The aim of this page is to provide our Council members with valuable insights from the Council Advancement Committee. We believe this information is essential for alleviating the frustrations experienced by both Scouts and adults who are new to the “Eagle Scout Process.”
Overview
The journey on the “Trail to Eagle” can often feel overwhelming and filled with paperwork for aspiring Eagle Scouts, their parents or guardians, and leaders.
This page was updated to follow our Council’s annual Life to Eagle Presentation. This Presentation outlines the applicable Council procedures and processes, provides helpful hints, and hopefully addresses many of the questions that scouts and leaders have about the process. If you have additional questions, please reach out to a member of your local District Advancement Committee listed at the end of this page.
Eagle Scout Proposal
The Prospective Eagle Scout (working with Unit Leadership) must plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. (The project must benefit an organization other than Scouts BSA.).
You will use the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook (512-927) throughout this process. Please read the entire workbook and make sure you are using the CURRENT workbook. There are FOUR sections to the current workbook with places to put the appropriate information
- Eagle Scout Service Project Proposal
- Eagle Scout Service Project Plan
- Eagle Scout Service Project Fundraising Application (if required; see below)
- Eagle Scout Service Project Report
- Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, No. 512-927
The FIRST step not listed specifically in the Eagle Scout Workbook is to review your ideas with either your Troop’s Eagle Advisor or your Troop Committee Chair. They will have some expierence in helping you craft your idea from a concept to your written proposal.
To get your project approved, you would first need to fill out the PROPOSAL section and review it with the TROOP EAGLE ADVISER (or their delegate). When completed to their satisfaction, seek approval from your troop’s leadership and the benefiting organization. .
Once you have your troop’s and benefiting organization’s signatures on the original workbook proposal section, please contact a member of your District Advancement Team to review/grant approve to start your project.
Once your project is approved , you should next fill out the project PLAN and FUNDRAISING APPLICATION (as needed). You only need a District or Council approval if your projected fundraising will exceed $1,000.
- Eagle Scout Service Project Fundraiser Application (Page 19 & 20 of above workbook)
When you have completed your project, you will need to fill the REPORT which is the recap on how you executed your plan. Please pay careful attention to fill out all of the requested details.
The Prospective Eagle Scout Completes their Work
Once the Prospective Eagle Scout has completed all of their project (and its write-up), they should continue on the other requirements for the Rank of Eagle Scout.
The following items need to be completed BEFORE their 18th Birthday:
- Eagle Scout Leadership Project (and its write-up)
- Completion of all other rank requirements needed to obtain the rank of Eagle Scout
- Scoutmaster Conference
The Prospective Eagle Scout should start requesting Letters of Recommendation from 4 different individuals listed on the application as soon as possible. A sample template link is below. Requested references may be returned to the Scout in a sealed envelope or sent to a designated unit adult for safekeeping until the Eagle Board of Review. (GTA 9.0.1.7)
The Troop (and the Scout) should fill out Eagle Scout Rank Application in PDF format and send it to the Angela Emer, Council Registrar for verification.
The Eagle Scout Board of Review
Once you have conferred with your District Advancement Committee on a time/place to hold the Board of Review, please keep in mind the following key rules as defined by the Guide to Advancement:
Who Needs to Sit on it?:
- Two to five adults to be members of the Eagle Board or Review. Members can include troop committee members,troop parents, adults familiar with the ideals of Scouting.
- One member from your local District Advancement Committee to represent our Council.
Who Can Not Sit on the Board?
- Troop Scoutmaster, Troop Assistant Scoutmasters; parents/guardians or relatives of the Eagle candidate.
- The Scout’s parents, relatives, or guardians should not be in attendance in any capacity–not as members of the board, as observers, or even as the unit leader.
How can my child prepare for their Eagle Scout Board of Review?
- We are asked this question a lot by parents and unit leaders.
- The Scout should be confident in being able to discuss/evaluate their Scout project. There is no other preparation that should be done.
- The Scout should work with the Troop’s Leaders to make sure all of the paperwork is in place for the Board of Review (including their own Ambition Statement)
- The National Office strongly discourages units holding mock eagle boards of review as you are taking away from the experience from the young individual.
Need Additional Help?
For questions regarding the council’s advancement policies, rank processing, or counselor registrations, please contact the Council Advancement Committee:
Advancement Chair: Ken Farmer
Advancement Committee Staff Adviser: Jake Fitzpatrick, 732-851-8228.
