Eagle Scout Process

You say that you’re an Eagle, and automatically people expect more from you. And that will continue throughout your life. Eagles are special. They’ve already shown perseverance, they’ve shown leadership qualities, and they’ve shown the ability to get things done, to accomplish things. So it doesn’t matter what they do later on in life, whether it’s as a movie director or an astronaut or a politician or a businessperson or an athlete, people have higher expectations for a person who has become an Eagle, who is an Eagle.” Gary Locke, former Governor of Washington and Eagle Scout (taken from Legacy of Honor by Alvin Townley, page 41)

How rare are Eagle Scouts? In 2014 only 6.01% of qualifying Scouts earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Over the 100+ years since the Eagle Scout award has been around, that percentage is only 2.01%

Forms

There’s a lot to do between reaching the rank of Life and reaching the rank of Eagle. Many boys will climb to Life, but only a few will continue on to Eagle. This page is designed to help you in your pursuit of Eagle. Our goal is to see you succeed and reach the pinnacle of Scouting.

Eagle Project Packet – Your very first step is to get a copy of the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook (make sure to read the instructions on the linked page; you need to download and then open in Adobe Reader). The workbook is essential to the successful completion of your project and should be thoroughly reviewed prior to beginning. You should review the packet front to back before you begin.

It is recommended that you put the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook together in a three-ring binder with pages typed and in page protectors (all pages MUST be present, even if you don’t use them).

Idea for Eagle Project – The idea can be original or something that has been done in the past. There are hundreds of organizations that need assistance. Some examples are: city parks, county parks, Riverside State Park, United Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, church and local schools. You can find ideas online (search “Eagle Scout Service Project Ideas”) or your Scoutmaster/Eagle Coach may have some direction for you. Keep in mind the project cannot benefit Scouting directly or a business.

Here’s a great article about choosing a project and some resources for finding a good one. Need some inspiration? Take a look at what others have done for their Eagle Scout Service Project: https://eagleprojects.boyslife.org/category/all-projects/

Contact Organization – Once you have an idea you should contact the benefiting organization and make sure they approve of the project. You will need a main contact person to work through in the planning and leadership phase of the project. This person should be someone who can approve the project and will work with you to make sure it meets the organization’s needs.

Review Idea with Scoutmaster/Eagle Coach – Once you have an idea and have talked to the organization, you should review your idea with your Scoutmaster/Eagle coach. Use the “Eagle Project Request Form” to outline your project. Bring the completed form to your Eagle Coach for approval. He/She will give some suggestions and sign off on the project – they will also schedule you to review the project with our Troop Committee at the next meeting (typically the first Tuesday of every other month at 6pm).

Write-Up the Project – You need to complete the first half of the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook (see link in step #1) – this is an editable PDF file, meaning you can type the information in and then save it (this will make adding/editing easier and make it readable for those who need to approve it). Several key questions should be answered as you put together your project’s description:

  • Who will benefit from this project?
  • How will they benefit?
  • What individual from the benefiting organization will be contacted for guidance and planning?
  • How many people will be needed to carry out the project?
  • What will the project cost?
  • Where are you getting the money?

Things you should include in your plan: pictures of the area before the project, details regarding design of the project (drawing, plans, etc.), a list of materials (including where donations will come from), an estimate of how long it will take, a project day schedule, safety considerations and the cost to complete it.

Present to Benefiting Organization – Once you have completed the planning in your workbook the organization you are doing the project for has to approve the plan and sign the workbook at the end of the Proposal.

Present to Scoutmaster – You will need to present the project plan to your Scoutmaster and obtain his signature at the end of the Proposal.

Present to the Troop Committee – You will need to preset the project to your Troop Committee and obtain their signature at the end of the Proposal.

Present to the District Committee – You will need to present the project plan to your District Advancement Chairman and obtain his signature at the end of the Proposal.

Chinook District Eagle Project Review

  • Malcolm Hain (509-953-3750 mobile)

OR

  • Floyd Clock: (509-842-8603 mobile)

Complete the Project – Now it is time to complete your project. You should involve as many scouts as possible (it is recommended that you make personal phone calls to each member of your Patrol and other key members). We can provide announcements via e-mail and our website – send a note to committeechiar @ troop313.net two weeks before your project to post it on our calendar and website.

You should take notes on anything that changed from your original plan. You should track the number of hours you spend on the project and now many hours each individual spends on the project. Maintain a list of all materials used and take LOTS of photos.

Write-Up the Complete Project – After you complete the project work, you will need to complete the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook. Focus your details on how you lead the group through the project, plus changes that were made and now you adjusted for them. It is strongly encouraged to include as many pictures as possible – before, during and after shots.

While a summary of the project isn’t officially required, it is recommended. In a few paragraphs, explain what you learned and how you learned it as you progressed through the project – not just the day of, but through the entire process.

Approval from Representative Organization – You should obtain a letter from the organization stating the project is complete, along with their signature in the workbook at the end of the Project Report.

Present to Scoutmaster – You should review the outcome of the project with your Scoutmaster and obtain his signature in the workbook at the end of the Project Report.

Eagle Application – Assuming you have completed all the requirements for the rank of Eagle (time served, service project, merit badges, leadership, etc.), the last step is completing the Eagle Scout Application – this is an editable PDF file as well.

Dates for your joining the Troop, rank advancement and merit badges can be gathered from the Advancement Chair. It is recommended that you also put together a single sheet with all advancement dates, including leadership dates and add this to your workbook. Don’t assume that the dates on your bluecards/advancement cards are correct – getting this information from the Advancement Chair will guarantee that there are NO conflicts between your records and the Council’s.

List five references on the application. Three of these need to provide a reference letter that is sent directly to the council office (NOT YOU). You can download instructions. It provides guidance on why a reference is needed, a sample letter and information on the Scout Oath and Law. If a reference is not familiar with the program, make sure they get a copy of this. References need to be sent directly to the Scout office – prepare an addresses and stamped envelope for each reference (put your name on the lower left corner).

BSA Spokane Service Center
411 W. Boy Scout Way
Spokane, WA 99201

Requirement 6 has a section that many miss. It says “Attach to this application a statement of your ambitions and life purpose and a listing of positions held in your religious institution, school, camp, community, or other organizations during which you demonstrated leadership skills. Include honors and awards received during this service.” This is a one page document giving a vision of your life which may also highlight achievements you have accomplished. This also needs to go into your workbook.

Scoutmaster Conference – When all is complete, the Eagle Scout rank requirements, service project and Eagle Scout application, you may ask for a Scoutmaster conference. After its completion, your Scoutmaster will sign your application and the entire workbook and application will be returned to the Scout office for final approval. The approving person at the Council picks books up on Thursday and then will approve them throughout the week. Timing can be as quick as one week or as long as 4-6 weeks depending on the volume.

Board of Review – Once the application is approved, the Council representative will sign the application and turn it over to a District volunteer who will call for a Board of Review. This Board of Review is slightly different from the other ranks and will include the Scout’s parents. Here’s what to expect:

The board will be made up of a District representative, the Scoutmaster and at least three other committee members. It will start with the board inviting the Scout and his parents in to welcome them and describe what will happen. The parents and the Scout are then excused. The board will ask the Scoutmaster if he approves of this boy and his progress toward Eagle.

The board will then invite the parents in without the Scout. They will congratulate the parents and discuss their son’s Scouting career with them. This is meant to be an encouraging time for the parents. Questions about their son’s growth and plans will be asked. The board may also ask the parents to encourage their son to stay in active in the Troop.

The parents will then be dismissed and the Eagle Scout candidate will come in. This part of the review is similar to any other rank. The key differences are the questions, which are related more to the service project, what they learned and how that will translate into their daily lives.

Once the board is done with the parents and the Scout, they will decide if the boy is deserving of the rank of Eagle. The boy and his parents are invited in again and he is congratulated on reaching this milestone.

Last Official Step – The board will give the Project Workbook back to the Scout (this should now become part of his memoirs). He will also receive his Eagle application with all the signatures from the Council and Troop level, along with an Advancement Report. These two things need to be taken to the Scout office. They will process them and send them to the national office. The candidate is not an Eagle Scout until the National BSA office has stamped their approval on the application. This can take up to 6 weeks or a rush can be completed with a fee.

Court of Honor – Once the national office has processed the paperwork, an Eagle kit is purchased by the Troop. The kit includes an Eagle rank patch, ribbon, a mother’s pin, a father’s pin, a mentor’s pin and a certificate. These are typically awarded at an Eagle Court of Honor.

An Eagle Court of Honor is typically planned by the parents for their son. There are a lot of resources and the Troop has an Eagle Count of Honor box with a variety of materials in it (if you use anything, we just ask that you replenish or add to the materials).

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