Community Corner
Oakdale Patch Whiz Kid: Alick Swiden
Alick Swiden led a team of volunteers to rebuild a dock at Mud Lake.
Oakdale Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Alick Swiden, 17
Group: Boy Scouts Troop 9112
Accomplishment: Swiden led a team of volunteers who rebuilt the dock at Mud Lake as his Eagle Scout project.
Find out what's happening in Oakdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Key to Awesomeness: With the weather warming up (at least sporadically), many Minnesotans’ thoughts have turned to enjoying a day at the lake, but Alick Swiden was making preparations for that long before temperatures again reached double digits. Swiden led a group of about 20 volunteers to rebuild a dock at Mud Lake behind while its water was still frozen so that the workers could stand on the ice. They replaced most of the dock’s wood and built benches on the dock, and to the side of the dock. Putting woodchips on the trail in the area was another part of the project.
The experience taught him about the importance of planning ahead, and setting things up ahead of time, when possible, he said.
Find out what's happening in Oakdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“Definitely planning things out is a huge part of any project—just anything you want to do,” he said.
Swiden estimates he spent more than 100 hours on the project, but it was worth it to achieve the Eagle Sout rank.
“Being Eagle is a pretty big deal,” he said. “Most boy scouts don’t make it to be Eagle, and so it’s pretty impressive to have Eagle Scout on your resume.”
Each week, Oakdale Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Oakdale Patch Whiz Kid. Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to patty.busse@patch.com. Be sure to include all of the following information: nominator's name, nominator's e-mail, Whiz Kid's name, Whiz Kid's age, Whiz Kid's school, Whiz Kid's accomplishment, Whiz Kid's key to awesomeness (what made him/her successful?)
If your nominee is selected, we'll contact you and assign a photographer to take a photo. For questions, e-mail patty.busse@patch.com.