Life-to-Eagle

You’re a Life Scout. Congratulations! You’re thinking about going all the way – to join the 4% of all Scouts that make it to the rank of Eagle Scout. Now what? How in the world do you get started?

Thanks to the many Eagle Scouts who’ve preceded you in Troop 764, and clear guidelines set by the Boy Scouts of America, a well-defined path has been laid out for you. Remember, achieving any goal, including Eagle Scout, is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Before you do anything else, do these three things:

A. Decide you really want to make Eagle. This seems like an obvious statement, but it’s really not. Some Scouts want to (and are ready to) tackle the road to Eagle Scout right after they make Life. Others wait a year or more. There’s no right way – only the way that’s right for you. You’re competing with no one but yourself. You are the best judge as to when you’re ready.

B. Assemble all the materials that are recommended. Read the materials that are given to you. Read this section of the website carefully. Investigate additional sources that are on various websites noted here. Read and reread everything thoroughly. It’s OK to ask questions, but only after you’ve looked for the answer first. These materials include:

Overall Resources -

BSA’s latest edition of Boy Scout Requirements which includes the most up-to-date requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout.

The Eagle Scout Rank Application (it must be the most current version)

The Atlanta Area Council’s Life-to-Eagle Guidebook (be sure it's the latest version)

The Hightower Trail District’s Eagle Scout advancement procedures

Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project -

BSA’s Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook The advancement chair can e-mail you a version of the workbook you can complete electronically.

The Hightower Trail District's Eagle Scout Project Evaluation Form

Best Single Eagle Scout Resource:
eaglescout.org
This website has everything!!!

C. After you’ve assembled and read through these materials, schedule a conference with the troop’s Eagle Scout advisor. He will go over all the requirements to be sure you understand them. He will be your personal guide through the Life-to-Eagle process. But you have to use him.

BSA has outlined the following steps in the Life-to-Eagle process

to make sure you know exactly what’s involved.

Let’s take them one-by-one:

1. Complete all requirements – length of time served as a Life Scout; Scout spirit; merit badges; positions of responsibility; while a Life Scout, plan, develop and provide leadership to others in a service project; and a Scoutmaster conference.

2. Select, get approved, and complete the Eagle Scout service project – You must use the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook. Have the project concept approved by your Scoutmaster, troop committee, and the contact at the organization sponsoring the project. Write a detailed synopsis with the help of the troop’s Eagle Scout advisor. Get the Scoutmaster’s final approval. Submit it to the district advancement committee for review and approval. Once district has approved the concept, begin and complete the project. Finish the project write-up.

Think of a project worthy enough to be your Eagle Scout service project. Where do you get project ideas? Talk to other Scouts in the troop. Does your school, church, or synagogue need a significant project done for them? Check the Hightower Trail District’s website for people you can contact. Big Trees Nature Preserve on Roswell Road and the Dunwoody Nature Center are always looking for help, and have been the site of many Eagle Scout projects. Although the majority of Eagle Scout projects seem to focus on building benches and picnic tables, there are many other worthy project ideas – check out www.eaglescout.org for a long list of possible projects. Remember, Eagle projects must be community-focused (religious institutions, schools, community organizations), and not Scouting-related. For profit organizations cannot be the beneficiary of your work!

A special word on the Eagle Scout synopsis: Prepare to spend a lot of time on your Eagle Scout project synopsis. It must provide a complete picture of the details of your project. It will require multiple revisions before it’s ready to be sent to the district advancement committee. It will be the most comprehensive written project that most Scouts have ever attempted. Why? Because the synopsis is the only thing that the adult leaders in your troop and the district will have to evaluate the worthiness of a project. In fact, there is far more scrutiny on your synopsis than on the final report. If you understand the importance of the synopsis, you will better understand why you’ll be asked for multiple revisions.

Remember, too, that you can work on rank advancements (except the Scoutmaster conference and Eagle board of review) in any order. You can start your project before you complete all your merit badges, or the other way around. Most Scouts find it best, however, to work on their project while they’re still working on their merit badges. Putting the project last may cause a lot of stress, especially as a Scout gets close to his 18^th birthday.

3. Complete the Eagle Scout Rank Application – Complete all requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout except the board of review. Fill out the application. Bring it and all the other materials that you will send in with the application with you to the Scoutmaster conference. These additional items include: completed Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, statement of your ambitions and life purpose (with a listing of positions held in your religious institution, school, camp, community, and other organizations), and your troop advancement history. Remember, you must complete all requirements before your 18^thbirthday.

Tips for preparing your Eagle Scout Rank Application:

Be sure you use the current version of the application. Earlier versions list different merit badges as Eagle-required, and should not be used. Make a copy of the original to use as a worksheet. The original should have no cross-outs or white-outs.

Get a copy of your troop advancement record from the advancement chair. Review it carefully – especially checking the dates you received awards, to see that they comply with the requirements of each rank.

Requirement 1 – Be active for six months after achieving the rank of Life Scout. Once again, the operable word is “active.”
Requirement 2 – Obtain leters of recommendation. Give the people you ask to write letters of recommendation enough time to write them and send them in. Click here for an example you may want to use: Eagle Scout Reference Letter. Be sure to tell your writers what they should write about. Check eaglescout.org for more details. Letters should be sent directly to the troop advancement chair or their designee, not to you. The troop advancement chair or designee will bring them to your Eagle board of review. Remember, you cannot have your Eagle board of review without all of your letters received by the troop advancement chair or designee.
Requirement 3 – Complete this section carefully. List all merit badges earned beyond the required 21 on a separate piece of paper and attach as an addendum.
Requirement 4 – If you served in more than two positions of responsibility as a Life Scout, list them on a separate piece of paper, and attach as an addendum. (If you needed an addendum for Requirement 3, you can list the additional positions on the same piece of paper as Requirement 3, but label the new information as pertaining to Requirement 4.)
Requirement 5 – Double and triple check your Eagle Scout service project write-up to be sure it’s complete. Do you have the district’s approval of your synopsis? Before and after photos? The final, completed write-up is then attached to your application.
Requirement 6 – (1) Write a carefully thought-out statement of your ambitions and life purpose (with a listing of positions held in your religious institution, school, camp, community, and other organizations during which you demonstrated leadership skills). You may have a very clear idea of what you want to do after high school, or you may not. It doesn’t matter. Just do your best. Your board of review will ask you questions about what you write, because they care about you. (2) Take part in a Scoutmaster conference. More about that later.

4. Get the Scoutmaster to sign your application -- There are spaces on the back side of the application for signatures. The Scoutmaster is the unit leader. He will sign it after you’ve successfully completed the Scoutmaster conference. Remember that you have to sign it, too!

Tips for preparing for your Scoutmaster Conference:

Before you arrange for your Scoutmaster conference, have everything in order:

Your completed Eagle Scout Application – front and back sides. You and your Scoutmaster will sign as indicated on the back side after your conference has been completed.
Your completed Eagle Project and workbook.
Your statement of ambitions and life purpose.
Your troop advancement history.
Your letters of recommendation – the troop advancement chair or designee should have all of them.

Arrive in complete Class A uniform, including Scout shirt, pants, socks, neckerchief, slide, and merit badge sash. Look sharp!

Think of this conference as your chance to shine! Your Scoutmaster will be eager to get your opinions on the troop – how it’s run, how it could be better, why some Scouts are not fully participating, what you want to next in Scouting. Anticipate questions that you may be asked. Check www.eaglescout.org again . . .) Prepare thoughtful responses. Many of the questions you will be asked will have little to do with specific things you learned, but on character development, citizenship, and personal growth. Many similar questions will be asked again at your board of review.

-          What does the Scout Oath and Law mean to you?

-          Which part of the Scout Law has the most meaning for you? Why?

-          What two points of the Scout Law have the most meaning for you? Why?

-          What merit badge was your favorite? Your least favorite?

-          Has Scouting made you a better person? How?

-          Give one specific example of how you demonstrated leadership in your troop or patrol.

-          Tell us about a problem you saw in your troop and how you worked to correct it.

-          What was your favorite Scouting experience? Favorite outdoor activity?

-          I see you have an OA patch on your flap. What specifically did you do in the OA to provide cheerful service back to Scouting?

-          Other than your Eagle project, tell us about you provided service to your community.

-          Tell us about your Eagle project? Why did you choose it? Did you run into problems along the way? How did you handle these problems? How did you show leadership?

-          How did you help mentor younger Scouts in your troop?

-          After you’ve left the troop, how will the younger Scouts remember you?

-          How can the adult leaders help your troop run better?

-          What would you change about the Boy Scout program?

-          What “words of wisdom” would you give someone who’s thinking of becoming a Scout?

-          Was all the time you spent in Scouting really worth it? Why or why not?

-          Do you feel you earned the rank of Eagle Scout?

5. Give the advancement chair your completed packet -- The troop committee chair (same as the “unit committee chairman”) will sign the application after the Scoutmaster. Then give the entire completed packet to the advancement chair. He will take it to the Atlanta Area Council’s downtown office for review. The council has a long checklist that they will apply to your materials. Assuming that your materials are in order, the council will send your materials back to the advancement chair. A council representative will sign the application form where indicated. The advancement chair will make multiple copies of everything for the board of review. After consulting with you, the advancement chair will call the district advancement chair to confirm that you will be attending the district’s next Eagle Scout board of review. While you’re waiting . . . prepare for your board of review. Think about how you’ll answer the questions listed above.

6. Participate in your Eagle Scout board of review – The advancement chair will arrange for 2-3 troop committee members who know you well to sit on your board. An adult leader from the district advancement committee will join the group as the chairperson. Your Scoutmaster will introduce you, but then leave the room. The Scoutmaster, assistant Scoutmasters, parents, relatives, or guardians cannot serve on your board of review. However, the Scoutmaster and the Scout’s parents often wait in another room until the board is finished. They then accompany the Scout back into the room to hear the board’s decision and share in the Scout’s achievement!

Dress in complete Class A uniform – including Scout shirt, pants, socks, neckerchief, merit badge sash, and Boy Scout Handbook. Come well-prepared and with a positive, friendly attitude. Think of this as your “final exam” of Boy Scouts. Make your last impression a great one!

The board will last 60-90 minutes. The decision of the board must be unanimous. After the board is completed, the candidate will leave the room so the board can discuss his fitness for the rank of Eagle Scout. The candidate, his Scoutmaster, and his parents are then invited back into the room and informed of the board’s decision.

Assuming a successful board of review, the members of your board will sign your application where indicated. If you did not meet the requirements, you will be told of the reasons why you failed to qualify and asked to return. The board will discuss with you how you can meet the requirements within a given period of time. If you disagree with the board’s decision and choose to appeal, the appeal process is explained to the Scout and his Scoutmaster. A follow-up letter is sent to the Scout confirming the agreements reached on the action(s) necessary for the advancement. Before pursuing any action the Scout should first confer with his Scoutmaster and troop advancement chair.

Location:

· Eagle Scout boards of review are held every 2^nd Sunday night of the month at Briarcliff United Methodist Church.

· Time is 6:00pm. Come only if you have scheduled a board of review. Do not just show up!. There can be anywhere from one to five boards held on the same night in any given month, so arrive early, about 5: 45pm.

7. All of your materials are then given to the advancement chair or designee, who will take only the final application down to the council office -- The council will then submit your application to the BSA national headquarters in Irving, Texas. The council will contact the troop committee or advancement chair in about in 4-6 weeks after materials are received from national. The date that you earned your Eagle Scout rank will be the date of your board of review.

8. Now it’s time to celebrate with a spectacular Court of Honor! The 4-6 weeks during which national BSA has the materials is a great time to begin planning this big event. And it is a big event, held separately from a typical troop court of honor. They require a lot of thought, preparation, and logistical coordination.

· Ceremony – The Eagle Scout and his parents will develop a ceremony that is dignified and meaningful to the new Eagle Scout. They should feel free to consult others in the troop who’ve had experience in developing an Eagle court of honor. www.eaglescout.org also has great ideas for ceremonies.

· Speakers – Part of developing the ceremony is coming up with a list of speakers. These typically include the Scoutmaster, other troop leaders, and the Eagle’s pastor. The district executive, a Scout leader from another troop, or close family friends may also be asked to speak. The Eagle Scout will also arrange for a troop color guard to open and close the court of honor and for Scout ushers to hand out programs.

· Script – Once the ceremony and speakers have been agreed on, the Eagle and his parents will develop a script that the speakers will use. Speakers may also wish to develop their own scripts. Again, the Eagle Scout and his parents should actively use others to help them.

· Props – The Eagle Scout will arrange for any props needed for the ceremony (candles, banners, flags).

· Printed materials – The Eagle’s parents will buy blank Eagle Scout invitations and programs from the Scout Shop. These will be printed and mailed once all arrangements are finalized.

· Awards – The Atlanta Area Council will provide the Eagle Scout badge, embroidered patch, and certificate. The troop advancement chair or designee picks these up from the council office after they are received from national BSA headquarters. The Eagle Scout will be responsible for buying a mother’s and father’s pin and an Eagle Scout neckerchief at the Scout Shop. The Scout will present the pins to his parents/guardians during the ceremony. The Scout will receive the Eagle Scout neckerchief in the ceremony also.

· Invited guests – The Eagle’s immediate and extended family will be there, as well as friends and troop members. If the Eagle wants his pastor, the district executive, or a Scout leader from another troop to speak during the ceremony, he will also need to invite them.

· Location – Once a date has been set, the parents will need to reserve the appropriate facilities at St. Luke’s (sanctuary, Fellowship Hall) or another venue of their choice.

· Refreshments – The parents will ask another troop parent to head up a refreshments committee, where many parents will bring a covered dish, snacks, or drinks. The committee also is responsible for set up and clean up. These are jobs that the Eagle’s parents should NOT handle.

· Practice – The speakers and color guard will meet to practice their parts and rehearse the ceremony about a week before the big day.

Questions

How often are Scoutmaster conferences for the rank of Eagle Scout held in Troop 764?

They are scheduled as needed. When you’ve completed all the requirements, arrange a conference with the Scoutmaster.

How often are boards of review for the rank of Eagle Scout held?

Location:

· Eagle Scout boards of review are held every 2^nd Sunday night of the month at Briarcliff United Methodist Church.

How long does a Scoutmaster conference and board of review for Eagle Scout last?

60-90 minutes.

Who runs the board of review?

The district advancement committee runs all Eagle boards of review in the district. Board members include:

· 2-3 members of Troop 764’s troop committee

· District advancement committee member

The Scoutmaster introduces the Scout to the board, but neither the Scoutmaster, assistant Scoutmasters, parents, relatives, nor guardians can sit on the board.

Who runs the court of honor?

The Eagle Scout and his parents are responsible for developing the court of honor. But many people are involved in helping put on a successful court of honor:

Develop a ceremony that is dignified and meaningful.
Select a master of ceremonies.
Select leaders and Scouts (and usually your pastor) for speaking roles.
Select a color guard and ushers for handing our programs from Scouts within the troop.
Bring any Scouting props you want to use.
Arrange for other parents to bring food and refreshments.

There are alternate rank requirements for Scouts with special needs (mental or physical disabilities) from Tenderfoot through Life. Is this also true for the Eagle Award?

Yes. BSA has outlined specific procedures that must be followed if a Scout with special needs wants to pursue alternate rank requirements. These procedures apply to all ranks, including Eagle.

So You Know Advancement?

Test Your Skills!

Life-to-Eagle

True or false –

Eagle projects should be Scouting-related, not community-focused.

False. Eagle projects are designed to provide service to the community, not to Scouting.

As soon as a Scout gets a good idea for his Eagle project, he should begin working on it.

False. The Scout must first discuss his project idea with his Scoutmaster and the head of the sponsoring organization. The Scout needs to investigate the idea well-enough to know that he can handle it – size of the project, time needed to complete the project, people needed to help him, cost involved, etc. Once the Scoutmaster and the recipient organization have approved the project, the Scout writes his Eagle Scout synopsis. After reviewing the synopsis with the troop’s Eagle Scout advisor, the synopsis is submitted to the district advancement committee for approval. Only after the district approves the project can the Scout start his project!

A Scout can start his Eagle project before he reaches Life, if he has a good enough idea and is ready to start.

False. The project must be started and finished while the Scout is at the Life rank.

A Life Scout cannot begin his Eagle project until he has completed all merit badges required for Eagle.

False. There is no limitation as to when a Scout can earn merit badges. It is up to the Scout to determine when he wants to earn merit badges and work on his Eagle service project.

Letters of recommendation should be sent directly to the Scout, who should read them before his court of honor.

False. Letters are sent directly to the advancement chair or designee. They are read by the board and kept by the district advancement committee, which destroys them after national BSA has formally approved the Scout’s application for Eagle. The Scout never sees these letters.

The Eagle board of review is typically held at the troop meeting location and is headed by the Scoutmaster and troop committee chair.

False. The Eagle board of review is held at the same location every month, in a facility that is established by the district advancement committee. It is not held at the troop Scout Hut. Eagle boards are chaired by a member of the district advancement committee. The Scoutmaster introduces the Scout, but does not sit on the board. The troop committee or advancement chair may sit on the board, but he does not chair it.

There is no formal way to challenge a board of review’s decision.

False. BSA has a well-defined appeal process in the event the board does not recommend that the Scout is ready for the Eagle Award. If you disagree with the board’s decision and choose to appeal, the appeal process is explained to the Scout and his Scoutmaster. A follow-up letter is sent to the Scout confirming the agreements reached on the action(s) necessary for the advancement. Before pursuing any action the Scout should first confer with his Scoutmaster and troop advancement chair.

An Eagle Scout court of honor should be planned like any other court of honor.

False. Eagle courts of honor are separate events, requiring significant advance preparation.