The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Eagle project aids Conn. Children’s adaptive skiing
CROMWELL — For the longest time, Life Scout Evan Misinski wasn’t sure what he wanted to do for his Boy Scouts of America Eagle project, however, he knew he wanted “to do something meaningful,” he said.
His friend’s mother, Cheryl Salce, works for Connecticut Children’s (formerly CT Children’s Medical Center) and connected Misinski with Stephen Balcanoff, according to a press release.
In addition to his official duties in community relations, Balcanoff volunteers by overseeing the CT Children’s ski program, Skiers Unlimited, an adaptive ski program run in partnership with Mt. Southington Ski Area.
Several years ago, the Mount Southington team built a shed for the Skiers Unlimited program so that they could store their equipment at the base of the beginners slope, the release said.
After a couple of site visits and speaking with the CT Children’s staff who use the shed, Misinski realized he could create a plan for easier access by adding shelving and brackets to organize the equipment which had been lying on the floor of shed. Being an avid skier and having volunteered at several winter special olympic events, he felt that this was the meaningful project he had been looking for, according to his troop.
For four hours on a Saturday in June, Misinski assembled a group of fellow Troop 26 scouts and their fathers, as well as a few relatives and friends who arrived to lend a hand. He paired them up in working teams and distributed drawings of his plans, according to BSA.
The scouts spent the hours measuring, leveling, drilling, and learning the finer points of carpentry with Misinski on hand as the project manager. The final result was an organized space to hold ski boots, skis, poles and adapted ski equipment. The scouts also built a retractable seat for the skiers to sit on while taking their ski boots on and off, according to the release.
Financial support for the project came from fundraising events at Chili’s Give Back Nights and from numerous private donations. After purchasing all the necessary materials, Misinski donated the leftover funds to the Skiers Unlimited pro
For four hours on a Saturday in June, Misinski assembled a group of fellow Troop 26 scouts and their fathers, as well as a few relatives and friends who arrived to lend a hand. He paired them up in working teams and distributed drawings of his plans, according to BSA.
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To find out more about Cromwell Scouts BSA Troop 26, contact Steven Hills at stevenhills@comcast.net. Those interested in Skiers Unlimited may contact Balcanoff at sbalcan@connecticutchildrens.org.