1. Troop 230 Trail to Eagle

2. Mrs. Salinas Eagle Advancement Chair Mr. Balden Scoutmaster Mr. Walker Committee Chair Troop 230 Trail to Eagle Presentation

3. Objectives  To review the requirements for Eagle rank  To discuss the Eagle Leadership Service Project  To review Eagle application process  To discuss the Eagle Court of Honor  To answer any questions from Scouts & parents  To understand time commitment To Avoid Any Surprises!

4. Troop 230 Trail to Eagle You can earn the rank of Eagle by;  Just being registered with BSA until you are 18? (Everybody knows that the rank of Eagle is a long-term service award)  Just wearing a patch for a leadership position on your uniform?  Just showing up for Troop activities after you have beaten Halo and have absolutely nothing else to do?  Just getting the Scoutmaster to accept that your RedHead/Denver Broncos/Aggies cap is part of the official BSA uniform?

5. Eagle Requirements  Merit Badges *21 minimum  Leadership Position * 6 mo. active  Active as Life Scout * 6 mo. minimum  Eagle Service Project *  Letters of recommendation *  Demonstrate live by Scout Oath & Law *  Scoutmaster Conference *  Complete Eagle Board of Review * All requirements, except BOR, must be completed prior to 18th birthday! BOR must be completed within 3 months of 18 th birthday.

6. Eagle rank is more than just 21 merit badges & a project! The primary emphasis is LEADERSHIP! Remember!

7. 12 Required Merit Badges  Environmental Science  Family Life  Communications  Camping  First Aid  Personal Fitness  Citizenship in the Community  Citizenship in the Nation  Citizenship in the World  Personal Management  Swimming or Hiking or Cycling  Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving

8. Warning: Several merit badges require specific, extended periods of time to complete.  If the requirement says:  Meet with your counselor …  Keep records for three months …  You must meet with your counselor AT LEAST three months prior to your 18th birthday or you cannot complete the merit badge in time!  You cannot keep a record of your budget and spending for three months in only three weeks.  To ask anyone to backdate merit badge requirements because of poor planning would violate the principles of the BSA and will invalidate the Eagle rank presented as a result of that action. This would be a terrible example to set for other Scouts.

9. Troop 230 Trail to Eagle Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. – Eagle Class of 1927 38 th President of the United States

10. Troop 230 Trail to Eagle Neil ArmstrongEagle – Class of 1947 Astronaut who flew on the Gemini 8 and Apollo 11 missions; test pilot and naval aviator; first human to set foot on the Moon.

11. Troop 230 Trail to Eagle Eugene Calvin Cheatham - Eagle Class of 1931 Tuskagee Airman; Carreer officer in the US Air Force

12. Troop 230 Trail to Eagle George Meyer – Eagle Class of 1973 Writer and producer of The Simpsons

13. Troop 230 Recent Eagle Scouts Carter Tesh 11/18/2009 Kevin Cooke08/19/2009 Andrew Edelman08/17/2009 John Martin04/30/2009 Brandon Beals02/18/2009 Robert Kirkwood01/29/2009 Matthew Legros03/27/2008 Michael Staines02/20/2008 Daniel Nemec11/13/2007 Chris Stanley07/18/2007 Chris Ventura04/25/2007 Jason Delaney04/12/2007 William McMordie04/11/2007

14. Leadership Position  Scoutmaster assigned or elected  Minimum of 6 months  (one or more positions)  Must do the job - Not just wear the patch  Approved positions are:  Sr. Patrol Leader  Asst. Sr. Patrol Leader  Troop Guide  Patrol Leader  Instructor  Den Chief  Troop Historian  Troop Scribe  Troop Librarian  Troop Quartermaster  Jr. Asst. Scoutmaster  Chaplain aide  Troop OA Representative  Bugler (troop may only have 1 OA rep at a time, must be approved by chapter / lodge) Note: Asst. Patrol Leader, Patrol QM, and any other Patrol leadership positions do not satisfy the leadership requirement for the rank of Eagle

15. Eagle Leadership Service Project  Project Ideas  Plan / Proposal  Approvals  Working Project  Final Report

16. Eagle Leadership Service Project  Purpose is to “Demonstrate Leadership to Others”  Must benefit community organization  other than Boy Scouts  May NOT benefit a commercial business  May NOT be a “fund raiser”  Must be planned and carried out by one Scout  no joint projects  Can take up to 6 months to complete - plan ahead!  May begin planning project immediately after passing Life Board of Review  (not necessary to earn all 21 merit badges first.)

17. Sample Eagle Projects  Built indoor barn & stables for school library  Re-landscaped and installed water feature at church  Built mammal retaining cages for Texas Wildlife Rehab Coalition  Wetland restoration -Texas State Parks & Galveston Bay Foundation  Landscaped church grounds and repaired church playground  Picnic tables for Katy Conservancy  Built sunning deck for alligators at park  Built band trophy shelves for school  Collected food for the food bank  Repaired church home for aged & sponsored social event for residents  Built sun shelter for Cinco Ranch High School athletic field  Built cabinets for Sunday School rooms  Repaired, re-roofed, landscaped church gazebo  Repaired bleachers at high school baseball field

18. Eagle Leadership Service Project Plan  Meet with an adult advisor before doing much planning.  The project plan write up (see handout)  Must use official BSA Workbook to submit plan and final report (electronic version OK)  Download from BSA National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) website) http://www.nesa.org/how-to-manuals.html. http://www.nesa.org/how-to-manuals.html  Approvals:  Scoutmaster / Project Advisor  Troop Committee  Organization served  District Advancement Committee Must have District approval BEFORE starting work! (To begin earlier will invalidate the entire project)

19. Eagle Application Process  Complete all requirements  Write project final report  Write Life Ambition Letter  Complete Eagle Scout Application  Review paperwork with Eagle Advancement Chair  Meet with SM for Eagle SM Conference  Committee Chair Application Sign-off  Submit Application & Project Final Report to Eagle Advancement Chair  Council verifies and certifies Scout’s records  Conduct District Board of Review  Council approval  National approval  Conduct Court of Honor

20. Board of Review  Scheduled after all requirements complete and Council verifies records.  Conducted by Texas Skies District Advancement Committee  District Advancement Committee checks references - 5 letters of reference.  Troop Committee Members Should Participate  Scoutmaster or Asst. Scoutmaster may not participate, except to introduce the Scout  Eagle date of rank is date Board of Review is passed.  Important if earning Eagle Palms  Scout should be in full Scout uniform  It is not a retest of knowledge or skills  However, should know the Scout Oath, Law, Motto, Slogan and be ready to discuss how you live by them.

21. Eagle Court of Honor  Special ceremony to recognize only Eagle Scout(s)  Conducted only after National approval  ~4-6 weeks after Board of Review  Planned and carried out by Scout and family  There is no required format – it’s up to the Scout and family  Some items to consider:  Who to invite - up to the family  Date and time to accommodate schedule of special guests  Reserve scout house or other location  Reception decorations & refreshments - family responsibility  Letters from public officials - family’s choice  Photo album of Scouting career at reception

22. Eagle Court of Honor  Troop provides:  American Flag  Presidential Congratulatory Letter  Some decorations available  Scout’s Family provides:  Coup Flag (Order from Brammer’s)  Portraits (Country Parks Studio will donate one 8 x10 portrait for wall, Troop provides frame and nameplate)

24. Discussion & Questions