Process to get Eagle Scout

(work in progress)

Here is a rough outline of the process to get Eagle Scout. It's as complete as we can get it, but as always, if you have any questions you should let one of the adults know.

First you have to reach the rank of Life. Once your Life Board of Reivew is complete you can begin working on the rank of Eagle Scout. You need a total of 21 merit badges, of which 11 are required, (don't forget the new Citizenship in Society MB). The biggest part of getting Eagle Scout, and the one that most Scouts consider the hardest, is the Eagle Scout Leadership Project. That is a project that all Scouts must complete to be eligible to become an Eagle Scout.

The important thing to remember is that you do not have to wait until you have all of your MB's completed to begin working on your project. As soon as your Life Board of Review is complete you can begin. You don't even have to wait until the Court of Honor where your Life rank is handed to you. You should begin working on the project right away, because the quicker you get the project done the easier it is. As you get older, and more and more high school/college stuff gets in the way, the harder it is to get the project finished.

Why do we have the Eagle Scout Leadership Project? Note the "Leadership" part of the name. This project is supposed to be the culmination of all the leaddership you have learned in Scouting, and a key element in this project will be you demonstrating leadership on this project. The goal is not for you to do all the work yourself, it's to have you show the leadership of other people while THEY do the actual work.

Warning: You may NOT do any work on a Eagle Scout Project, (other than planning it), until the Council/District Representative has signed off on the project. Failure to follow this warning will cause your project to be rejected, even if it is already complete! You will then have to do a new project. They are serious about this. Don't start gathering any materials, or doing any prep work, until the Project plan is completely signed off.

The first step is to find a suitable project. What constitutes an Eagle Scout Leadership Project? That's a good question. Here are some basic rules:

• Routine service is not allowed.
  • Simply painting a room is not enough to be considered a project. However if you added a mural, plus put in some new shelves and things like that it might be considered.
  • Scraping paint that is peeling off the side of small park building is not enough, nor painting it again. That would qualify as routine service.
• Who can you do an Eagle Project for?
  • Churches, parks (city/state/regional/national/etc), homeless shelters, church camps, community centers, libraries, animal shelters, and so on all make great organizations to do projects for
• Who can you not do an Eagle Project for?
  • Scout Troops - Camp Ajawah falls into a fuzzy category in that while it is heavily used by Troops, it is NOT a BSA camp. Eagle projects can be done at Ajawah, (and many have been), they just have to be of a nature that benefits all users of the camp, not just Scouts.
  • Individuals - Exceptions to this are things like building a wheelchair ramp for an elderly person. In most cases you would work with a community program that helps facilitate building the ramps for the elderly/handicap people. That organization would be considered your beneficiary for the project for planning and administrative purposes.
  • Commercial organizations/for profit businesses - There have been some exceptions for things like for profit camps/park organizations, if the project is deemed as enough of a service to the rest of the community, but those are rare.
• You project can not have any lasting maintenance requirements once the project ends.
  • For example you can plant 25 trees for a park, but once the trees are in the ground the project is done. You can not plan for watering the trees for the next 4 months.
  • You can build picnic tables, but once they are built you are not responsible for them once the beneficiary accepts them.
• The project can not be primarily a fundraiser.
  • Your project can not be to simply raise money for your church/shelter/etc to be used for something else, no matter how worthy that goal is.
  • If you are building something, you can do a fundraiser to get the money necessary to purchase the materials
• There are no set rules on your project size/scope.
  • There is no rule for minimum number of hours that must be completed. Some projects can involve hundreds of hours of work, others 25.
• Who can do the work on your project?
  • Scouts in your Troop should be your first option. Scouts need hours of community service for rank advancement, so help them out by asking them to help with your project.
  • Some projects take place too far away for Scouts in your Troop to help, but it can also be Scouts in a Troop closer to where the project is taking place. They need hours of service as well.
  • Friends and family members.
  • Your baseball/football/soccer/etc team. We've had a few projects where most of the workers came from the Scout's sports team.
  • Adults who have specific skills for a project. If you are doing something that requires concrete it's good to have adults who have experience with it. The same thing goes for carpentry and other skills like that.
  • Remember that all power tools MUST be used by adults, so plan accordingly
• ALL project work MUST be completed before your 18th birthday!

How do I find an Project idea?

One of the toughest parts of the whole Eagle Project process is actually figuring out what project you are going to do. Often Scouts get discouraged because they can't think of a project they want to do, or they call around to a few places asking if they have something that needs to be done, and then get rejected.

One idea is to just google "eagle scout project ideas". There are several sites out there that list hundreds of examples of what other Scouts have done for their Eagle Projects. Maybe one of those ideas will trigger an idea for you.

The next is to talk with your parents and see if they know of any good community organization that needs some help. They might know someone who works for an organization that needs help, and that connection can make a big difference in how easily your project get's approved. Also talk to other relatives like grandparents, aunts and uncles, and so on. Then talk to your teachers, Scout leaders, and anyone else who you know in the community that might help.

You've thought of a good idea, now what?

First you have to find an organization that needs it. For example if you want to build picnic tables you have to find an organization that needs picnic tables to be built.

If you don't have an inside contact at any organization that needs them, you have to find one yourself. That means picking up the phone and calling them. Before you make the call, first write down what you are going to say. Read it out loud a few times to practice it, then read it to your parents to get their feedback.

Don't worry if you get rejected. It WILL happen, and probably a couple of times. Keep at it and don't get upset about it. If you can't find anyone who needs picnic tables built that's okay, just pick a different idea.

You've found an organization that needs something done, now what?

First make sure you talk it over with the organization, (what's called the Beneficiary). Make sure that you are talking with someone who has the authority to approve a project for that organization. For example if you are talking to a teacher at your school, most likely they do not have the authority to sign off on a project for your school. It would have to go up to the Principal, or maybe even the superintendent.

Discuss thoroughly what they need done. Using the picnic tables as an example, do they need 2, 4 or 10? How high are they going to be? How long? How wide? How wide are the seats? Are they going to be handicap accessible? What color will they be painted/stained? Etc, etc, etc. You might find out that there is some requirement that you can't do, and it would be better to find out at this stage than later in the process.

Once you have a good verbal agreement of what needs to be done, discuss it with your Scoutmaster. You might find that there is something about the project that raises a red flag with them. Something that you wouldn't have thought of. It might be something as simple as "This project is too 'routine service' relate, and may not get approved", or "This project is probably going to cost $10,000, are you willing to fundraise that much money"? Your Scoutmaster, (or Project Coach), has likely dealt with lots of Eagle Projects, and can offer some good advice.

Begin the paperwork

You need to download the Eagle Scout Project Plan Workbook. Here is one link to it.

Save this file to a COMPUTER. Do not try to do this on your phone or tablet. Open the PDF file and type your name into it, and then save the file and completely close out of it. Open the file again and make sure your name appears. If it does not then troubleshoot that problem before you waste time typing stuff into this file that won't get saved. Lots of Scouts have wasted many hours typing their whole plan into the PDF file on their phone, only to discover it wasn't saved.

Fill out the two lines on the first page. This same information is asked for on page 7. Fill in as much of the Contact Info page as you can. For Troop 33 most of this information can be found in Troopwebhost. You can find the Council Service Center information at northernstarbsa.org.

Fill in all of the pages up to the signature page on page 15. Make sure you are as thorough as possible. Don't leave any fields blank. If a question doesn't apply, then type in something like "This question does not apply to this project because...." and list why.

Be verbose. Avoid short anwers. Too little text is a sign to the people approving your project that you haven't thoroughly thought it out. If the box isn't big enough, add something like "See attached document for more information", and then make sure you include that documentation when you are getting it signed.

If possible, take pictures of what you are going to be doing, or where you are going to be doing it at. Include diagrams if you are building something. A picture really is worth a thousand words, and before and after pictures of your project are even better.

Make everything as detailed as possible. Some projects have been derailed because the Scout painted the things they built the wrong color, and then the beneficiary refused to sign off on the project at the end until the Scout repainted everything. All of that could have been avoided if the Scout would have included the detailed color information in the plan.

Getting the Project approved

Once you have typed all of this up, save the file and send it to your Scoutmaster/Project Coach. They can offer some suggestions on things you might want to change.

Once they have okayed it, then YOU sign it, (under the candidate's promise on page 15), and then send it to the Beneficiaries Representative for their signature. You can print off the whole workbook and give it to them to sign page 15, or you can email it to them.If they don't have the ability to digitally sign the PDF file, (ie just type their name in), then they can send an email back to you stating that they approve this plan. Print off that email and save it.

Once the Beneficiary has signed off on the project have your Scoutmaster sign it. When that is done your Troop's Committee Chair, (or Troop Advancement Chair), signs it for the Troop Committee. Once again some of this may be simply an email saying that they approve this project. Make sure you print off and save those emails.

When that is finished your Scoutmaster will get you the information for the Council/District Representative. You will most likely be asked to email your project plan to that person, who will review it and get back to you with any questions or concerns they may have. Once you have made any changes requested by the District Rep they will give you there approval to begin actual work on the project, (most likely by email). Then, and ONLY then, can you begin actual work on your poject. This is very important.

My Project has been fully approved, now what?

First off you can begin filling out pages 16-23 in your workbook. Everything up to that point was the rough draft, from this point on it's your final plan. Some Scouts don't bother to fill this part out right away, (they wait until the project is complete), but note that you MUST fill this in before your Eagle Scout Rank Application will be accepted. So you might as well use the pages as continue to refine your project plan.

There are a lot of variables at this stage because of the wide variety of Eagle Projects. If you are building something now is the time to start acquiring the materials that you will need, or begin raising the money to purchase those materials. Any fundraiser that you do must be approved by the District Rep before you begin doing that.

Also start figuring out the dates that you will be working on your project. If your workers are going to be Scouts then you should check the Troop calendar and try to pick a weekend, (or more if necessary), where the Troop doesn't have any activities planned.

Make sure you have backup plans in case of bad weather. Obviously if your 18th birthday is fast approaching you may need to do your project rain, sleet or snow just to get it done before you turn 18.

Plan to provide snacks/food/drinks for your workers. You will get a lot more workers to show up if you tell them that you will be providing pizza at the end.

The work is finished, now what?

If you built something, take pictures of what the final result is.

Fill out pages 27-29 on the workbook. Once that is complete have the representative from the beneficiary sign off on page 29. Once that is done have your Scoutmaster sign it as well.

Congratulations, you are now done with your Eagle Project. What now?

Finish off your remaining merit badges.

You can begin filling out the Eagle Scout Rank Application, (note that the council's website URL may change, so if the link doesn't work just go to www.northernstarbsa.org and search for it in the forms section). You don't have to wait until everything is completed before you start filling that form out. In fact you should start filling it out early so that if any questions come up you can get them resolved WELL before your 18th birthday. Things get tougher if you don't discover you are missing a merit badge until after you are 18. Make sure you use the dates that your Scoutmaster/Eagle Mentor/Troop Advancement Chair will gvie you for dates of your MB's. If they don't line up with what the council has listed your application might be significantly delayed.

You need to attach a document that lists your life's goals and ambitions. Many Scouts struggle with this because they don't know what they want to do after high school/college. That's okay. There are no requirements other than you list something. This is just a starting point for the members of your Eagle Board of Review to get to know you. You don't have to say anything like "I want to be an astronaut", if you want to be a professional beach bum and spend the rest of your life surfing then list that.

This document also should list any honors, awards, and such that you have received. Once again, don't sweat this. If you can't think of any honors or awards that you have received then just state that. If you were voted "Most Likeable Student" in 5th grade feel free to list that. This is just another way for the members of the EBOR to get to know you, and provides easy questions for them to make you feel more comfortable during your EBOR.

What are these Letters of Reference I need?

You need to find people willing to attest to the fact that you are a good candidate for the rank of Eagle Scout. These must include the following:

• One of your parents must submit of letter on your behalf
• A religious reference - If your family doesn't participate in any organized religion, and you don't have any other person to write this for you, you may have a parent write one for you. It can simply state something like "Billy find's inner peace while outdoors, enjoying all that Mother Nature has provided". Or something like that. It doesn't have to be specific. If you have any questions about this talk with your Scoutmaster/Eagle Mentor.
• Educational - A teacher, or someone similar, who can attest to your academic life. Note that it asks for the address/phone of the person writing the letter. Most teachers won't give out their personal address/phone to a student. Feel free to just list the schools' information.
• Employer - Some Scouts haven't worked at any outside job, so this can be optional if necessary. If you have worked at any job, (summer camp, fast food, etc), then you should get one of your employers to write a letter on behalf of that organization.
• Two other people - These people can be anyone you know. Relatives, coaches, neighbors down the street, etc.

Ask these people if they would be willing to write a letter of reference on your behalf. Make sure that they know that there is no required length or format. Also make sure that they know that it has to be emailed to your Scoutmaster or Eagle Mentor and that it CAN NOT go directly to you. Any LoR that goes to you/your family directly will be rejected and you will have to find another person to write that LoR. Please ask them to get this done soon, because too often these LoR are done at the last minute.

I have all of my paperwork done, now what?

Make sure you have the following material:

• Eagle Project Plan Workbook - Print out your completely filled out PDF file, with all attached documents if necessary. Make sure things like emails granting approval are all printed and attached.
• Eagle Rank Application - printed
• Statement of your Life's Goals & Ambitions - printed
• List of all Honors and Awards - printed

You should participate in your final Scoutmaster Conference with your Scoutmaster where they will sign off on your Eagle Rank Application. At that point they will take all of the above materials and get it submitted to the Council office. It will take a week or two for the Council to process it. Once that processing is complete they will send an email letting everyone know that an Eagle Board of Review can be done. If all of the LOR have been received a date for the your Eagle Board of Review can be determined.

Once a date is nailed down, make sure you arrive early for it, (if it's done in person and not via Zoom). It is a good idea to wear your full Scout uniform, or at least as much as you have. It's also a good idea to wear your merit badge sash, with hopefully all of your MB's sewn or glued on. Also it's a good idea to bring your Scout Book if for no other reason than you can get those final signatures in it.

You don't have to worry about your EBOR. This is not a final exam where you have to demonstrate every knot that you learned in 2nd Class, or show how to stop bleeding properly, or anything like that. It's more of just a friendly recap of your time in Scouting, and will be relaxed and friendly.

In the 36 years I have been doing this, I have never seen a Scout fail an EBOR, so don't sweat this too much.

My EBOR is done, now what?

Your paperwork will be sent to the National Office. It usually takes them a month or so to process it. If for some reason you need it back quicker, (ie you are shipping out for the miliary and want to get your Eagle Court of Honor done before you go), you can pay a fee to expedite it. Once it comes back from National then you can begin planning your Eagle Court of Honor.

What goes into an Eagle Court of Honor

Every Scout who attains the rank of Eagle is highly encouraged to have an Eagle Court of Honor. This is a separate COH from the regular COH's that your Troop does to hand out awards.The ECOH is to celebrate your success in getting Eagle. You don't have to have one, but it is encouraged. ECOH's are not just for the Scout who got Eagle, they are also for the younger Scouts to see that older Scout getting Eagle, and to know that they can do it themselves. It's your chance to pay it forward for all the help you have received in getting to this point.

There is no requirements of any kind on how an ECOH must be done. It is entirely up to the Scout and their family on what they want to. Having said that though, you need to coordinate with the Troop so that it can fit in with the Troop's schedule. Picking a date for your ECOH that the Troop is camping on would be a fast way to not have many people show up for it.

Troop 33 has a standard format that we offer if the family wants to go that route. We will do it on a regular Monday night at Westminster at 8pm. The ECOH will be completed before 8:30pm and then you can have cake/refreshments/etc in a separate room, with the whole thing wrapping up before 9pm when the church closes.

Some Scouts have chosen to do their ECOH other places. Some have done them on a Saturday at their own family church. Some have done it at a park. Some have done it at their house. Others have done it at Camp Ajawah during summer camp. Recently with Covid that hasn't been allowed, but hopefully soon we will be back to being able to do it there again.

If you have any questions about any aspect of this, please talk with your Scoutmaster.