Hartland sophomore has sights set on Eagle Scout rank

If Hartland High School sophomore Jessica Witkowski keeps going at her current rate, she’ll be in the first-ever class of female Eagle Scouts come October.

Currently a Star Scout—as of February 2019, the traditionally male Boy Scouts of America transitioned to Scouts BSA, allowing girls to earn the Eagle Scout rank as well—Jessica has her sights set not only on securing scouting’s highest honor, but on serving her community.

"As part of scouting, we’re encouraged to help the community as often as we can, and I always love volunteering,” Jessica says.

In pursuit of her Life Rank, the designation between Star Scout and Eagle Scout, Jessica decided to build bluebird houses and install them in Hartland’s Settlers Park. When she met with the Township’s Public Works staff, they were thrilled to help her implement the project.

“I’m so glad that a young person of Jessica’s drive and talent is wanting to use her skills to the benefit of Hartland’s parks,” says Public Works Director Bob West. “We’re really pleased with how the bluebird-house project turned out, and we’re eager to potentially collaborate with her again, on her Eagle Scout project.”

Jessica thoroughly researched bluebird habitats and characteristics in designing the project, making sure the structures were strategically placed not only according to the birds’ preferences (five feet off the ground, 150 feet apart, and in low brushy ground cover near trees) but for ease of birdwatching. All three can be viewed from the same spot on the Settlers Park paved walking path.

“I was glad that Settlers Park offered an opportunity to put them up in a place that would match their typical habitat,” Jessica says. After scouting for locations with the best visibility and habitat, Jessica met with Public Works staff to designate the birdhouse locations, which were installed in December 2019.

Aside from her work with the Scouts, Jessica is a varsity figure skater and honors student at Hartland High School, and co-president of the Green Club; she’s interested in pursuing a career in environmental science, which her mother says is a perfect fit with the scouting ethos.

"One thing she’s really drawn to with scouting BSA and their advocacy for conservancy is that it has aligned perfectly with her interest in environmental science at the high school,” says Jessica’s mother, Sheila Witkowski. “It has been a perfect fit for her personal interests and role as the troop Outdoor Ethics Guide.”

With the Settlers Park bluebird house installation complete, Jessica is now brainstorming ideas for her Eagle Scout project, planning on creating something that benefits the community. “I think it’d be really cool to bring people closer to nature, get outside and see the birds—a species we don’t get to see as often here in Hartland, even though they’re a native species. I think it’s a great excuse to get outside: ‘is there a family in the bluebird house today?’”

Bluebird-watching tips:

• For your best bet at seeing bluebirds, Jessica recommends keeping your distance, and checking out the park in the springtime, when the birds are most likely to be active.