Butterfly Garden Earns Westhampton Teen Eagle Scout Rank

Scout Marcus Haynia loves nature, and was drawn to the idea of bolstering the declining pollinator population. So, when it came time for him to decide what to focus his Eagle Scout project on, the Westhampton Beach sophomore said the selection was a simple one.

“I wanted to build a butterfly garden,” he said. “I am hoping to create space in Good Ground Park where people can visit and meditate while watching the pollinators do their job in the ecosystem.”

Haynia was honored by the Town of Southampton Parks & Recreation Department in Hampton Bays Monday for his dedication to achieving this feat, the highest Scout rank.

Many were shocked to see the instant impact the garden had.

“In seeing the completed garden, it exceeds anything I could’ve initially imagined, from the arbor that Marcus built to the plantings and stone to interpretive signage and seating areas — it’s beautiful,” said Southampton Town Parks Director Kristen Doulos. “The best part was in the span of 20 minutes of the ribbon-cutting, we saw multiple butterflies, monarch caterpillars and bumblebees milling about, and small children teetering in to take a look.”

Marcus’s mother said she saw how the endeavor instantly resonated with her son.

“It was something he was extremely passionate about. I thought it was the perfect project for Marcus. He is very compassionate and Zen by nature,” said Heather Haynia, who is the Troop’s committee chairperson. “He’s always been determined to become an Eagle Scout.”

The sophomore joined Hampton Bays Troop 483 as a Cub Scout, when he was in first grade, and earned Arrow of Light recognition — the pack’s crowning achievement — when he was in fifth grade.

When he’s not focused on Scouting, Haynia can still be found outdoors, running with his older brother Maximus, who is also an Eagle Scout, and younger brother Magnus, who is also on his Eagle trail. The trio are all members of Westhampton Beach’s track and field and cross country teams. Marcus is also a lector for Hampton Bays’ Church of St. Rosalie’s Lifeteen Mass, and has been involved in many local community service efforts. He’s also a Principal’s Honor Roll student who has been on the Mathletes team and enjoys playing chess.

Haynia said he’s always found joy in setting goals and working hard to carry them through to their completion. He said creating the butterfly garden was no different. His mother saw it too.

“Marcus thought it was an important project because he knows pollinators are important to human life and they are in dire straits in the face of climate change,” she said. “He knew it was a project for the greater good of mankind, and the whole community could enjoy it.”

But the sophomore said it could not have been done without Stefan Dubowski of Water World Irrigation Contractors, Juan Vargas of Hampton Landscaping Services & Masonry and Westhampton’s Peat & Son Nursery.

“I knew this project was going to be a huge undertaking, but I knew Marcus could handle the challenge,” Heather Haynia said. “He is very driven. I knew it would be rewarding in the end.”

Haynia said that’s exactly what it has been.

“Seeing the project through completion gives me a huge sense of accomplishment, as it had been a massive undertaking to fulfill the needs of this project,” he said. “After working long and hard over this time, I have learned many great skills and created memories with others to last a lifetime.”