(Revised November
15, 2003)
Table of
Contents
BSA_Statement_in_Support_of_Diversity
The 12 Steps from Life to Eagle
BSA_Alternative_Merit_Badge_Policy
Life_Ambition_and_Leadership_Experience
Examples_of_Eagle_Service_Projects
Examples_of_Project_Beneficiaries
Sample_Eagle_Board_of_Review_Questions
Scheduling_an_Eagle_Board_of_Review
Sample_Eagle_Board_of_Review_Questions
Who_is_Allowed_to_Serve_on_a_Board
Role_of_the_District_Representative
Order_of_the_Eagle_Board_of_Review
Who_is_Allowed_to_Attend_the_Review
The_Decision_Must_Be_Unanimous
Documentation_for_Eagle_Board_of_Review
Rejection_of_an_Eagle_Application
Appealing_a_Decision_of_the_Board
The Mission of
the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral
choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath
and Law.
The Boy Scouts
of America is the nation's foremost youth program of character development and
values-based leadership training.
In the future
Scouting will continue to:
- Offer young
people responsible fun and adventure;
- Instill in
young people lifetime values and develop in them ethical character as expressed
in the Scout Oath and Law;
- Train young
people in citizenship, service, and leadership;
- Serve
America's communities and families with its quality values-based program.
More than 90
years ago, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) was founded on the premise of
teaching boys moral and ethical values through an outdoor program that
challenges them and teaches them respect for nature, one another, and themselves. Scouting has always represented the best in
community, leadership, and service.
The Boy Scouts
of America has selected its leaders using the highest standards because strong
leaders and positive role models are so important to the healthy development of
youth. Today, the organization still
stands firm that their leaders exemplify the values outlined in the Scout Oath
and Law.
On June 28,
2000, the United States Supreme Court reaffirmed the Boy Scouts of America's
standing as a private organization with the right to set its own membership and
leadership standards.
The BSA respects
the rights of people and groups who hold values that differ from those
encompassed in the Scout Oath and Law, and the BSA makes no effort to deny the
rights of those whose views differ to hold their attitudes or opinions.
Scouts come from
all walks of life and are exposed to diversity in Scouting that they may not
otherwise experience. The Boy Scouts of
America aims to allow youth to live and learn as children and enjoy Scouting without
immersing them in the politics of the day.
We hope that our
supporters will continue to value the Boy Scouts of America's respect for
diversity and the positive impact Scouting has on young people's lives. We realize that not every individual nor
organization prescribes to the same beliefs that the BSA does, but we hope that
all Americans can be as respectful of our beliefs as we are of theirs and
support the overall good Scouting does in American communities.
BSA Mission
Statement
"The mission
of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and
moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the
Scout Oath and Law."
BSA Vision
Statement
"The Boy
Scouts of America is the nation's foremost youth program of character
development and values-based leadership training.
In the future
Scouting will continue to:
Offer young people
responsible fun and adventure;
Instill in young
people lifetime values and develop in them ethical character as expressed in
the Scout Oath and Law;
Train young people
in citizenship, service, and leadership;
Serve America's
communities and families with its quality, values-based program."
BSA Position
Statement in Support of Diversity
"More than 90
years ago, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) was founded on the premise of
teaching boys moral and ethical values through an outdoor program that
challenges them and teaches them respect for nature, one another, and
themselves. Scouting has always
represented the best in community, leadership, and service... The BSA respects the rights of people and
groups who hold values that differ from those encompassed in the Scout Oath and
Law, and the BSA makes no effort to deny the rights of those whose views differ
to hold their attitudes or opinions.
Scouts come from all walks of life and are exposed to diversity in Scouting
that they may not otherwise experience.
The Boy Scouts of America aims to allow youth to live and learn as
children and enjoy Scouting without immersing them in the politics of the day. We hope that our supporters will continue to
value the Boy Scouts of America's respect for diversity and the positive impact
Scouting has on young people's lives.
We realize that not every individual nor organization prescribes to the
same beliefs that the BSA does, but we hope that all Americans can be as
respectful of our beliefs as we are of theirs and support the overall good
Scouting does in American communities."
“Of any one hundred
boys who become Scouts, it must be confessed that thirty will drop out in their
first year. Perhaps this may be
regarded as a failure, but later in life, all of these will remember that they
had been in Scouting and will speak well of the program.
“Of the one
hundred, only rarely will one ever appear before a juvenile court judge. Twelve of the one hundred will be from
families that belong to no church.
Through Scouting, these twelve and many of their families will be
brought into contact with a church and will continue to be active all their
lives. Six of the one hundred will
become pastors.
“Each of the one
hundred will learn something from Scouting, and all will develop hobbies that
will add interest throughout the rest of their lives. Approximately one-half will serve in the military, and in varying
degrees, profit from their Scout training.
At least one will use it to save another person’s life, and many may
credit it for saving their own.
“Four of the one
hundred will reach Eagle rank, and at least one will later say that he valued
his Eagle above his college degree.
Many will find their future vocation through merit badge work and
Scouting contacts. Seventeen of the one
hundred boys will become adult leaders and will give leadership to thousands of
additional boys.
“One in four boys
in America will become Scouts, but it is interesting to know that of the leaders
of this nation in business, religion and politics, three out of four were
Scouts.
“This story will
never end. Like the ‘Golden Pebble’ of
service dropped into the human sea, it will continue to radiate in
ever-widening circles, influencing the characters of men through unending
time.”
“Another way of
saying this is --- Of 100 boys in Scouting:
- only rarely will
one appear in juvenile court;
- 12 will receive
their first church contact through Scouting;
- 5 will receive
church religious emblems;
- 1 will enter the
clergy due to his Scouting relationships;
- 18 will develop
hobbies that will give them a lifelong interest;
- 8 will find their
future life vocations;
- 1 will use Scout
skills to save another’s life;
- 1 will credit
Scout skills with saving his own life;
- 2 of the 100 will
reach the Eagle rank;
- 17 will later
become leaders in Scouting and will pass on their skills, inspiration and
leadership to countless youth.”
“A comparative
study of the records of Scouts and non-Scouts in a sampling of schools and
colleges shows that Scouts hold most of the major positions of leadership in
the student body. The survey resulted
in the following statistics in regard to school officers bearing a large amount
of responsibility:
- of senior class
presidents, 89 percent were Scouts;
- of junior class
presidents, 80 percent were Scouts;
- of business
managers of school publications, 75 percent were Scouts;
- of student
council presidents, 85 percent were Scouts;
- of school
newspaper editors, 88 percent were Scouts;
- of editors of
school annuals, 77 were Scouts;
of basketball
captains, 64 percent were Scouts.”
“Numbering among
the alumni of the Boy Scouts of America are:
- 64 percent of Air
Force Academy graduates;
- 58 percent of
West Point graduates;
- 70 percent of
Annapolis graduates;
- 72 percent of
Rhodes scholars;
- 85 percent of FBI
agents;
- 26 of the first
29 U.S. astronauts.”
(These quotes have
been around quite a while. The
proportion of Scouts who attain the Eagle rank changes periodically; the number
stated here has been asserted to be accurate as of about 1998. These statistics
may have changed slightly over time, but the impact is still the same. Participating in Scouts tends to lead to
success in life, and achieving the Eagle rank is a unique accomplishment to be
proud of for life.)
From the BSA Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures Booklet (1999
edition):
The following 12
steps have been outlined to ensure a smooth procedure for the Scout, the unit
leadership, the local council, and the volunteers who are to conduct the board
of review. Share these stops with each
Eagle candidate so that he can fully understand the procedure that must be
followed by the Scout, the district, and the council.
1. In order to advance to the rank of
Eagle, a candidate must complete all requirements of tenure; Scout spirit;
merit badges; positions of responsibility; while a Life Scout, plan, develop,
and provide leadership to others in a service project; and the Scoutmaster
conference.
2. Using the Eagle Scout Service Project
Workbook, the candidate must select his Eagle service project and have the
project concept approved by his unit leader, his unit committee, and the
benefactor of the project, and reviewed and approved by the council or district
advancement committee (see "Service Projects -- Eagle Scout Rank,"
page 25 [of the Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures booklet]. The Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook,
No. 18-927, must be used in meeting this requirement.
3. It is imperative that all requirements
for the Eagle Scout rank except the board of review be completed prior to the
candidate's 18th birthday. When all
requirements except the board of review for the rank of Eagle, including the
service project, have been completed, an Eagle Scout Rank Application must be
filled out and sent to the council service center promptly. (See special requirements for youth members
with disabilities, page 38, and the section titled "Time Extensions,"
page 23 [of the Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures booklet].
4. The application should be signed by the
unit leader at the proper place. The
unit committee reviews and approves the record of the Eagle candidate before
the application is submitted to the local council. If a unit leader or unit committee fails to sign or otherwise
approve an application, the Eagle candidate may still be granted a board of
review. The failure of a unit leader or
unit committee to sign an application may be considered by the board of review
in determining the qualification of the Eagle candidate.
5. When the completed application is
received at the council service center, its contents will be verified and the
references contacted. The council
advancement committee or its designee contacts the person listed on the Eagle
Scout Rank Application either by letter, form, or telephone checklist. The council determines the method or methods
to be used. The candidate should have
contacted those individuals listed as references before including their names
on the application. The candidates
should not be involved personally in transmitting any correspondence between
persons listed as references and the council service center.
6. The Eagle Scout Service Project
Workbook, properly filled out, must be submitted with the application.
7. After the contents of an application
have been verified and appropriately signed, the application, Eagle Scout
Service Project Workbook, and references will be returned from the council
service center to the chairman of the Eagle board of review so that a board of
review may be scheduled. Under no
circumstances should a board of review be scheduled until the application is
returned to the chairman of the Eagle board of review. Reference checks that are forwarded with the
application are confidential, and their contents are not to be disclosed to any
person who is not a member of the board of review.
8. The board of review for an Eagle candidate
is composed of at least three but not more than six members. One member serves as chairman. Unit leaders, assistant unit leaders,
relatives, or guardians may not serve as member of a Scout's board of
review. The board of review members
should convene at least 30 minutes before the candidate appears in order to
review the application, reference checks, and service project report. At least one district or council advancement
representative must be a member of the Eagle board of review if the board of
review is conducted on a unit level. A
council or district may designate more than one person to serve as a member of
Eagle boards of review when requested to do so by the unit. It is not required that these persons be
members of the advancement committee; however, they must have an understanding
of the importance of the Eagle board of review.
9. The candidate's unit leader introduces
him to the members of the board of review.
The unit leader may remain in the room, but does not participate in the
board of review. The unit leader may be
called on to clarify a point in question.
In no case should a relative or guardian of the candidate attend the
review, even as a unit leader. There is
not set of questions that an Eagle candidate should be asked. However, the board should be assured of the
candidate's participation in the program.
This is the highest award that a boy may achieve and, consequently, a
thorough discussion of his successes and experiences in Scouting should be
considered. After the review, the
candidate and his unit leader leave the room while the board members discuss
the acceptability of the candidate as an Eagle Scout. The decision must be unanimous. If the candidate meets the requirements, he is asked to return
and is informed that he will receive the board's recommendation for the Eagle
Scout rank. If the candidate does not
meet the requirements, he is asked to return and told the reasons for his
failure to qualify. A discussion should
be held with him as to how he may meet the requirements within a given
period. Should the applicant disagree
with the decision, the appeal procedures should be explained to him. A follow-up letter must be sent to the Scout
confirming the agreements reached on the action(s) necessary for the advancement. If the Scout chooses to appeal, provide the
name and address of the person he is to contact. (See "Appealing a Decision," page 31 [of the
Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures booklet].
10. Immediately after the board of
review and after the application has been appropriately signed, the
application, the service project report, references, and a properly completed
Advancement Report are returned to the council service center.
11. When the application arrives at the
council service center, the Scout executive signs it to certify that the proper
procedure has been followed and that the board of review has recommended the
candidate for the Eagle Scout rank. The
Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook and references are retained by the council. The Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook may
be returned to the Scout after council approval.
12. The Eagle Scout Service screens the
application to ascertain information such as proper signature, positions of
responsibility, tenure between ranks, and age of the candidate. Any item not meeting national standards will
cause the application to be returned for more information. If the application is in order, the Scout is
then certified as an Eagle Scout by the Eagle Scout Service on behalf of the
National Council. Notice of approval is
given by sending the Eagle Scout certificate to the local council. The date used on the certificate will be the
date of the board of review. The Eagle
Award must not be sold or given to any unit until after the certificate is
received by the council service center.
The Eagle Scout court of honor should not be scheduled until the local
council receives the Eagle Scout rank credentials.
The following are
the requirements for the Eagle Rank as of 2002:
1. Be active in
your troop and patrol for at least six months as a Life Scout.
2. Demonstrate
Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday
life.
3. Earn a total
of 21 merit badges (10 more than you already have), including the following:
(a) First Aid, (b) Citizenship in the Community, (c) Citizenship in the Nation,
(d) Citizenship in the World, (e) Communications, (f) Personal Fitness, (g)
Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, (h) Environmental Science, (i) Personal
Management, (j) Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling, (k) Camping, and (l) Family
Life. *You must choose only one merit badge listed in items g and j. If you have earned more than one of the
badges listed in items g and j, choose one and list the remaining badges to
make your total of 21.
4. While a Life
Scout, serve actively for a period of six months in one or more of the
following positions of responsibility:
Boy Scout troop.
Patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, troop
guide, Order of the Arrow troop representative, den chief, scribe, librarian,
historian, quartermaster, junior assistant Scoutmaster, chaplain aide, or
instructor.
Varsity Scout
team. Captain, cocaptain, program manager, squad leader, team secretary, Order
of the Arrow team representative, librarian, quartermaster, chaplain aide,
instructor, or den chief.
5. While a Life
Scout, plan, develop and give leadership to others in a service project helpful
to any religious institution, any school, or your community. (The project should benefit an organization
other than Boy Scouting.) The project idea must be approved by the organization
benefiting from the effort, your Scoutmaster and troop committee, and the
council or district before you start. You must use the Eagle Scout Leadership
Service Project Workbook, BSA Publication No. 18-927B, in meeting this
requirement.
6. Take part in
a Scoutmaster conference.
7. Successfully
complete an Eagle Scout board of review.
Note: All
requirements for Eagle Scout must be complete before a candidate’s 18th birthday.
The Eagle Scout board of review can be held after the candidate's 18th
birthday. For more information, see Advancement Committee Policies and
Procedures, publication No. 33088C.
If you have a
permanent physical or mental disability, you may become an Eagle Scout by
qualifying for as many required merit badges as you can and qualifying for
alternative merit badges for the rest. If you seek to become an Eagle Scout
under this procedure, you must submit a special application to your local
council service center. Your application must be approved by your council
advancement committee before you can work on alternative merit badges.
[Source of Eagle
Rank Requirement and Note: Boy Scout Requirements 2002, BSA Publication
No.33215E]
"1. The
Eagle Scout rank may be achieved by a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or qualified*
Venturer who has a physical or mental disability by qualifying for alternate
merit badges. This does not apply to
individual requirements for merit badges.
Merit badges are awarded only when all requirements are met as stated.
2. The physical
or mental disability must be of a permanent rather than a temporary nature.
3. A clear and
concise medical statement concerning the Scout's disabilities must be made by a
physician licensed to practice medicine, or an evaluation statement must be
certified by an educational administrator.
4. The candidate
must earn as many of the required merit badges as his ability permits before
applying for an alternate Eagle Scout rank merit badge.
5. The candidate
must complete as many of the requirements of the required merit badges ha his
ability permits.
6. The
Application for Alternate Eagle Scout Award Merit Badges must be completed
prior to qualifying for alternate merit badges.
7. The alternate
merit badges chosen must be of such a nature that they are as demanding of
effort as the required merit badges.
8. When
alternates chosen involve physical activity, they must be approved by the
physician.
9. The unit
leader and the board of review must explain that to attain the Eagle Scout
rank, a candidate is expected to do his best in developing himself to the limit
of his resources.
10. The
application must be approved by the council committee responsible for
advancement, utilizing the expertise of professional persons involved in
Scouting for people with special needs.
11. The
candidate's application for Eagle must be made on the Eagle Scout Rank
Application, with the Application for Alternate Eagle Scout Award Merit Badges
attached.
*In order for a
Venturer to be an Eagle candidate, he must have achieved the First Class rank as
a Boy Scout or Varsity Scout." (ACP&P 41)
All candidates for
the Eagle rank must complete the official BSA Eagle Scout Rank Application (BSA
Publication No. 58-728). This
application form can be obtained in hard copy from the Sam Houston Area Council
office, from the Troop 204 Eagle Coordinator, or in a BSA-approved electronic
form on-line at www.bsa.scouting.org/boyscouts/eagleproject/58-728.pdf. No photocopy forms or variations of the
application form will be accepted. Please
note! Your Eagle Scout Rank Application (#58-728) should have a 1999 date on
the bottom of the backside.
All signatures
on the Eagle application must be original (with the exception of the Council
certification, which may be an original authorized stamped signature).
Sam Houston Area
Council reviews all Eagle Rank Applications before providing Council
certification of the application. This
certification is a prerequisite for holding an Eagle board of review. Sam Houston Area Council check the following
elements of the Eagle Rank Application for completeness and compliance with
Eagle rank requirements:
1. Council, National Number,
Type of Unit.
2. Spelling of Applicant’s name
checked and legible (how it will appear on Eagle certificate).
3. Complete and correct address
(no abbreviations).
4. Date of birth.
5. Social Security Number
(optional).
6. Date Applicant became Boy
Scout (must precede all merit badges).
7a. Date Applicant became First
Class Scout.
7b.
Date Applicant became Star Scout (must be 4 months between First Class
and Star ranks).
7c. Date
Applicant became Life Scout (must be 6 months between Star and Life ranks).
NOTE:
ALL BOXES FOR REQUIREMENT 3 ON THE APPLICATION MUST BE COMPLETELY FILLED
IN.
8a.
12 required merit badges, 9 additional must be listed (21 total).
8b.
4 of 12 required merit badges earned before Applicant became Star rank.
8c.
3 of 12 required merit badges earned before Applicant became Life rank.
9.
Must serve at least 6 months in an acceptable leadership position
following Life Scout review date and before Eagle Scoutmaster conference date.
10.
Scoutmaster conference date (completed between Life and Eagle rank board
of review dates and prior to Applicant’s 18th birthday).
11.
Applicant has signed and dated application.
12.
Application signed and dated by Unit Leader.
13.
Application signed and dated by Unit Committee Chairman.
14.
“My Life Purpose” statement.
15.
Description of honors and leadership abilities.
16.
Life to Eagle workbook (project started after Life board of review and
completed prior to Applicant’s 18th birthday.
17.
5 letters of reference (confidential, not to be seen by Applicant),
including one by Applicant’s parent(s) and one that addresses the quality of
reverent in the Applicant’s life.
18. Council
certification and date.
The Eagle application must be complete and
an original in all respects including all signatures, and must be
approved by the Sam Houston Area Council with the Council Program Director's
signature (original or authorized stamp) and date. If the Eagle application has not been approved by the Sam
Houston Area Council Program Director, there can be no Eagle board of
review. No signature, no board, no
exceptions.
Each Scout applying
for the Eagle rank is required (Eagle Scout Rank Application, Requirement 2) to
provide at least five letters of recommendation supporting his
application. The Scout is required to
provide recommendations from his parent(s), someone who can speak to the
Scout's religious life, including in particular his belief in God (this does
not have to be someone from an organized church), an employer (if any) of the
Scout, and others, so that the total is at least five. These letters are confidential, and Scout
is not to see them or have the particulars of them disclosed to him. The Scout provides the names and address of
the references and the letters will have been collected by the troop's Eagle Coordinator
or some other adult representative of the Scout's troop and submitted to the
Eagle board of review with the Scout's application. The members of the board of review should read these letters
carefully, and they may want to reinforce matters addressed in those letters
with the Scout in a general way, without disclosing the specifics of the
letters or the source or otherwise breaching the confidentiality in which the
letters have been provided on behalf of the Scout.
Each Scout applying
for the Eagle rank is required (Eagle Scout Rank Application, Requirement 6) to
attach to his application a statement of his ambitions and life purpose and a
listing of positions held in his religious institution, school, camp,
community, or other organizations during which he demonstrated leadership
skills. This list may include honors
and awards received during this service.
The members of the
Eagle board of review should read these statements and discuss them with the
Scout. One possible line of discussion
with the Scout may be the ways in which his Scouting experience may have helped
prepare him for his future, and how me may want to stay involved with the
Scouting program in the future. Another
possible line of discussion with the Scout may be to explore how the leadership
and organizational skills the Scout has learned in Scouting has helped him to
provide leadership and services elsewhere in his community, and how those skills
may be useful to him in the future.
All candidates for
the Eagle rank must carry out an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project, and in
so doing must complete an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook (BSA
Publication No. 18-927B). You can
obtain this workbook from the Sam Houston Area Council office, from the Troop
204 Eagle Coordinator, or on-line at www.bsa.scouting.org/boyscouts/eagleproject/packet.pdf.
Excerpt of
presentation by Bill Berry, George Strake District Advancement Chairman, to
Troop 204 on August 26, 2002:
“There are two very
important things to note in the first sentence of this requirement that apply
to selecting a project. First, the
project is to be done while you are a Life Scout. This means that if you are still a Star Scout, focus on your
merit badges and other things. Don’t
put yourself in the position of having to explain why you worked on the project
prematurely. It is all right to look
ahead and identify opportunities that might be available after your Life Scout
board of review. However, never begin
planning or executing your project prior to achieving Life rank.
“Next, note that
the service project is to be “… helpful to any religious institution, any
school, or your community…” which means you need to be discerning while
selecting a project. You are looking for
a project to do for an organization that is non-profit, meaning they provide
services to the community at large for purposes other than making a
profit. No projects are allowed for
profit-making organizations.
“What NOT to do:
Projects that begin
prior to achieving Life Rank or ending after your Eagle Board of Review.
Work on your
project (other than planning) prior to getting ALL approvals.
Projects for the
Boy Scouts of America, including troop or council property.
Any project that
another Scout is using for his Eagle project. (Only one Scout gets credit.)
Projects involving
only routine labor normally done by volunteers. (Your project must allow you to
demonstrate creativity, planning, and leadership of others.)
Any project for
profit-making organizations. For
example: painting the clubhouse for a home-owners association; installing curb
reflectors in a store’s parking lot; doing landscaping for a local business.
“What TO do:
Consult with local
Scouting leadership, starting with your unit, while selecting a project.
Choose a project
you will be proud of for the rest of your life.
Do a project that
really stretches you.
Start documenting
from day one. (You will use this information for your final report.)
Keep a log of the
hours you put into your search for a project.
Keep a log of notes
regarding your search, including names of people you work with.”
From the BSA Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures Booklet (1999
edition):
Eagle Scout Rank Service Projects
For a service project to qualify
as an Eagle Scout service project, the Scout, while a Life Scout, must plan,
develop, and give leadership to others in a service project benefiting any
religious institution, school, or community.
These projects, of course, must conform to the wishes and regulations of
those for whom the project is undertaken.
The Eagle Scout service
project provides the opportunity for the Eagle Scout candidate to demonstrate
the leadership skills he has learned in Scouting. He does the project outside the sphere of Scouting.
As a demonstration of
leadership, the Scout must plan the work, organize the personnel needed, and
direct the project to its completion.
Service to others is
important. Work involving council
property or other BSA activities is not acceptable for an Eagle Scout service
project. The service project also may
not be performed for a business, or be of a commercial nature, or be a
fund-raiser. NOTE: Fund-raising is
permitted only for securing materials or supplies needed to carry out the project.
Routine labor, a job or
service normally rendered, should not be considered. There is no minimum number of hours that must be spent on
carrying out the project. The amount of
time spent must be sufficient for the Scout to clearly demonstrate leadership
skills.
The Eagle Scout Service
Project Workbook, No. 18-927, must be used to meet this requirement.
The Scout must secure the
prior approval of his unit leader, his unit committee, and the benefactor of
the project. The project must also be reviewed
and approved by the district or council advancement committee or their designee
to make sure that it meets the stated standards for Eagle Scout service
projects before the project is started.
This preapproval of the project does not mean that the board of review
will approve the way the project was carried out.
Upon completion of the
project, the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, properly filled out, is
submitted with the Scout's Eagle application to include the following
information.
- What was the project?
- How did it benefit others?
- Who from the group benefiting from the project gave
guidance?
- Who helped carry out the project?
- What materials were used and how were they acquired?
Although the project idea
must be approved before the work is begun, the board of review must determine
the manner in which the project was carried out. Questions that must be addressed include:
- Did the candidate demonstrate leadership
of others?
- Did he indeed direct the project rather than
do all of 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?
All of the work on the
project must be done while the candidate is a Life Scout and before the
candidate's 18th birthday, unless a time extension has been allowed (see the
section of the Boy Scouts of America Advancement Committee Policies and
Procedures Booklet entitled "Time Extensions")
The Eagle Scout service
project is an individual matter; therefore, two Eagle Scout candidates may not
receive credit for working on the same project.
The variety of service
projects performed throughout the nation by Scouts earning their Eagle Award is
staggering. For ideas and opportunities
regarding service projects, the Scout can consult people such as school
administrators, religious leaders, local government department directors, or a
Unite Way agency's personnel.
The district or council
advancement committee also can be helpful by identifying possible projects.
[Note: The following are examples of Eagle
Service Projects. In considering and
discussing a Scout's Eagle Service Project, the members of an Eagle board of
review should consider the age, maturity and ability of the Scout. The essential element of an Eagle Service
project is that it provides the Scout an opportunity to exercise the leadership
skills that he has learned as a scout.]
Voting booths: Scout made three voting booths for town
hall in Topsham, Vermont. One of them was a booth for handicapped voters.
Youth protection
and identification program:
Scout provided parents and children with information to prevent abductions.
Scout also provided a place for parents to fingerprint and video tape their
child in case they ever need to file a missing child report.
Community
bicycle registration: Scout
determined that the number of bicycle thefts in his area was rising, so he
worked with local police department to develop a card file where people could
register their bikes. For three Saturdays he put on a bike safety and
registration fair.
Playground:
Scout organized a construction project and built a children's playground
in the back yard of a home for orphans in his neighborhood.
Pond clean-up: Scout
arranged a pond clean-up project to restore ponds in his town park where kids
play. The ponds were really dirty and
had a lot of garbage in them.
Tiger Shelter at
Wildlife Preserve: The shelters over the cages of tigers at a
local animal preserve were falling apart, so Scout rebuilt them.
Picnic Tables
for Park: Scout built new picnic tables for park’s
pavilions.
Vacant Lot
Cleanup: Scout organized
troop to clean debris and garbage from a vacant lot in the neighborhood.
Leadership
Training Program: Scout
helped school district organize and train staff members to put on a week-long
leadership training retreat program for sixth graders.
Hearing Aid
Drive: Scout enlisted aid
of audiologist and established a program to collect hearing aids from local
mortuaries and other sources to be sent to third world countries.
Homeless Shelter
Support Concert: Scout who played in a rock band organized a
charity rock concert to support local homeless shelter: admission was a can of
food to stock the shelves of the shelter’s food pantry.
Bicycle Racks
for Baseball Complex: Scout build concrete bicycle racks at local
baseball field complex so baseball field would not be damaged from bicycles
being left on the grass.
Eyeglass Drive:
Scout collected eyeglasses from local mortuaries for three months, and
then sent them with a doctor who travels to Mexico, who have them to people who
could not afford to buy eyeglasses.
Restore Storage
Shed at Neighborhood Park: Scout had troop and other neighborhood
volunteers repair storage shed at neighborhood park.
Cemetery
Directory: Scout catalogued
all of the grave stones in his city cemetery, then had his troop put together a
cemetery kiosk where visitors could look at a large map and find the graves
they wanted to visit.
Repaint
Bleachers: Scout stripped old paint from local baseball
park bleachers and dugouts and repainted them.
Recycling Drive:
Scout organized troop and other neighborhood volunteers to clean up
trash along parade route after community’s 4th of July parade, and
then sorted the trash and took it to a recycling center.
Toy Drive:
Scout organized a toy donation drive with a thrift store in his town;
all of the toys collected were donated to foster homes and orphanages for
Christmas gifts.
Flag Pole: Scout
got a company to donate a flag pole and concrete, and had his troop install a
new flag pole at his school.
Cut Down Trees
for Firewood: Scout organized his troop to cut down dead trees
in an old orchard in his neighborhood and deliver the cut wood for firewood to
widows living in the community.
Flood Sand Bags:
Scout organized groups of volunteers to fill sand bags to protect
buildings along a river in his town that were threatened by a spring flood.
Area Trail
Maintenance: Scout organized and carried out project to
install grade-level steps in local hiking trail to reduce erosion, and cleaned
and leveled the trail in various places.
Build Play
Structure for Pre-Schoolers:
Scout built large wooden “Big Toy” play structure for local sponsoring
organization. Scout copied design from another local church that was what the
sponsor wanted. Structure involved about 250 wooden pieces. Scout routed in the
Scout’s name and troop number on one of the boards.
Tire Swing:
Scout built a large wooden play structure with a tire swing.
Battleship Texas
Restoration: Scout sanded, repaired and repainted a
torpedo and deck gun at the Battleship Texas site in Houston.
Build Shelves
for Food Pantry: Scout built large shelving units for
Interfaith Ministries food pantry.
Boat Dock:
Scout built a boat dock at a local park, used for overnight campouts and
canoeing merit badge.
Bat Boxes:
Scout built and installed bat boxes for the Sam Houston National Forest.
Owl Nest Boxes:
Scout built and installed owl nest boxes for the Sam Houston National
Forest.
Trash
Receptacles: Scout built and installed trash receptacles
for local nature center.
Benches:
Scout built and installed benches at rest areas along a local nature
trail.
Trail
Maintenance: Scout cleared and upgraded existing hiking
trails and built new hiking trails at a county park. The park ranger had a list of projects to be done.)
Community Food
Bank: Scout recruited volunteers from his troop
and high school service clubs (including getting formal permission through his
high school) and managed their work at a local food bank.
Clothing Drive:
Scout did a door-to-door drive to collect used clothing to be donated to
a local charity center.
Nature Trail for
the Blind: Scout built and installed a guide rope and
Braille signs for a boardwalk at a local nature center.
Nature Trail
Maintenance: Scout leveled local nature trail and
installed wood chips to improve walking surface.
Nature Trail
Signs: Scout made and installed signs to identify
trees at a local nature trail.
Blood Drive:
Scout organized a blood drive at his high school for a local charitable
blood organization.
Cemetery
Maintenance: Scout repaired headstones and generally
cleaned up an old community cemetery.
County Park
Walking Trail: Scout built a walking trail around a lake at
a local county park; required formal planning and permission from county
government.
Church Parking
Lot Repair: Scout cleaned and repainted parking lot for
a large local church; redesign of spaces increased parking capacity.
Church
Literature Storage Box: Scout built a mobile literature storage
box/podium for his church. The
structure was about six feet high, six feet wide and two feet deep, and on
wheels. It was painted and stained in
coordination with the church’s décor and was lockable.
Basketball Court:
Scout installed a basketball goal and half-court surface at a local
church parking lot as a recreational resource for church and community youth.
Church Sidewalk
Construction: Scout constructed a large concrete sidewalk
at his church. The project included
digging, leveling and forming up for a concrete pour, and took several days to
complete.
Volleyball Court:
Scout laid out and installed a volleyball court at his church.
Church
Facilities Repair: Scout did clean-up and repair of church
hall.
Tables:
Scout built tables for a local volunteer organization.
Animal Cages: Scout
built cages for local humane society.
School Stockroom
Maintenance: Scout moved shelving, supplies, stock and
books from a stockroom at a 500-pupil elementary school at a new storage
building.
Church Grounds
Maintenance: Scout cleared woods, painted some outdoor
equipment and dug a 150-foot trench for an underground cable for his church.
Neighborhood
Common Area Maintenance: Scout dug up and removed several dead trees,
planted new trees and shrubs and fixed up several flower beds along an access
road in his neighborhood.
Curbside House
Numbers: Scout painted house numbers at the curbs of
houses in a 700-house development (with advice of local fire department and
permission from local government and homeowners).
New School Move:
Scout moved all books, supplies, musical instruments, lab equipment, and
other materials from old building to new building at a new school.
Fire Station
Maintenance: Scout painted inside walls of a local
firehouse.
Museum Exhibit:
Scout refurbished the inside of a “Chessie System” caboose that his town
purchased for a local museum exhibit.
[Note: The
following references are not pre-approvals of organizations or projects for
Eagle Service Projects. It is up to each Eagle candidate to assess whether an
organization and project will qualify for an Eagle Service Project and to
follow the proper approval procedure to get an Eagle Service Project formally
approved before commencing work on the project.]
American Cancer
Society
American Red Cross
Arrow Project
Battleship Texas
Big Brothers & Big Sisters
Bridge
Counseling Center
Bridgewood Farms
Child Safe Harbor
Conroe Independent School District
Conroe ISD, Wilkerson Intermediate School Nature Island
Conroe Recreation & Swim Center
Cypress Creek Hospital
DePelchin Children’s Center
Family Outreach Center
Friendship Center
Hope Center for Youth and Family Services
Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
Interfaith Ministries Food Pantry
Jones State Forest
Montgomery County Youth Services, Fairway House
Mothers Against Drunk Driving