Pears, cherries and black-eyed Susans now adorn school
Shri Kamat provides landscaping at Brooks Crossing Elem. for Eagle Scout project
BY RUTH ZALESKI Correspondent

South Brunswick Eagle Scout Shri Kamat landscaped Brooks Crossing Elementary School as part of his Eagle Scout project.

SOUTH BRUNSWICK — At the Township Council meeting July 14, Mayor Frank Gambatese and members of the council extended heartfelt thanks and praise, via official resolution, for the leadership and civic spirit of new Eagle Scout Shri Kamat.

Kamat attained scouting's highest rank of Eagle Scout through a creative landscaping project at the Brooks Crossing Elementary School, which included the planting of trees, shrubs and flowers, and involved more than 217 service hours.

Kamat became interested in scouting six years ago when his brother was a Cub Scout. He has been a member of Troop 10 in Monmouth Junction and attributes his success to the leadership of his father and Scout leaders from the area who helped him complete his project.

When it came time to select a project for Eagle Scout, "I wanted a project that would last and make a difference," Kamat said.

His brother had attended Brooks Crossing Elementary School and Kamat had found its exterior somewhat bare, so he decided to improve the landscape design around the school. He needed to work with his family and adult leaders in the community to create a design for the school.

The support he received from the school and community was inspiring, he said. He conducted research for his proposal on many issues, such as safety procedures, cost, the best trees to plant, the location of pipelines, sight lines, etc. His final plan took many hours to complete, he said.

Then he had to obtain the materials and labor to complete the project. He contacted many people for donations, and many local nurseries gave him excellent discounts and donations, including Gasko's Family Farm, Krieger's, Crossroads and Ringoes, and landscaper Joseph Bianco.

"I loved this great experience," Kamat said. "So much love had to go into it. My dad filled his [van] with water and watered the young plantings for two weeks."

Kamat said he made many new friends and learned the value of many people joining together on a worthy project. He said his family was with him every step of the way.

"I'm very proud of scouting. I hope to become an adult leader," Kamat said.

Kamat will enter Rutgers Pharmacy program in New Brunswick this fall. He hopes everyone, especially the children, teachers, and staff, will enjoy the display of flowering pears, weeping cherries, burning bushes and black-eyed Susans at the school.