Becoming an Eagle Scout

 

Boy Scouts of America

PROCEDURES TO

COMPLETE THE RANK

OF EAGLE

Prepared by: Scoutmaster Ed Marek

Table of Contents

 

Related Files

Eagle_recommendation_blank_troop.pdf  (PDF Version)

Eagle_recommendation_blank_troop.doc  (Word Version)

Eagle_application_fillable.pdf

Star to Life

To advance from a Star Scout to a Life Scout you must complete the following:

  • You must serve actively in a leadership position and be active in your troop/patrol for at least 6 months.
  • Merit badges, 3 Eagle required and 2 elective, for a total of 5 merit badges
  • You must demonstrate you live by the Scout Spirit.
  • You must have a minimum of 6 hours work on a service project approved by your Scoutmaster.
  • Participate in a Scoutmaster’s conference and complete your Board of Review.

Life to Eagle

To advance from a Life Scout to an Eagle Scout you must complete the following:

  • You must serve actively in a leadership position and be active in your troop/patrol for at least 6 months.
  • Merit badges, 5 additional Eagle required for a total of 12. You must have a minimum total of 9 elective merit badges. A scout needs a minimum of 21 merit badges.
  • You must demonstrate you live by the Scout Spirit.
  • Complete an “EAGLE APPLICATION” form.
  • You must plan, develop, and provide leadership for a service project that benefits either a non-profit organization or a chosen community.
  • Participate in a Scoutmaster’s conference and receive his signature that you have been successful in completing your project. You must also receive the Troop Committee Chairperson’s signature. Both are on your Eagle Scout Application.
  • Complete your Board of Review.

Eagle Leadership Service Project

  • Your Project must perform meaningful service. It may be to a school, religious institution or to the community.
  • You need to make all of the plans and arrangements yourself.
  • You need to recruit volunteers to work on your project and show leadership and responsibility.
  • There is no requirement on number of hours to do your project.
  • You must create a document that covers the following sections of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project.

 

Project Work Book:

What to do first.

  • Open a line of communication with an adult leader in your troop and start discussing possible projects.
  • Describe the project you plan to do.
  • What Group will benefit from the project
  • How the project benefits the Group
  • Project details – plan your work by describing the present condition, the method, materials to be used, project helpers and time schedule to carry out your project.
  • If appropriate, include photos of the area before you start.
  • The Project must be approved by the receiving organization or group, by your Scoutmaster, a member of the Troop Committee and then approved by the District Advancement Committee Chair or the District Eagle Committee Chairman before starting. All signatures must be on the exact same project description. If any changes occur after you receive a signature, you must then go back and have those signatures updated. Do not go to your District Advancement Committee Chair or the District Eagle Committee Chairman alone. If your parent(s) can not attend with you, an adult leader in your troop must attend.

What Not to Do:

  • Begin a project before you have your Life rank.
  • Do not work on our project before getting all approvals and/or signatures in the workbook.
  • Share the same project with another scout.
  • Propose a project for a profit-making organization.
  • Propose a project on any Boy Scout property or directly for BSA.
  • Choose a project that is a routine function or routine labor in the community.

What to do:

  • Consult your troop leaders while selecting a project.
  • Choose a project you will be proud of for the rest of your life and have lasting impact.
  • Don’t pick a project just to pick a project. In other words make this count for something.
  • Do a project that really stretches your abilities.
  • Document your project from day one and log all of your personal and volunteer hours. This should also include photos during and after the project.

 

 

Project Checklist

  • Is the Project description and plan complete?
  • Do I have signatures from the following people: benefiting organization, Scoutmaster, troop committee and district level?
  • Are records of the project progress complete?
  • Is there a record of all persons who worked on the project and how much time they worked and when?
  • Are the tour permits included?
  • Is there a record of donated or purchased materials or budget?
  • Was there any fundraising done to purchases materials, are the fundraising records complete, and are all moneys accounted for? All funds raised go to the troop treasurer, Mrs. Burns. She will disburse funds for reimbursement.
  • Were there any changes from the original project, if so are they recorded?
  • Are there before and after photos? Must have photos.
  • Are there any pertinent records, receipts, or flyer relating to the project enclosed?

 

Service Project Ideas

Projects used by other scouts:

  • Build a Playground
  • Pond clean-up
  • Build shelters for the Wildlife Preserve
  • Build/repaired picnic tables and benches for community park
  • Hearing aid, eyeglass or clothing drive for local shelter
  • Repainted bleachers
  • Recycling drive
  • Toy drive for the local shelter
  • Book drive for the library
  • Plant trees in a park or along a bike path
  • Paint mile markers on a bike path
  • Area trail maintenance or repair
  • Build bat or owl houses
  • Cleaned and repainted portables for school

 

Finances

Eagle Project Finances

 

  • Monies from the scout’s scout account may be used to pay for:
    • Eagle Project Expenses
    • Eagle Ceremony Expenses – including expenses for the ceremony if the ceremony occurs after the scout’s 18th birthday – the treasurer must be notified of this intent before the scout’s 18th birthday and the scout will be given a 6 month grace period after their 18th birthday.

 

Paperwork Submission

You need to include in a binder the following paperwork:

  • The “Eagle Application” - The application needs to be approved by the Scoutmaster and Troop Committee Chairman; all dates filled in; all references completed with the exception of work and religious if applicant is not currently working or has recently moved into the area and a new center of belief has not been established.
  • A written statement about your life goals and leadership history.
  • A list of people sending in letters of recommendation (Scout is not permitted to view any and all letters submitted).
  • Papers relating to your project.
  • Pictures
  • The binder is then turned into the Potawatomi Area Council office. Once all letters of recommendation are received at the Council office all your paperwork will be sent to the District Eagle Committee Chairman.

The following reasons can or could cause your paperwork to be rejected:

  • You must have four months between the ranks of 1st Class and Star.
  • You must have six months between the ranks of Star and Life.
  • You must have a minimum 12 Eagle required merit badges.
  • You must have a minimum 9 elective merit badges of your choice.
  • You must have a minimum 21 completed merit badges.
  • You must have service in a leadership position for at leased six months as a Life Scout. The position must be correct for the unit you are registered in at the time of service.
  • You must complete all Eagle requirements, turn in your complete Eagle workbook and write-up and have your Scoutmaster conference completed by the day of your 18th birthday.
  • Do not have your board of review completed within 3 months of your 18th birthday. If it needs to be extended beyond this you will need council approval. Reasons must be of a dyer nature only.

Eagle Board of Review Process

  • Once Council has approved the application and paperwork, it is returned to the District Eagle Committee Chairman.
  • The Chairman will then schedule an “Eagle Board of Review” for the Scout.
  • You need to present yourself to the Board in full Scout uniform. This includes merit badge sash with all merit badges sewn on. No staples. If you are a member of the Order of the Arrow, do not wear your OA sash. OA pocket flap patch is good.
  • You should be able to recite and discuss the Scout Oath, Law, Slogan and Motto. Some may even ask you the Outdoor Code.
  • You should be able to answer any questions, in detail, about your Eagle service project and your Scouting history.
  • Before your Board of Review is scheduled your troop committee may schedule a practice session. Troop 49 does recommend all scouts partake in this practice.
  • Any adult member from your troop; including your Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster or any troop committee member cannot be on your actual board of review.
  • Your Scoutmaster and your parents are to attend your Board of Review. First the members of the Board of Review will talk with your Scoutmaster in private. Then they will talk with your parents in private. Then you and your Scoutmaster. During your interview you are the one talking with the board, not your Scoutmaster.
  • Who sits on your Board of Review

 

Sunset Waters Eagle Scout District Chair

Ian and Ruthann Watts

1361 Mockingbird Dr.

Oconomowoc, WI 53066

(262) 567-6468

 

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Online Resources

National Eagle Scout Association:

http://www.nesa.org/

 

Potawatomi Area Council – Resources page:

http://www.pacbsa.org/Resources.php