Life-to-Eagle Seminar

1. Life-to-Eagle Seminar Troop 160 Lexington, MA Revised 21 March 2008

2. How hard is it? • Nationally, about 5% of Scouts attain the rank of Eagle • In recent years, more than 50% of Scouts in Troop 160 have become Eagles • Troop 160 has about five Eagles per year recently, and over 90 total • We think the difference is mostly because our Scouts can see others do it, and realize that they can too

3. Eagle requirements • Active for 6 months since becoming Life • Demonstrate Scout spirit • Earn a total of 21 merit badges, including 12 Eagle Required • While Life Scout, serve for 6 months in a position of responsibility • Plan and carry out an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project • Scoutmaster Conference • Board of Review

4. Notes on Eagle Reqs • All requirements except Board of Review must be completed before 18th birthday • Alternate requirements can be arranged if for some reason a standard requirement cannot be met

5. Eagle Required Badges • Camping • Personal Fitness • Personal Management • Family Life • Environmental Science • First Aid • Citizenship in the Community • Citizenship in the Nation • Citizenship in the World • Communications • Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving • Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling

6. Planning for Eagle Requireds • Life Scouts already have at least 7 of the 12 Eagle Required merit badges, and 11 of the 21 total • Camping merit badge requires 20 nights of camping in a tent or under the stars, on Scout trips • One week of summer camp can count • Cabin camping does not count • Probably wise to keep track of your own nights of camping • Three ER badges require three months of record-keeping – most easily done during school year • Personal Fitness • Personal Management • Family Life • Environmental Science is most easily done at summer camp

7. Position of Responsibility • Many possible positions count for this requirement • Some are elective (Patrol Leader, SPL) • Some are appointive (Instructor, JASM) • A Scout who needs to meet this requirement should talk to the Scoutmaster and/or SPL – something can be arranged

8. Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project • “While a Life Scout, plan, develop and give leadership to others in a service project to any religious institution, school, or community. The project should benefit an organization other than Boy Scouting.” • Most potential Eagle Scouts find this the most difficult requirement • Troop 160 has a pretty good process to help potential Eagles plan and accomplish their projects

9. Project Requirements • Key point is that the potential Eagle must demonstrate leadership • Beneficiary can be almost any community organization other than Scouting • Project cannot be a fundraiser • Project scope is expected to be about 100 total hours of effort (rule of thumb, not a requirement)

10. Project Steps • Get an Eagle Guide • Read the project documentation • Come up with an idea for a project • Log your time and activities • Write up the project proposal • Get the proposal approved • Execute your project • Obtain final signatures • Write up the project and submit Eagle application NOTE: This process is discussed in detail in a memo on the Troop 160 website

11. Role of Eagle Guide • The job of the Eagle Guide is to help answer questions that come up in the course of developing the proposal and doing the project • A good Eagle Guide is someone who has been around some Eagle projects, and/or has some project management experience • The Scout can ask someone to be an Eagle Guide, or he can ask the Scoutmaster to find one for him

12. Finding a Project • Classic Eagle projects often involve building or improving something outdoors • Recently some Eagle projects have involved such topics as database systems • Key points are that the project benefit some community group, and that it can be developed and led by the Scouts • If the Eagle candidate has a hard time thinking of a good project, he should discuss it with his Eagle Guide • Troop 160 is fortunate to have good relationships with many Town committees and church groups

13. Project proposal • Proposal usually takes longer to develop than Scouts expect • Needs to discuss: • Who will benefit • What you’re doing • Scope of effort • Safety issues • How the Scout will show leadership • Needs to be approved before work starts • Sponsoring organization • Scoutmaster • Troop Committee Chairman • Council representative • Planning time counts toward effort, and should be tracked

14. Project writeup and Eagle application • Project writeup discusses how things actually worked • Difficulties and changes are a good thing • Provide material for discussion of leadership • Get final signature from sponsoring organization and Scoutmaster promptly after finishing • Include plenty of pictures

15. Eagle application • Once you’ve completed all your requirements, you have to fill out the Eagle Application and request a Board of Review • Application is mostly a matter of writing down all historical data • Application also calls for six references • One must be “Religious” • Baden-Powell took a very broad view of religion • Please discuss with us if this appears to be an issue • Application also calls for a short essay on Life Purpose – don’t forget this

16. Board of Review • Whereas other ranks are awarded by the Troop, the Eagle is awarded by the National BSA • Once the requirements have been met and the application submitted, the Board of Review is held by Boston Minuteman Council or Flintlock District • Scout can select one registered adult to be on the Board, and another to introduce him • Other Board members will not be from our Troop • Board of Review generally lasts 30-45 minutes

17. Summary • The trail from Life to Eagle is not easy • Any Scout who is determined to do it can succeed • Smart to get started by your 17th birthday at latest • Troop 160 has resources to make the trip a little easier See Troop website page “Resources | Advancement and Eagle Trail” for this presentation, Life-to-Eagle memo, and more information and links.