1. Horseshoe Trail District Advancement Chairman
Life to Eagle Seminar
Doug Cook
Horseshoe Trail District Advancement Chairman
Rich Coster
Eagle Board Chairman
Presenter note:
Introduce yourself and the others who will be making presentations or remarks. Also new people.
Explain your responsibilities and authority in the Eagle process.

2. To Give YOU the Answers to the “Test” And Avoid Any Surprises!
Seminar Objectives
To review the requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout
To discuss the Eagle Scout Service Project
To review the Eagle Scout Application process
To answer any questions from Scouts & parents
Set the tone for the seminar and put both parents & Scouts at ease.
Remind them that the process & procedures for the Eagle is different from the lower ranks because the district, council, and national BSA have approval requirements.
Note that in the past there may have been problems because everyone did not understand the process and some pitfalls so that is the reason for this seminar – to avoid any surprises.
Note that the District wants all Scouts to be successful and if they want to earn the Eagle rank, we will help them. Also point out that it is ultimately the Scout’s responsibility (not his parents or the troop leaders) to have a plan for how he will meet all the requirements then follow through to reach his goal. The Scout gets to wear the Eagle rank for the rest of his life, therefore he should be the one to earn it.
To Give YOU the Answers to the “Test”
And Avoid Any Surprises!

3. Eagle Requirements Active as Life Scout* 6 Months Minimum
Demonstrate Live by Scout Oath & Law*
Earn Merit Badges* Minimum
Leadership Position* Months Active
Eagle Scout Service Project*
Scoutmaster Conference*
Eagle Scout Board of Review
Summary of requirements for Eagle.
The key point is that everything up to and including the Scoutmaster Conference MUST be completed before the scout turns 18.
* All requirements, except Board of Review must be completed prior to 18th birthday!

4. The Eagle rank is more than just 21 Merit badges & a project!
Remember!
The Eagle rank is more than just 21 Merit badges & a project!
So many Scouts and parents think that if the Scout just earns the 21 merit badges and completes a project, the rest is just a given. This is just a reminder that there are other requirements and a boy can be denied Eagle if he does not satisfy all of them.
The primary emphasis is LEADERSHIP!

5. 13 Required Merit Badges
Environmental Science or Sustainability
Family Life
Communication
Camping
Cooking
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
Review the list of current required merit badges.
Carefully explain that only one of the options (example: Swimming or Hiking or Cycling) will satisfy this required merit badge. If the Scout has more than one of these, the others may count as non-required merit badges.

6. Warning: Three merit badges require specific extended periods of time to complete.
If the requirement says:
Meet with your counselor …
Keep records for three months …
That meeting with your counselor must take place AT LEAST three months prior to your 18th birthday or you cannot complete the merit badge in time!
This is a serious pitfall that has often caught Scouts after it is too late to recover (without cheating – which should never be tolerated under any circumstances)

7. Approved positions are:
Leadership Position
Scoutmaster assigned or elected by the Scouts
Minimum of 6 months AFTER earning Life
(one or more positions)
Must do the job - Not just wear the patch
Approved positions are:
Sr. Patrol Leader
Asst. Sr. Patrol Leader
Patrol Leader
Troop Guide
Instructor
Den Chief
Troop Historian
Web Master
Troop Scribe
Troop Librarian
Troop Quartermaster
Jr. Asst. Scoutmaster
Chaplain Aide
Leave No Trace Instructor
Troop OA Representative
(Troop may only have 1 OA rep at a time and must be approved by the Lodge)
Review all the acceptable positions of leadership. Emphasize that with the exception of Patrol Leader, no other patrol level position will count towards the Eagle Leadership requirement.
Note:
Patrol QM, Asst Patrol Leader or Patrol Scribe do not satisfy requirement

8. Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project
Overview
Project Ideas
Proposal
Approvals
Planning
The Project
Final Report
Switch Presenters…….
The next section will focus on the Eagle Project. We will cover (overview).

9. Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Overview
Primary Purpose is to Demonstrate Leadership
Must significantly benefit a community organization
(School, Church, Township, etc)
May NOT benefit a commercial business, an individual or the Boy Scouts
May NOT be routine labor or a fund raiser
Must be planned and led by one Scout
Could take 6 months or longer to complete - so plan ahead!
You may begin immediately after passing Life Board of Review
(not necessary to earn all 21 merit badges first.)
Review each point. Remain upbeat and positive!

10. Only the Official Workbook may be used
This is the ‘new book’. Any Scout who has started on the process since January MUST use this workbook. Encourage Scouts to download and READ this book. It contains a lot of information and has a lot of the answers. But YOU have to know and use this to help you be successful.

11. Where to find the Official Project Workbook
There are a couple of places to find this book. National site (socuting .org)
Council website (CCCBSA.org)

12.
This is where the Council website brings you. You can also go directly here using the web address: eaglescout.itgo.com

13. Selecting a Project Places to go for project ideas:
Local Township
Civic Organization
Troop or Crew Sponsor
Church
School
Project must present an opportunity for:
Planning
Development
Leadership
After downloading the project book, it is time to look for a project.
Where do you go?
What must the project provide?
This is YOUR opportunity to give back to your community!
Pick a project that is right for you

14. Sample Eagle Projects
Build church sign / Landscape church grounds
Build and install nesting boxes, bat houses, etc
Repair and landscape church playground
Build picnic tables and benches for Township
Make ‘Whisper Phones’ for Elementary School
Create a nature trail / Build bridge on trail
Purchase and distribute home smoke detectors
Build sign board for park, VFW, Firehouse, etc
Make and fill ‘Welcome Bags’ for Domestic Violence Ctr.
Build bull-pens at baseball field
Build cabinets for Sunday School rooms
Conduct food drive and donate to Food Cupboard
Construct outdoor classroom for school, church or park
Inventory / Plot Headstone Locations / Repair Stones at cemetery or church
Projects that have been completed by Scouts in Chester County Council (our District) over the last several years.
Your project does not have to be unique, but it has to be YOURS!

15. Selecting Project (cont)
The First Step:
Preparing the Project Proposal (Pages 7-10)
Overview of your project (also the start of your planning)
Approval is based on:
Showing that the project will meet the requirements of an Eagle Scout Project
The project is feasible
The project can be completed safely
Understanding what additional planning will be required to complete the plan successfully
There is a reasonable chance for success
Once you believe that you have a project, you will use the project proposal section of the workbook to outline your project.
Your project will be looked at with five basic thoughts in mind.

16. Parts
Description and Benefit
Giving Leadership
Materials
Supplies
Tools
Permits and Permissions
Preliminary Cost Estimate
Project Phases
Logistics
Safety Issues
Further Planning
There are 11 pats to the proposal that you will need to think about and address.

17. All approvals REQUIRED before starting fundraising or project
Signatures
Yours
Unit Leader
Unit Committee
Beneficiary
District
Once you have done your preliminary planning, you will need approval and signatures before you start ANYTHING.
Expect to present your ideas and have discussions with all of these people.
Ideas and suggestions may be offered. Keep good notes – it will become clear as you begin the next section.
All approvals REQUIRED before starting fundraising or project

18. Fundraising Application
Required for any fundraising unless funds come only from:
You
Your parents or relatives
Your unit or its Chartered Organization
Parents or members of your unit
The beneficiary
Any left over money goes to the beneficiary
Application must be approved by District Advancement Representative BEFORE you start any fundraising
If you are going to have to do any fundraising to support your project, you will need to determine if you will need to complete the fundraising application.
Read the application and Seek guidance from your Scoutmaster, coach or District representative.
Although this form can be signed later in the process, it must be approved BEFORE any covered fundraising begins.
If in doubt, complete the form and have it approved at the time that you get District Approval of your project.

19. Your Final Plan
Tool for your use
“A Scout who is prepared will complete the final plan and ask (his) project coach to review it with him”
Captures suggestions offered during approval
Complete detailed plans should include:
Project drawings or construction plans
Steps necessary to complete project
Full material list with costs
Tool and supplies needed (and sources)
Logistics
Safety
Once you have secured all 4 additional signatures you begin the final planning process. This is where you complete your detailed plans, taking into consideration the ideas and suggestions made to you during the approval process.
The more detailed this section is, the more likely that your project will flow more smoothly.
This section will also contribute significantly at the time of your Board of Review. The Board will be looking for evidence of additional planning that you did in preparing for your project. If they do not see any (or much) it can impact on their decision to approve your Eagle Project.

20. The Project Starting your project Have fun!!!!!
Things to remember…….
This is YOUR project. Not the organization’s, not your parents, not your coach or Scoutmaster’s YOURS
Your role: Project MANAGER
Some work, lots of direction.
Decisions about the project are yours to make.
Listen to advice but you make the final call
Keep good notes
Take lots of pictures
Keep track of all the time you spent on the project
Keep track of all the time spent by others helping you
Have fun!!!!!
Once you have completed your planning, its time to put that plan into action!
There are a number of things to keep in mind……..

21. The Eagle rank is more than just 21 Merit badges & a project!
Remember!
The Eagle rank is more than just 21 Merit badges & a project!
This is just a reminder that there are other requirements and a boy can be denied Eagle if he does not satisfy all of them.
One of the key measures of Success is through the demonstration of leadership. It is not the ONLY measure, but it is a significant one.
The primary emphasis is LEADERSHIP!

22. Comprehensive summary
The Project Report
Comprehensive summary
of your entire project
Use the form provided in the Workbook
Add as many additional pages as necessary
Show how YOU led the project
Document all the hours spent
Don’t forget to include your planning time
Include time spent fundraising
Your project summary highlights all that you accomplished through the course of your project.

23. The Project Report (Continued)
Detail fundraising and how money was used for the project
Include all your plans, announcements, pictures, etc.
Get project completion approvals (signature or letter)
Yourself
Beneficiary
Unit Leader

24. Thus the critical nature and impact of the Project Workbook.
Your project workbook, in its entirety, will be used by the Eagle Scout Board of Review to judge if YOU should become an Eagle Scout.
An approved project can be turned down by the Board if they do not feel it has demonstrated significant community impact or the Scout has not demonstrated leadership. There must also be evidence of project planning and development.
Thus the critical nature and impact of the Project Workbook.

25. Confidential Reference Letters
Copy (or print) double sided
Need at least six (6) References
Your parent(s)
Educational Reference
Religious Reference (If not affiliated with a religious organization then a parent may write this letter)
Employer (If not employed, you MAY use a neighbor or family friend who you have done work for ex. Cut grass, walk dogs etc.)
Two other Adults
Include SASE (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope)
Reference letters are sent directly to your Scoutmaster or other designated person by the individual reference
Mark outside of envelope “Confidential Reference for ______________”
Consider including a cover letter with reference request
The UNOPENED Confidential Reference Letters will be given to the Board Chairman of the Eagle Board of Review.
Key points need to be emphasized:
Identify who you need to fill out the forms
Send them out
Ask for them back by a certain time?

26. Eagle Application Process
Once you have completed all of the requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout (with the exception of your SM conference and Board of Review - Requirements 6 & 7), you should request a SM Conference.
Bring the following to the Conference:
COMPLETED Project Workbook
Ambition and Life Purpose Statement
Completed Eagle Scout Application
All requirements up to and including the Scoutmaster Conference
MUST BE DONE BEFORE A SCOUT’S 18TH BIRTHDAY

27. Eagle Application Process
After completing the Scoutmaster Conference and getting the signatures on the Eagle Scout Application (SM and Committee) the following needs to be presented to the Council Registrar:
Completed and signed Eagle Scout Application
Proof of Merit Badges Earned
Individual History / Transfer Report from TroopMaster
Eagle Application Assistance Report from TroopMaster
Copies of all your merit badge blue cards
Ambitions and Life Purpose Statement
Completed Eagle Project Summary and Yearbook Information
Council will
Verify information on the Eagle Scout Application
Keep copy of Project Summary and Yearbook Information
Keep copy of Ambitions and Life Purpose statement
Return Verified Application to Scout or Scoutmaster

28. Board of Review
Once the application is completed and turned into Council, we will start the scheduling process for the Scouts Eagle Board of Review
Before a Review can be scheduled
The COMPLETED Project Book, Ambitions and Life Purpose Statement and Verified Application need to be given to the District Advancement Chair.
Scoutmaster gets Reference letters to the District Advancement Chair.
Board of Review Basics
Generally Boards are conducted twice per month
Maximum of 3 scouts per evening
Scoutmasters are notified of date and time of Board, usually via .
Scoutmasters are asked to verify attendance
Parents and family are invited to attend Board

29. Other Points Highlight key points.
Time Extensions to complete requirements after a Scout’s 18th birthday
Must be approved by National Council before Scout’s 18th birthday
Will only be approved for “Extenuating Circumstances”
There is an established appeal process for scouts who are not recommended for the Eagle Rank, either by their Troop or the Eagle Board of Review
Highlight key points.

30. Discussion & Questions
What are your questions?

31. Horseshoe Trail District Advancement Chairman
Contact Information
Doug Cook
Horseshoe Trail District Advancement Chairman
Presenter note:
Introduce yourself and the others who will be making presentations or remarks. Also new people.
Explain your responsibilities and authority in the Eagle process.

33. Your Eagle Ceremony
Most Troops let you develop your own Eagle ceremony
Invite anyone and everyone
Look at planning the Eagle Ceremony like it was a wedding reception
The Ceremony
The Reception