The following information
on the Eagle Scout rank is presented in five parts. Part 1 is information for
the Life Scout on completing requirements for Eagle. Part 2 is information on
completing the Eagle Scout Application. Part 3 is information on the reference
letters. Part 4 is for the Troop Committee Chairman on how the Eagle Board of
Review is conducted. Part 5 is information on the Eagle Court of Honor. Contact
any person on the Piedmont District Advancement Committee for additional
information.
You are now starting on the
road to your last major accomplishment in Boy Scouts, becoming an Eagle Scout.
The following information is based on requirements established by BSA National
and presented by the Piedmont District Eagle Advancement Committee. If you have
questions about any of the requirements be sure to contact the Scoutmaster or
Troop Committee Chairman. Do not proceed if you are unsure. In some cases, you
may have to do another project if you do not follow all requirements correctly.
1.0 Eagle Service Project.
The Eagle Service Project must be planned, developed, and all leadership
provided by the scout. The scout must plan the work, organize the personnel
needed, and direct the project to its completion. The service project must be
related to a religious institution, school, or community and conform to the
wishes and regulations of the organization. Routine labor, a job or service
normally rendered, should net be considered. An Eagle Service Project should be
of significant magnitude for the scout to demonstrate his leadership skills.
For ideas and opportunities, the scout can consult people such as school
administrators, religious leaders, local government directors, United Way
agency personnel, scoutmasters or the Troop Committee. The project can not be
started until after the scout's Life Board of Review.
2.0 Select an Eagle Project.
This will involve contacting the organizational representative to be sure the
organization will permit the project. This is only to obtain information that
the organization will permit the project to be done. No work of any kind is to
be performed before the candidate receives approval.
3.0 Parental Involvement.
Parents, you may guide your scout only when he asks for help. Parents must not
take the project upon themselves. This project is to demonstrate the leadership
and organizational skills of the scout, not the parent. You will not be at the
Eagle Board of Review. The questions asked will reveal whether the scout
provided the leadership for the project with only guidance, or his parents
organized and directed all the work. If evidence shows the scout did not
perform the work, the service project will be disapproved. Remember, one of the
Scout Law's the scout has pledged an oath to follow is; "A scout is
Trustworthy".
4.0 Approvals. The scout must secure the prior approval of the
Scoutmaster, Troop Committee member, and the District Advancement Committee
before the project is started. (This approval however, does not mean the Eagle
Board of Review will accept the way in which the project was carried out.) There are two official forms that must be used in
presenting the Eagle Project, the paper Eagle Scout Leadership Project
Workbook or the electronic version (go to http://www.scouting.org/
to download a copy). Read each requirement in the Workbook very carefully and do
exactly what the requirement states. It is suggested that information first
be placed on copies of the original Workbook until you are ready to submit the
project to the District Committee. All information must be completed up to and
including the page titled "Planning Details" of the Service Project
Workbook. Use Xerox copies or type the information on word processors for
reviews by the Scoutmaster and Troop Committee. Take care of the Workbook. This
Workbook must go to various individuals for approvals and represents you, the
scout. Make a good impression by having a neat, well-kept Workbook. If the
information is not legible, it will not be approved.
4.1 Preliminary Approval. Discuss your ideas for a service project with the
Scoutmaster. He will provide you with guidance on whether the project meets the
minimum requirements for an Eagle Project and help you to proceed. Record the
date this discussion was held on a copy of Workbook page titled "Project
Description".
4.2 Preapproval.
Type all required information on a copy of the Service Project
Workbook or on separate sheets of paper. Turn these into the Scoutmaster for
review. Allow one week for it to be returned. The Workbook may not be reviewed
on a regular troop meeting night due to the importance of doing a good review.
4.3 Troop Approval. The Troop Committee should
review the project. Submit copies of all required information of the Service
Project Workbook pages or on separate sheets of paper. Allow 1-4 weeks,
depending on the Committee meeting night, for approval.
4.4 District Approval. Add any changes recommended by the Committee. Now type the
required information onto the original Service Project Workbook. Allow one-two
weeks for approval.
4.4.1 Once
District approval has been obtained, you may now start your Eagle Service
Project, but not before. If evidence is found that work on the project started
before District Approval, the project will be voided and another project will
be required to be completed. This applies even if this is found during the
Eagle Board of Review.
5.0 Once you start your Eagle
Project you should present a monthly progress report to your Troop Committee or
Scoutmaster detailing your current progress. Continue your reports until your
project is finished and your write-up is completed, ready to be submitted to
the District Advancement Committee.
6.0 Notes Relating to the
Eagle Project after Receiving District Approval.
6.1 Allow 2-3 weeks in
obtaining donations from organizations. Many organizations must have permission
from regional offices before they can make donations.
6.2 Keep a notebook to
write down all activities (dates, amount of time spent on specific events,
persons involved, etc.).
6.3 Complete all project requirements
before your eighteenth birthday.
6.4 Provide a
completed copy of the Eagle Scout Award Application, Form 58-728, to your troop
Advancement Chairman or Scoutmaster. If there is an error in any dates Council
will not certify the application.
6.5 The scout must be
a Life Scout a minimum of six months before he is eligible for an Eagle Board
of Review.
7.0 When all requirements for
Eagle rank are completed, turn the following items into the Scoutmaster:
7.1 Eagle Scout Award Application.
7.2 Eagle Service Project Workbook.
7.3 Any supplementary
material related to the project (photographs, diagrams, maps, expenses,
material equipment list, work schedules).
7.4 Requirement 6 of the Eagle Scout
Award Application.
7.5 Contact a
minimum of five references (six if employed) to get their permission to provide
a reference on your behalf.
7.5.1 Provide two business size envelopes, with
correct postage, for each reference.
8.0 The Eagle Application,
all additional material and unopened reference envelopes will be forwarded to
Council for review. If any material is missing the Application packet will be
returned.
The following information provides
additional explanation to complete the Application.
Requirements 1-3. Self
explanatory.
Requirement 4. Record
any leadership positions held while a Life Scout.
Requirement 5. This is
the date the Scout completed the Eagle Scout Project Workbook. The project is
not complete until the Project Workbook has been completed. This date must fall
before the Scout’s 18th birthday.
Requirement 6. Read
this carefully. You must attach a statement of your ambitions and life purposes
in which you demonstrated leadership to the application. Record the date of the
Scoutmaster conference. This date must fall before the Scout’s 18th
birthday.
Certification by Applicant. The Scout signs here to certify all requirements
for Eagle were completed before his 18th birthday.
Unit Approval. The
Scoutmaster and the Troop Committee Chair signs here. This is certification by
the Scoutmaster and Troop Committee Chair that the Project and Eagle
application have been reviewed and all information is correct to the best of
their knowledge.
BSA Local Council Certification. This is signed by the Council representative after all
Eagle rank materials have been submitted to Council and deemed correct.
Actions by Eagle Scout Board of Review. This is certification by the board that the Scout has
been approved for the Eagle rank.
Reference Letters. The
Scoutmaster, troop committee chairman or designee is the only individual
permitted to handle reference letters. The Scout is not permitted to handle distribution
or receipt of any reference letter.
1.0 The Scout is to contact
the reference before he lists them as a reference. The Scout then turns in his
list of references for mailing, which includes their addresses.
2.0 Addressing the
envelopes.
2.1 Address
one envelope to the reference. Place your name as the return address.
2.2 Address
the other envelope to yourself. Place the reference as the return address.
2.2.1 Write on the back
of the envelope addressed to you; “Eagle Board of Review”. This will alert you
not to open the envelope when you receive it.
2.3 Collect
the envelopes as they are returned. If they are not all returned in a timely
manner ask the Scout to contact the missing references to remind them to return
the letter.
2.4 After
all reference letters are received, forward the reference letters, Project
Workbook and Eagle application to the Council office.
1.0 Board of Review.
Upon
return of the approved Eagle Packet from Council, the Troop Chairman,
or his designee, will schedule a Board of Review. At this Board of Review, the
scout is questioned about his Service Project. The following are some general
questions the Board may need answers to:
- Did the Candidate demonstrate leadership to
others?
- Did he indeed direct
the project rather than do all the work himself?.
- Was the project of real value to the religious
institution, school, or community group? .
- Who from the group
benefiting from the project may be contacted to verify the value of the project?
- Did the project follow the approved plan or were
modifications needed to bring it to its completion?
- What are the scouts ambitions and goals?
- Were any changes made
to the original plans and why?
1.1 The Board of Review is
composed of at least two but not more than five members of the Troop Committee
(or nonregistered Scouters if they understand the importance of the Eagle Board
of Review) plus a representative from the Piedmont District or Council
Advancement Committee. The scout may request an Eagle scout of his choice be
present on his Board of Review. (The Scoutmaster may attend, but may not
participate in the Board of Review.)
1.2 The Board convenes at least 30 minutes before
the candidate appears in order to review the Eagle Application, References and
Eagle Service Project Report.
1.3 A relative or guardian
can not be present for the review, even as a Unit Leader.
1.4 Steps in Conducting a Board of Review:
1.4.1 The board is brought to order by the Chairman of the Board. The
Eagle candidate is not to be in the room at this point.
1.4.2 The Chairman introduces the board members.
1.4.3 The Chairman opens the reference letters and proceeds to pass
them around to the other board members for review. The board also reviews the
Eagle Project Workbook at this time.
1.4.4 After the reference letters have been reviewed the Piedmont
District Advancement Committee (PDAC) member collects the reference letters and
retains them for at least two months in case there is a question later. No one
outside the board of review members is to see these letters.
1.4.5 The PDAC member may distribute copies of sample questions that
can be used by the board during the review. These are not the only questions
that can be asked but are helpful for those individuals that may not be
familiar with the Scout program. When all members are satisfied the Scout has
presented himself to the best of his abilities, the last two questions are
asked by the PDAC member.
1.4.6 When the board is ready, the SM is requested to present the Eagle
candidate to the Board. The SM introduces the Scout to all the Board members.
The SM may make a statement on the Scout’s behalf to the Board.
1.4.7 Have the Scout repeat the Scout oath. This serves to always
assure that the Scout pledges his honor prior to the most important board of
review he has participated in. The PDAC member then asks the Scout to sit down
and relax. At this point the PDAC member can initiate the questioning of the
candidate.
1.4.8 The board of review normally lasts 20-45 minutes.
1.4.9 After all questions have been asked, the Scout and SM are asked
to leave while the board makes their decision. The decision for Eagle must be
unanimous.
1.4.10 After the decision has been made the SM is asked to return to
the board. The Chairman informs the SM of the board’s decision. If it is
unanimous the Scout is asked to come back into the meeting and the SM is given
the privilege of informing the Scout of the board’s decision. If it is not
unanimous the SM is informed of the reasons for the Board’s decision and
instructed on the guidelines for appealing the decision. The Scout is informed
of the board’s decision and why he was turned down for Eagle. The PDAC member
informs the Scout of the appeal process.
1.4.11 The Eagle Application and Unit Advancement form is forwarded to
Council by an adult from the Troop.
1.0 After
approval by National (which can take 6-8 weeks), the packet is returned to
Council and then forwarded back to the Committee Chairman or Scoutmaster.
2.0 After
the packet is received the Scout is notified that he has been awarded the Eagle
Scout Certificate. At this time the scout and his parents decide on the time
and place that the Eagle Court of Honor will take place.
3.0 In
many troops, unlike regular courts of honor, the scout and his parents plan the
Eagle Court of Honor. They may script the ceremony as they wish, as long as it
does not violate the standards of Scouting.