Avon Lake’s Adam Litzler Earns Eagle Scout Award for Stream Revetment

For the second time in three years, an Eagle Scout candidate has chosen to improve public land in Avon Lake, and was rewarded with Scouting's highest honor.

Adam Litzler, a 17-year-old junior at Avon Lake High School and a member of Avon Lake Boy Scout Troop 334, has been awarded with the highest rank within the Boy Scouts of America – Eagle Scout. To earn this rank, Litzler arned more than 21 badges, held various leadership positions within his Troop, and completed a large-scale community service project in Avon Lake.

His ceremony--or Court of Honor -- was held Jan. 19 at Avon Lake's but he was "official" in December 2012.

Litzler community service Eagle Project took place at Gable Creek, which runs through the Lorain County Metropark’s Kopf Family Reservation. His project was a stream bank revetment effort to help slow down the effects of erosion. Fallen logs were cut to size, moved to the stream, drilled in each end, linked together and attached to the side of the stream bank with cables and special anchors. The terraced logs were then backfilled and willow cuttings were planted in the soil.  More than 40 volunteers worked well over 250 hours on the project in the summer of 2012.

 “I chose this revetment project because it is helpful to the environment, plus I thought it would be a good project for our Troop to work outside in the creek in the summer,” Litzler said. “I want to thank all the volunteers who came to help – Scouts, friends and family. Also, the people at the Metroparks were great to work with, especially Gerald Roberts – an Avon Lake resident and one of the park workers who was available at almost every work session I held.”

Litzler also gave special thanks to the Lowe’s and Home Depot stores in Avon. Both donated cable and clamps for use in anchoring the logs to the stream bank. The Avon Lake Giant Eagle also donated a $20 gift card for the gas used for the power tools needed during the project.

In 2011, Avon Lake resident Connor Musial earned his Eagle Scout badge for creating a half-mile cross-country trail through the Kopf Reservation. For the effort, he was awarded the “Project of the Year.”

Litzler joined the Boy Scouts of America as a Cub Scout in the second grade. He earned the Arrow of Light award in fifth grade, which is a “crossover” award from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. Also, he is a member of the Order of the Arrow, which is a selective honor society within the Boy Scouts organization. As a Boy Scout, Adam has camped extensively, including several high-adventure camping opportunities like canoeing in Canada, backpacking in Southern Ohio and camping in West Virginia. At Avon Lake High School, Adam is active in the marching band, the symphonic band and the orchestra. He is on the ALHS Academic Challenge team and is a member of the Model UN Club and the National Honor Society.

Troop 334 is chartered by the Avon Lake United Methodist Church and has nearly 60 boys from Avon Lake and Avon as members. While Adam is the only Eagle Scout in Troop 334 who completed his requirements in 2012 – the 100th Anniversary of the Eagle Scout Award – there likely will be at least three Eagle scouts to come from Troop 334 in 2013. Scoutmaster Tim Houk and Committee Chair Bill Plow, both of Avon Lake, lead Troop 334.