The Trail from Life to Eagle

Dan Beard Council

Page *

Requirements1. Six months active service2. Scout spirit3. 21 merit badges4. Leadership5. Service project6. Scoutmaster conference7. Board of review

Changes in the Trail• Two recent publications have caused the

biggest changes in over twenty years• As of January 1, 2012, must be using new

requirements unless all approvals were obtained by December 31, 2011

Page *

New Publications• Guide to Advancement 2011

• http://scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33088.pdf

• Eagle Scout Project Planning Workbook• http://scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-927_fillable.pdf

Page *

New Project Requirement• “Proposal must be approved…before you

start.”• Project workbook broken into three

phases:• Proposal• Detailed planning• Final report

Page *

Page *

Sources of Ideas• Scoutmaster• Troop Committee• Newspaper• Local parks• Churches• Schools• Community leadersThe best projects are the ones in which the scouts

have a personal interest

Page *

What Can I Do?

• Shelves and space organizers• Benches, work tables• Mailboxes• Shelters• Bulletin boards• Drywall and painting• Bird/bat houses• Ponds and wildlife observation

environments• Steps – wood, stone• Drainage, retaining walls• Steps on a trail or building• Water bars on a trail• ADA-compliant entrance ramps• Bridges and handrails• Erosion control

• Concrete, paver and stone work• Patios and paths• Fencing and handrails• Fire ring/prayer circle• Hiking and nature trails• Landscaping – removal, renovation• Garden and raised beds• Sprinkler systems• Compost bins• Mulching and weed barriers• Signage and marking for trails,

plants, trees• Props for plays• Playground equipment – assembly

and refurbishing• Historical building restoration

Examples of recent Eagle construction projects:

Page *

What can I do?

• Computer reclamation and training• Blanket, shoe or eyeglass collection• Toy or book collection• Toy or book library for a school or

church• Books on tape for children’s hospital• Education cards for third-world country

clinic

Examples of non-construction projects:

Page *

What Can’t I Do?• Routine labor• Project for BSA, a business or an

individual• Fund raiser• Group project (shared leadership with

another Eagle candidate)

Completing the Proposal

• New workbook has sections for all required information

• Workbook is available at scouting.org• Fillable pdf• Must use official workbook

• No changes• No additions• No deletions

Page *

Proposal• Description

• What will you do?• Who will benefit?

• Leadership• Crew size?• Source?• Difficulties?

• Materials, Supplies, Tools

• Cost estimate• Project phases• Logistics• Safety• Further planning

Page *

Approval of Proposal• Organization• Unit leader• Committee

• District – must be after the other three

Page *

Detailed Project Plans• Prepared after the approval of the

proposal• No additional approval until Board of Review

• Unit is encouraged to assign a project coach• Registered with BSA in any position• Youth Protection trained

Page *

Fund Raising• Project may not be a fundraiser• Funds may be raised to pay for project• Beneficiary, candidate and family or unit

(including parents & chartered organization) may contribute to project

• Other sources require a fund raising application• Requires Council approval – can take at least

two weeksPage *

Project Report• Prepared after conducting project• Be prepared to discuss at board of review• Project is evaluated on impact

• Extent of benefit to the religious institution, school or community, and on the leadership provided by the candidate

Page *

New Eagle Service Project Workbook

• Use only the fillable pdf form – note: fillable spaces are fixed, make sure the entry fits the space• Fillable pdf available at: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-927_fillable.pdf • Major sections:

• Contacts (p 6) • Project Proposal (pp 7-10)• Final Plan (pp 11-16)• Fundraising Application (pp 17-18) – required only if the project is not self-funded• Project Report (pp 19-20)

☛

☛

☛

Project Proposal (pp 7-10)• The proposal must show that:

• The project provides sufficient opportunity to meet the Eagle Scout service project requirement• It appears to be feasible• Safety issues will be addressed• Action steps for further detailed planning are included• The candidate is on the right track with a reasonable chance of a positive experience

• Be concise but complete – space is limited, text does not wrap, font size shrinks• Items not applicable should be marked “not applicable”• Project must not start until all signatures are obtained

☛

☛

☛

☛

☛

Final Plan (pp 11-16)

• To be completed after the project is approved (p 10)• Although no one approves this plan, it is important in demonstrating that detail planning took place before execution• Scouts and units are strongly encouraged to utilize Eagle coaches – any unit, district, or council person with knowledge of the Eagle process and willing to help the Scout think through the project and plan it• Use of a coach can help prevent problems and improve your chance of passing the board of review

☛

☛

☛

☛

☛

Fundraising Application (pp 17-18)

• Not required if the project is funded entirely by the beneficiary, the Scout, his parents and relatives, his unit or chartered organization, or parents and members of the unit• Any other source of funding requires this application to be filled out and submitted to the Council service center for approval – see p 18 for details

☛

☛

☛

☛

☛

Project Report (pp 19-20)

• Final report on completion of the project• All sections are to be completed• Requires signatures from the candidate, beneficiary and unit leader• If materials or other items were not required, mark the space “not applicable”

☛

☛

☛

☛

☛

Common Misperceptions• Minimum hours – show leadership• Lasting value• Registered non-profit organization – profit

who serves the community • Guide to Safe Scouting – BSA national

• Tour Permits

Page *

Page *

Questions?