Trail to Eagle Scout

Earn a total of 21 merit badges (10 more than Life rank).
The merit badges must include:

First Aid
Citizenship in the Community
Citizenship in the Nation
Citizenship in Society
Citizenship in the World
Communication
Cooking
Personal Fitness
Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving
Environmental Science or Sustainability
Personal Management
Swimming or Hiking or Cycling
Camping
Family Life
… and 7 additional merit badges of your choice

While a Life Scout, serve actively in the troop for six months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility:

Patrol Leader
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader
Senior Patrol Leader
Troop Guide
Troop Guide of Advancement
Order of the Arrow Troop Representative
Den Chief
Scribe
Librarian
Historian
Quartermaster
Chaplain Aide
Instructor
Outdoor Ethics Guide

While meeting with the Life to Eagle mentor is not a required step in the rank advancement process, it can be helpful. As an adult Eagle Scout, the Life to Eagle mentor can give some guidance for the overall process and provide insight into the lifelong impact of being an Eagle Scout.

One of the great honors for an Eagle Scout candidate is choosing a meaningful Eagle project. This project finder tool is not an ending point in finding the right project, but a starting point in generating ideas that a Scout can develop further into the right project for him/her.  You will want a choose a project for an organization whose purpose you understand and want to serve. Your project must also meet the requirement to “plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project”. This means it cannot be a project you do by yourself or just with your family.
 
Your project doesn’t have to be unique, but it could be. Conversations with our troop Life to Eagle Mentor, your Scoutmaster, the Troop Committee Chair, and others will help you zero in on the right project for you.
 
You can check with your chartered organization or other community groups that may be aware of projects they would like for an Eagle candidate to take on. Talk to your Life to Eagle Mentor to learn about possible opportunities.

See below for more information on choosing an Eagle project.

Having a project coach for your Eagle project is not required, but it’s a great idea! A project coach can provide process or technical expertise to help you execute a success project and have a positive experience.

So how does a Scout select a project coach?  This depends in part on what guidance the Scout wants and needs. The troop Life to Eagle mentor can direct you in finding an appropriate project coach.

• Do you want or need expertise in a subject area that is key to your project?
  • a conservation area such as animal habitats or forestry?
  • a trade skill such as welding or woodworking?
  • familiarity with various grades and types of construction materials
  • knowledge of required permits or other approval hurdles to execute the project?

• What are the attributes of a good project coach?
  • must be a registered BSA adult who has completed Youth Protection training
  • must be familiar with the Eagle project workbook and requirements

• What type of input might a project coach offer?
  • assessment of the project plan strengths and weaknesses
  • thoughts on the fundraising process
  • advice on health and safety issues
  • networking help in finding resources
  • review of the final project report
  • cautions to develop contingency plans
  • encouragement to make sound decisions for a positive outcome

• What would a project coach NOT do?
  •  approve, deny, direct, or dictate changes to a Scout’s project plan
  • take over the Scout’s leadership and planning role
  • replace the longer term ongoing role between the Scout and Scoutmaster
  • contradict guidance from the beneficiary regarding what the organization needs
  • reach outside the project scope to other areas of Life to Eagle advancement
  • meet with a Scout without following Youth Protection rules

When the completed application is received at the council service center, its contents will be verified and the references contacted. The Scout shall have listed six references (five if no employer, and parent if no organized religious association). The council advancement committee, or its designee, contacts the references on the Eagle Scout Rank application by letter, form, or telephone checklist. (The council determines the method or methods to be used.) The candidate should have contacted those individuals listed as references before including their names on the application. If desired by the council, the candidate may be asked to deliver a blank reference form and envelopes to the listed references. The candidates should not be involved personally in transmitting any correspondence between persons listed as references and the council service center or advancement committee. If the initial reference letter or form is not returned to the council in a timely manner, the council advancement committee must make direct contact with the reference(s) listed on the Eagle Scout Rank application on its own, by follow-up letter, phone contact, or other methods as it chooses. The candidate shall not be required to make a follow-up contact with the reference or submit other reference names. A Scout cannot have a Board of Review denied or postponed because the council office or council advancement committee does not receive the reference letter forms they delivered.

In order to smoothly and uniformly evaluate references, the council has elected to have references fill out a council-wide Eagle Scout candidate reference form. Forms should be completed by the reference and returned directly to the council service center. The district advancement committee is responsible for reviewing these references. If no references are received, the district advancement committee should contact the references listed prior to the Scout’s Board of Review to attempt to solicit information on the Scout’s character. If possible, the reference form should be completed by telephone so that it can be shared with the balance of the committee.

Eagle Scout Reference Form

As you are working on a project proposal, visit as frequently as needed with those in your support network your beneficiary, the troop Life to Eagle Mentor, your Scoutmaster, the Troop Committee Chair, and others who can offer suggestions, resources, guidance, and questions to help you think through what you will do. Some of these adults have experience with many Eagle projects and can help you select a meaningful project and calibrate the project scope to be a suitable challenge that you can successfully complete.

Note that the Eagle Project Workbook advises you do not have to seek the first three approvals in a specific order. However, the recommended sequence for a smooth approval process is listed below. Each of these approval steps involves a discussion, not just a quick signature. Be prepared to talk about your project, listen to constructive input, and take notes.

1. Once you have prepared the project proposal, the first signature required is that of the beneficiary. By obtaining this approval, you are establishing a contract for what you will deliver. You should alert the beneficiary to the possibility that you will get additional guidance as you seek other approvals, and you will return to discuss it further if any substantive changes are called for. When the project is complete, you will return to the beneficiary to review whether you delivered what was agreed, and to get a signature confirming the project is done.
2. The second approval signature you will seek is that of your Scoutmaster. He will ask you to give an overview of your project scope and plan, and also to explain why you have chosen to serve the beneficiary in this way. A good understanding of your beneficiaries work and needs is essential to delivering a meaningful project.
3. Your Troop Committee Chair is the next stop. Again, you’ll share highlights of your proposed project scope and plan, and discuss how to ensure that your project will meet the five tests of a suitable Eagle project.
4. The last stop is your district Eagle coordinator. When this final approval is obtained, you may begin execution of the project. Any substantive changes in the project scope and deliverables after this approval must be brought back for further discussion and acceptance.

When your project and other requirements for your Eagle rank have been signed off by your Scoutmaster and you sit for an Eagle board of review, you will not be challenged about whether your project scope is appropriate and sufficient, as long as you have delivered what is described in your proposal and approved.

Eagle Scout Service Project Fundraising (excerpted from the Crossroads of America council website)
In the current version of the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, No. 512-927, Scouts raising money
for their service project must submit the Eagle Scout Service Project Fundraising Application found in the
workbook for approval by the council. The completed application should be sent to the local council
service center and the application will be routed to the appropriate district executive for review.

Note about fundraising for Eagle Scout Service Projects – the service project may not be a fundraiser. In
other words, the candidate may not stage an effort that primarily collects money, even if it is for a
worthy charity. Fundraising is permitted only for securing materials and otherwise facilitating a project.
And unless it involves contributions only from the beneficiary, or from the candidate, his parents or
relatives, his unit or its chartered organization, or from parents or members in his unit, it must be
approved by the local council.

The Scout must make it clear to all donors or event participants that the money is being raised on behalf
of the project beneficiary, which will retain leftover funds. Should any donors want documentation of a
gift, this must be provided through the project beneficiary, not the Boy Scouts of America. Once
collected, money raised must be turned over for deposit to an account of the beneficiary or the
candidate’s unit, until needed for the project. If the unit receives the funds, it must release them to the
beneficiary once expenses have been paid.

For additional detail see “Procedures and Limitations on Eagle Scout Service Project Fundraising,” found
in the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, No. 512-927.

You cannot begin executing your Eagle project ordering supplies, scheduling work days, and so on until you have received approval of the project proposal from the District.

Once you’ve gotten that last approval signature, you may begin immediately.

As you complete the project, you will want to consider contingencies for weather and other factors. Youll need to be vigilant of safety considerations and seek expert advice in any area where youre not sure of the requirements. Your Eagle project workbook will help guide you through the project execution steps. An Eagle Project Coach can be a helpful resource as well.

Check in periodically with the beneficiary, the troop Life to Eagle Mentor, your Eagle Project Coach if you have one, and your Scoutmaster. Understand that they are all part of your support network and stand ready to support your efforts if you invite them to help.

Once your project has been installed or delivered, you’ve reached a key milestone but the work is not done. These are the important remaining steps:

1. Complete the project report section of your Eagle Project Workbook. You will submit it as part of your Eagle rank application package.
2. Report the hours of service completed by you and others as part of your project planning and implementation.
3. Obtain a final signature from the project beneficiary representative indicating their agreement that the project objectives have been met. Keep in mind that, even if your beneficiary is in agreement, a substantive change in your project scope must be reviewed by those who originally approved the project to ensure that it is still acceptable for meeting the requirements for your Eagle rank.
4. Attach to your report all the supporting documentation associated with the project. This includes photos, receipts, letters, thank you notes, news articles, and any other related items.

Download the Application Here

Download Eagle Scout Candidate Form for References

An Eagle candidate must prepare a binder summarizing his/her Scouting activities that have culminated in his/her candidacy
for this highest rank. The binder should be completely assembled and ready for review
before scheduling a Scoutmaster Conference. After a successful Scoutmaster Conference, the binder is submitted by the Scout to
the Crossroads of America council office. The council Eagle processor will review dates, ranks, signatures, references and other details to
ensure candidacy requirements have been met, and forward the binder to the district Eagle advancement
chairperson.

Required Contents:
– current BSA rank application form
– statement of ambition and life purpose
– listing of positions, honors and awards
– service project workbook
– letter granting extension of time to earn Eagle rank (if applicable)

Reference forms and letters are to be sent directly to the Council service center, not via the candidate.

Items NOT required:
– merit badge blue cards
– rank certificate cards
– unit records or individual history reports
– other certificates, photos, documents

The notebook will be available at the candidate’s board of review, and if successful, will be returned to the candidate after the review.  Following the approval of the Scout’s rank application by national BSA, the Scout will be notified via email that he/she has successfully earned the rank.  The Eagle certificate and card will be available to be picked up at the council office.

Your Scoutmaster conference is the last step in your Eagle advancement process in the troop. It must be completed BEFORE you turn age 18.
  
In preparation for the conference, you will have completed the required merit badges, troop leadership, Eagle project, and all other requirements. Your Eagle candidate application and notebook should be assembled and ready for review.
  
This does not mean that you can’t approach your Scoutmaster for a discussion at any time. It’s not unusual to have several conversations before the final one where your rank requirements, project, and application are signed off. You can also approach the Life to Eagle Mentor or Troop Committee Chair during this time to get a better understanding of requirements, candidate notebook contents, and other details of the process.
  
Your conference is more than just a check of the paperwork. You should be prepared to talk about your journey to this point in Scouting, skills you have learned through your rank progression, your goals, and how to prepare for the board of review. Reaching this point is a culmination of years of work and experience. You will have grown from learning Scouting skills to doing Scouting activities to being a Scout for life. It’s a time to be well prepared and to celebrate.

A number of organizations and schools offer scholarships for Eagle Scouts. Because the available awards and application processes change often, Scouts are encouraged to conduct an internet search for scholarships.

Our local council offers two scholarships each year. The applications can be found here:

Crossroads of America Council Eagle Scout of the Year

Crossroads of America Council Eagle Project of the Year

1. Confirm that you meet the 3 tests for a time extension. (See page 2 of the form for an explanation of the 3 tests.)
2. Confirm that the Scout’s advancement record with the council is completely up to date. Previous ranks and all merit badges required for Eagle must already be reported as complete, or must be referenced in the extension request with the reason more time is needed.
3. Submit the form along with required documentation.
4. Note that a letter providing details on how each of the three tests were met is REQUIRED. Simply referencing the COVID pandemic is not adequate. An explanation must be provided of how specifically the pandemic prevented on-time completion of requirements.
5. If a health related reason is given, a statement from a medical professional is required.
6. All statements and letters must be dated and signed.
7. Provide the Scout’s name and email address, and the parent’s name and email address.
8. Send the completed request form and attachments to advancement.cac@gmail.com and gro.asbsdaorssorc@norrams.
9. Your request will be reviewed and you will receive a response within ten business days.

How to Request an Eagle Scout Time Extension

Eagle Extension Form