We Are Conservation

James Karslake

Earning the Boy Scouts of America’s William T. Hornaday Award is no small feat. For Eagle Scout James Karslake, 14, the journey took him through four projects and two-and-a-half years. Karslake, a member of Boy Scout Troop 344, Ladue, worked with Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood, to remove invasive honeysuckle and replace it with native plants. Karslake also established bat boxes at Beaumont Scout Reservation, High Ridge, to help a large bat colony displaced by renovations at a local church. He planted willow tree stakes and native bushes along Deer Creek to prevent erosion, and planted natives and set up bee boxes in Southwest Park, Webster Groves.

Award-worthy work

The William T. Hornaday Award is bestowed on scouts for distinguished service in natural resource conservation.

In his own words

“I enjoy the outdoors and hope to do more projects in the future.”