said. "Fifteen is early to become an Eagle Scout. I just wanted it to look nice and be somewhere they can go for relaxation."

Brandon's mother, Christine Wildemuth, has been a resident of the township for 20 years. She said that this is the achievement of a longtime goal for her son, who has wanted to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout since he joined the Boy Scouts when he was in first grade.

The Boy Scouts offered Brandon Wildemuth, who is now a freshman at South Brunswick High School, a resource to pursue his interest in camping, since Christine Wildemuth said that she is not outdoorsy. She described her son as highly motivated, citing the fact that he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout a year or two before most Boy Scouts achieve the rank.

"He's 15," Wildemuth said. "He's really achieved it at a young age. He's worked really hard. … I hope he stays that motivated through college."

Brandon Wildemuth began the project at Oak Woods last year and when it was finished earlier this month, Scalera said that he presented her with a detailed use manual that includes instructions on how to feed the fish and care for the plants and shrubs that were planted there.

"It was really great working with Brandon," Scalera said. "He was so organized. He demonstrated strong leadership all through the project, he kept us informed, he scheduled meetings, he was always prompt, he gave us emails as his progress went along. … He kept up with thank-you letters to anyone who donated, whether it was cash or merchandise."

Brandon Wildemuth said that his most successful fundraising effort was a bake sale that he held at the church he attends: St. Barnabas Episcopal Church on Sand Hills Road.

Scalera said that it was impressive to see Brandon Wildemuth coordinate the efforts of both adult and youth volunteers. He was also assertive in seeking out donations from businesses.

"He did all of this," Scalera said. "That's what makes it so amazing. He would come up with the ideas, and then he would come up to me to see if it is OK. … He really sets an example."

Christine Wildemuth said that she and her son live near Oak Woods, so they frequently stop by to talk to seniors at the gazebo.

"Its kind of like our adopted backyard," Christine Wildemuth said. "He's even been getting thank you notes from the seniors there, so that's been very touching for us. … He loves the seniors."

Brandon Wildemuth said that he enjoys spending time with the seniors, in part because they sometimes give him advice.

"They're always saying to work hard," he said.

He also said that his main goal for high school is to maintain his high grades and go to a good college.

"I want to look into the computers field," Brandon Wildemuth said. "I just like technology and working with it. I kind of want to work with developing programs like software development."