District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 1 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 2 Trail To Eagle Eagles Soar in Black Bear District! 2005 – BB had 33 Eagle Scouts 2006 – BB has had 40 Eagles and Counting! BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 3 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Due to turn-over in Troop leadership, often unit leaders are not familiar with the procedures that should be followed. The following presentation will address the key issues that we see that complicate the process and create problems, issues, delays, etc.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 4 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Life Scouts From the date a Scout reaches the rank of Life, he should be encouraged to consider his desire to reach the rank of Eagle and how he might achieve that rank. One of the key issues your advancement committee sees is that Scouts often lack the guidance to pursue the Eagle rank while they have the luxury of time to properly achieve their Eagle requirements.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 5 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Unit Responsibilities Appoint a responsible person within the Troop to guide and respond to Eagle issues. Scoutmasters are spread too thin to perform this task properly. In some Troops, this job could be done by the Advancement Chair, larger Troops should appointment an Eagle Coordinator position.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 6 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Unit Responsibilities Troop Eagle Coordinator Responsibilities Work with Life Scouts right away to guide them on their path to Eagle. Follow-up on a regular basis to ensure that they stay focused. Maintain regular contact with your assigned Life-to-Eagle Counselor. Provide resources to Life Scouts including all forms.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 7 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Unit Responsibilities Troop Eagle Coordinator Responsibilities Assist Eagle candidates with their Eagle Application, Project Workbook and letters of recommendation. Guide the candidate on proper Eagle project selection – prescreen with your assigned Life-to-Eagle Coordinator. Assist the candidate with project presentation to the Troop Committee.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 8 Troop Eagle Coordinator Responsibilities Follow-up with candidate to ensure that Eagle project is conducted on time. Review Eagle Application for rank and Merit Badge Dates. This is critical preparation for the Scoutmaster conference. If any extensions of time are required, these should be requested through the District Advancement Committee Member – not directly with Council. Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Unit Responsibilities

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 9 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council BB Eagle Project Tips The project should have a degree of permanence. The project must allow the Scout to demonstrate true leadership in its execution. No landscaping projects! We have seen enough mulching. The project should take the Scout outside their comfort zone. They should interact with persons of influence.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 10 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council BB Eagle Project Tips We know the Scout knows how to work – the project must enable the Scout to demonstrate leadership by directing the activities of others. This is not the Pinewood Derby... This is the Scout‘s project, not their parents! This is a key element. If you sense that the parents are running the project, stop them and make it clear that if they expect the Scoutmaster to sign-off on this project, the Scout must be the one doing the work.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 11 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council 12 Steps to Eagle - 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.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 12 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council 12 Steps to Eagle - 2 Using the Eagle Scout Leadership 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. This workbook must be used in meeting this requirement.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 13 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council 12 Steps to Eagle - 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 leadership service project, have been completed, the Eagle Scout Rank Application must be completed and sent to Dan Caplan at the council service center promptly.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 14 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council 12 Steps to Eagle - 4 The application should be signed by the unit leader at the proper place. The Eagle Coordinator reviews and approves the record of the Eagle candidate before the application is submitted to the local council. Applications should be given to Dan Caplan at Council HQ.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 15 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council 12 Steps to Eagle - 5 When the completed application is received at the council service center, its contents will be verified and signed by Dan Caplan. Taking rank and blue cards to the meeting may eliminate date conflicts if MB or Advancement dates differ with Council records.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 16 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council 12 Steps to Eagle - 6 The Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, properly filled out, must be submitted with the application.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 17 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council 12 Steps to Eagle - 7 After the contents of an application have been verified and appropriately signed, the application, Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, and references will be returned from the council service center to the Scout (approval should be done by appointment and materials taken back with you). This process takes approximately 30 minutes.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 18 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council 12 Steps to Eagle - 8 The board of review for an Eagle candidate is composed of at least three but not more than six members minimum 21 years of age. One member serves as chairman. Unit leaders, assistant unit leaders, relatives, or guardians may not serve as members of a Scout’s board of review. 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.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 19 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council 12 Steps to Eagle - 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.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 20 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council 12 Steps to Eagle - 10 Immediately after the board of review and after the application has been appropriately signed by the Board of Review, the application and a properly completed Advancement Report are returned to the council service center.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 21 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council 12 Steps to Eagle - 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. Only the Eagle Scout Rank Application is forwarded to the national Eagle Scout Service (electronically).

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 22 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council 12 Steps to Eagle - 12 The Eagle Scout Service electronically submits the Eagle Application to the National Scout Office. The Eagle Scout court of honor should not be scheduled until the local council receives the Eagle Scout rank credentials. Local council will notify the Scout of receipt. They must be picked-up at Council.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 23 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Council Application Process

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 24 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Council Application Process

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 25 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Form Completion

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 26 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Form Completion

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 27 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Form Completion

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 28 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Form Completion Circle (not cross-out) Which Merit Badge #6 & #9 Identify Unit No. – critical on Scouts that transferred as Council won‘t be able to find the MB records.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 29 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Form Completion

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 30 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Unit Responsibilities – Items to Watch Make sure that dates match! Don‘t trust records, trust blue cards! Register your 18 year old as an adult leader if the Eagle application is still in process! (prior to rechartering) (can‘t present Eagle to an unregistered Scout) Use Troopmaster if possible!

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 31 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Unit Responsibilities – Items to Watch Scoutmaster conference must be held before 18 th birthday! Prior to conference... Project must be completed. Merit Badges must be completed. Life Goals and Ambitions must be presented.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 32 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Unit Responsibilities – Items to Watch Your letters of recommendation must match references on Eagle Application. Provide return envelopes with Eagle Applicant name and reference name. Letters must not be opened prior to hand- over to BOR. Letters should be received prior to Scoutmaster conference.

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 33 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Unit Responsibilities – Items to Watch Scout should be prepared for BOR including Class A uniform & well groomed. Adult leader must bring advancement form! Deliver signed Eagle Application and Advancement form to Council promptly after BOR. Don‘t forget to pick-up your Eagle Package at Council!

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 34 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Unit Responsibilities – Create CD The CD available tonight contains forms and materials that will assist your candidate. Personalized the forms (Modify for Troop) Life to Eagle Plan Eagle Evaluation From Letter

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 35 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Unit Responsibilities – Create CD The CD contains resource materials including: Open Me First (letter) Trail to Eagle Checklist Forms in MS Word or PDF Format

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 36 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Unit Responsibilities – Create CD

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 37 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Make Your Eagle Court of Honor Special The Internet has an unbelievable amount of materials that can be downloaded for Eagle Court of Honor ceremonies, scripts, etc. Dan Caplan at Council has two large binders with suggestions and scripts for Eagle CoH. Lists are available at Council and on the web for famous individuals who will send letters of congradulations to Eagle Scouts. Don‘t forget your Congressional Flag!

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 38 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Join the National Eagle Scout Association

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 39 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Eagle Scout Scholarships A host of scholarship opportunities are avaliable to Eagle Scouts. Ida Kiefer Scholarship Gaebe Eagle Scout Award Sigma Phi Epsilon Balanced Man Scholarship National Jewish Committee Scholarship Frank L. Weil Memorial Committee Award Frank J. Pedone Scholarship And Many More...

District Advancement Committee November, 2006 Page 40 Trail To Eagle BSA Black Bear District Northern New Jersey Council Questions