Faith Bennett, a Girl Scout in Troop 50800, poses at the labyrinth at Hillside Park, which was her Gold Award Project.
Ben Freda | For Abington Journal
Pictured is a view of the labyrinth near the Eston Wilson Lake.
Ben Freda | For Abington Journal
CLARKS SUMMIT – Thanks to Abington Heights senior Faith Bennett’s care for the community, Hillside Park now has a spot where visitors can relax, meditate and enjoy a view of the lake.
Faith’s labyrinth is now complete and ready in time for the dedication ceremony, which will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 6 – World Labyrinth Day. The public is invited to this special recognition event with a ribbon-cutting and light refreshments.
Bennett, who is a Girl Scout in Troop 50800, created the labyrinth for her Girl Scout Gold Award project. She started the idea in April 2020 during the pandemic. She wanted to make a holistic solution for people dealing with stress and anxiety. She decided to make a space for the community to get back together and center themselves with a view of Eston Wilson Lake.
“It’s going to be utilized by the community for years and years to come,” she said. “I just thought having this outdoors would be a good way to integrate the community and get themselves together after COVID.”
For three years, Faith has been contacting people to help her with the installation of the labyrinth. After receiving donations from the community, including a $5,000 grant awarded by the Lackawanna County Community Revival Program, excavation for the labyrinth began last year. Masonry students of Abington Heights High School helped clear the trees and branches. Jeremy Bishop, owner of Stonecraft Stonescaping, along with his buddy Rob Krzywicki, took over to get the rest of the project finished in time for World Labyrinth Day.
“It’s a beautiful space,” Bishop said. “I was very happy to help.”
Jeremy plans to donate a stone bowl for the middle of the labyrinth and a bench. Corky’s Garden Path will be donating native plants that focus on benefiting wildlife and pollination to create a screening effect.
“There will also be flowering perennials to provide some beautiful color to the labyrinth,” said Cory Kashuba, who co-owns Corky’s Garden Path with his brother, Trevor.
Other organizations such as Gumble’s Supply and Powell’s Sales, Service and Rentals contributed to this project as well. The labyrinth was completely finished a few week ago. Faith’s sister, Grace Bennett, made Her Reflections Pathway, a path with engraved stones to remember deceased loved ones that leads the way to the labyrinth.
On June 11, Faith will receive her Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania Gold Award at an official ceremony at Bucknell University in Lewisburg. After her graduation from Abington Heights, she will attend American University in Washington, D.C., where she will major in international affairs and legal studies.
Faith is currently a camp counselor and plans to assist other Scouts with a climbing tower and zip lining this summer.
“I love working with the kids of all ages,” she said.
Faith always enjoyed working with different nonprofit organizations and at charity events, homeless shelters and food banks.
“Different things like that has taught me a lot of valuable lessons over the years, how to communicate with others, networking skills, and just being an independent leader,” she said.
