1. Trail to Eagle
Troop 137 Notes
2013

2. What happens to a Scout? For every 100 boys who join Scouting, records indicate that:
RARELY will one be brought before the juvenile court system
2 will become Eagle Scouts
17 will become future Scout volunteers
12 will have their first contact with a church
1 will enter the clergy
5 will earn their church award
18 will develop a hobby that will last through their adult life
8 will enter a vocation that was learned through the merit badge system
1 will use his Scouting skills to save his own life
1 will use his Scouting skills to save the life of another person

3. Scouting's alumni record is equally impressive
Scouting's alumni record is equally impressive. A recent nation- wide survey of high schools revealed the following information:
85% of student council presidents were Scouts
89% of senior class presidents were Scouts
80% of junior class presidents were Scouts
75% of school publication editors were Scouts
71% of football captains were Scouts
Scouts also account for:
64% of Air Force Academy graduates
68% of West Point graduates
70% of Annapolis graduates
72% of Rhodes Scholars
85% of F.B.I. agents
26 of the first 29 astronauts

5. The fact that a boy is an Eagle Scout has always carried with it a special significance, not only in Scouting but also as he enters higher education, business or industry, and community service. The award is a performance-based achievement whose standards have been well-maintained over the years. Not every boy who joins a Boy Scout troop earns the Eagle Scout rank; only about 5 percent of all Boy Scouts do so. This represents more than 2 million Boy Scouts who have earned the rank since Nevertheless, the goals of Scouting—citizenship training, character development, and personal fitness—remain important for all Scouts, whether or not they attain the Eagle Scout rank.
NESA is a great resource before and after Eagle. They also offer college scholarships

6. General Trail to Eagle Progression
To earn the Eagle Scout rank, the highest advancement rank in Scouting, a Boy Scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills. Although many options are available to demonstrate proficiency in these areas, a number of specific skills are required to advance through the ranks—Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle. To advance, a Boy Scout must pass specific tests that are organized by requirements and merit badges.
Merit Badges
Merit badges signify the mastery of certain outdoor skills, as well as helping boys increase their skill in an area of personal interest. Of the 120 merit badges available, 21 must be earned to qualify for Eagle Scout. Of this group, 12 badges are required, including First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Environmental Science, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Camping, and Family Life. In addition, a Scout has a choice between Emergency Preparedness and Lifesaving and a choice among Cycling, Hiking, and Swimming.
Scoutmaster Conferences
At each of his rank advancements, a Boy Scout takes part in a Scoutmaster conference. These conferences help the Scout to set goals for himself in line with his individual talents and abilities. At each conference, the Scoutmaster helps him evaluate how well he accomplished his present goal and then works with him in setting new goals.
Service and Responsibility
Beginning with the Star rank, and continuing through Life and Eagle, a Scout must demonstrate participation in increasingly more responsible service projects. At these levels, he also must demonstrate leadership skills by holding one or more specific youth positions of responsibility in his patrol and/or troop.

7. Trail, continued… Steps in Advancement
Advancement, one of the eight methods by which the aims of Scouting are achieved, has four steps through each award level.
First, the Scout learns. Much of his learning comes from other boys in his patrol or troop and by active participation in troop program. His patrol activities are directed toward the skills he needs. Every troop hike, camping trip, or other activity offers potential learning experiences. A Scout learns to pitch a tent by pitching one, to use a compass by finding directions, and to cook a meal by having to prepare and eat it.
Second, the Scout is tested. The specific requirements determine the kind of testing. Verbal testing is sufficient in some instances. In other instances, a Scout must demonstrate his skills by doing.
Third, the Scout is reviewed. The purpose of the review is to ensure that all requirements for advancement have been met. This includes a check of the Scout's attitude and practice of the ideals of Scouting, in addition to his Scoutcraft skills. The decision regarding whether a Scout has met the required standards to qualify for rank advancement begins with the troop and, for the Eagle Scout rank, is approved by the district, local council, and finally, the National Council.
Fourth, the Scout is recognized. The final step in advancement involves presentation of the badge, usually at a ceremony before the entire troop.
Boy Scouts With Disabilities
Boy Scouts with disabilities may qualify for the Eagle Scout rank. Each Scout must earn as many of the required merit badges as he can. He then submits an application for alternate merit badges. His BSA local council determines the alternate merit badges for him to earn.

8. The Basics
Be active in your troop for a period of at least six months after you have achieved the rank of Life Scout.
Demonstrate that you live by the principles of the Scout Oath and Law in your daily life. List on your Eagle Scout Rank Application the names of individuals who know you personally and would be willing to provide a recommendation on your behalf, including parents/guardians, religious, educational, and employer references.
Earn a total of 21 merit badges (10 more than you already have), including the following:
First Aid
Citizenship in the Community
Citizenship in the Nation
Citizenship in the World
Communication
Personal Fitness
Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving
Environmental Science OR Sustainability
Personal Management
Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling
Camping
Family Life
As of 1/2014 COOKING MERIT BADGE is Eagle Required
You must choose only one merit badge listed in items g, h, and j. If you have earned more than one of the badges listed in items g, h, and j, choose one and list the remaining badges to make your total of 21.

9. more basics
While a Life Scout, serve actively in your unit for a period of six months in your unit in one or more of the following positions of responsibility. List only those position served after your Life board of review date.
Boy Scout troop. Patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, Venture patrol leader, troop guide, Order of the Arrow troop representative, den chief, scribe, librarian, historian, quartermaster, junior assistant Scoutmaster, chaplain aide, instructor, Webmaster, or Leave No Trace Trainer.
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 must benefit an organization other than Boy Scouting.) A project proposal must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your unit leader and unit committee, and the council or district before you start. You must use the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, BSA publication No , in meeting this requirement. (To learn more about the Eagle Scout service project, see the Guide to Advancement, topics through )
Take part in a unit leader conference.
Successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review. In preparation for your board of review, prepare and attach to your Eagle Scout Rank Application a statement of your ambitions and life purpose and a listing of positions held in your religious institution, school, camp, community, or other organizations, during which you demonstrated leadership skills. Include honors and awards received during this service. (This requirement may be met after age 18; see below.)

10. Final basics
AGE REQUIREMENT ELIGIBILITY. Merit badges, badges of rank, and Eagle Palms may be earned by a registered Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Venturer. He may earn these awards until his 18th birthday. Any Venturer who achieved the First Class rank as a Boy Scout in a troop or Varsity Scout in a team may continue working toward the Star, Life, and Eagle Scout ranks and Eagle Palms. An Eagle Scout board of review may occur, without special approval, within three months after the 18th birthday. Local councils must preapprove those held three to six months afterward. To initiate approval, the candidate, his parent or guardian, the unit leader, or a unit committee member attaches to the application a statement explaining the delay. Consult the Guide to Advancement in the case where a board of review is to be conducted more than six months after a candidate's 18th birthday.
If you have a permanent physical or mental disability, or a disability expected to last more than two years, or beyond age 18, 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.
A Scout or Venturer with a disability may work toward rank advancement after he is 18 years of age if he meets the guidelines outlined in the Guide to Advancement.
Online Resources
Go to for access to more information and resources.

11. Eagle notes 11/11/2010 Bob O’Neil
Easiest place for most current app and Eagle Scout Leadership service project workbook is
May use black and white version
Consider creating checklist for scout to do – i.e. ask for advancement to check records
Some units have scouts come up with3 or 4 ideas-
Leadership is the key
Most common mistakes- READ 1st
Caution: Unit signatures mean the forms are complete
#5 Project info- missing from old apps- names and hours
Newest form also has addresses
No more life packets being sent out
In Scatacook it’s average of 3 years before Eagle
BOR and SM conferences ask if believe in God (atheist shouldn’t be registered or advance in ranks. It is ok for scouts to question, but true atheist is not in keeping with scout oath and law)
Disabled youth may keep working past 18th birthday- obtain status well before- there are also alternative merit badges
Website has info on district advance chair and how to do workbook
Workbook- don’t need to print out instructions (i.e. 1st 4 pages)
Keep book in this order- (with before and after)
Building diagrams and maps
Project approval signatures come after project details
9/10 times the plan isn’t what was done, explain changes
Project details/what happened
Research time and steps should be in the write up- itemize items
Focus is on demonstrating leadership
Last page = sign off
Behind app should be ambitions- average is 1 page, but any length is ok
List positions held and earned/ religious/ bullet list
Use a binder instead of downloaded form- it’s easier-
(1st district project
was 1967)

12. City, state and zip of the UNIT
Eagle APP
City, state and zip of the UNIT
Proper name- how it will be listed on eagle certificate
Write note along top with “also known as” if name significantly different than general name used as a scout (use internet advancement roster to see what name is in scouting)
Address needs to match with council records, keep address changes up to date
Recommendations- must have religious reference even if not affiliated with a particular church (in that case put down parents)
Employer can be blank
Must have 2 alternative references
Only duplicates can be if parents filling out for religion
Blacken out the MB NOT used for eagle (6&9). If earned both, use one for eagle and other for general
Advancement chair to check internet advancement prior to putting on form. Suggest doing an check when receives Life
#4 leadership = 6 months AFTER Life scout BOR- from list
Bugler not for Eagle
2 new positions as of 1/1/10. Webmaster and LNT- Scout must be doing their job
Cannot sign for something being correct in the future
#6 SM conference must be before 18th birthday
SM conference and going over paperwork (or finishing write-up) do not have to be one and the same
Attach statement of leadership OUTSIDE of scouts/ with ambitions- shows looking ahead
When you sign – you are signing off everything that comes before your signature
If SM son, the SM signs- but typically an ASM does the SM conference
Committee chair- is especially responsible for checking MB are completed
App goes to National if greater than 6 months since 18th bday, otherwise paper copy stays in council and electronic copy goes to nation
Workbook only goes to council- once starting a project stick with that book
Suggest only thing on details page are signatures, as details may change

13. It doesn’t end with the Eagle Rank