1. Life to Eagle For Leaders
Presented by
The Advancement Committee
Orange County Council
Boy Scouts of America
January 10, 2014
Orange County Council Advancement Committee

2. To Achieve the Eagle Scout Rank a Scout Must
Earn five prior Scouting Ranks
Meet 60 achievement requirements
Satisfactorily complete 1,255 different tasks
Be reviewed by Adult Scouters at the Unit, District, Council and National level at least 70 times
Orange County Council
Advancement Committee

3. 11 Steps from Life to Eagle
1. Complete Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project (use workbook)
Do Eagle Scout rank requirements #1-6 before your 18th birthday
3. Complete Eagle Scout Application Form
Obtain the most current application form available from the Council Website at
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4. 11 Steps from Life to Eagle
3. (Continued)
Must be completely filled out (with the signatures of Unit Leader and Unit Committee Chair)*
Submit completed application to your District’s Eagle Scout Chairperson
Five or six Confidential Appraisals are requested and are to be sent to your District’s Eagle Scout Chairperson or designee
Parents, Educator, Religious leader, Employer, Friend, Friend
If you do not attend church regularly, write a statement declaring your belief in god.
If not employed, you do not need a letter from an employer.
The letters of recommendation are sent directly to the Eagle Board of Review Chairman. These letters are not read until the District Eagle Board of Review, and only by the District Eagle Board of Review members.
Orange County Council
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5. Advancement Committee
11 Steps (Continued)
4. Your application is taken to Council for verification
OCC informs the District’s Eagle Scout Committee that application is ready
Board of Review is authorized
5. District actions at same time as OCC
Maintain critical path information
Verify Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook
Collect confidential appraisals
Orange County Council
Advancement Committee

6. Advancement Committee
11 Steps (Continued)
6. District Eagle Scout Committee receives the verified application from OCC and prepares the Eagle Scout Board of Review Packet
7. Board of Review arranged by District Eagle Scout Chairman (3 to 6 members)
8. The Eagle Scout Board of Review is held
Unit Leader introduces candidate to the members but is not a board member
Requires unanimous decision
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Advancement Committee

7. Advancement Committee
11 Steps (Continued)
9. Board of Review signs off if the candidate is passed. Application and advancement report is taken to Council for processing
10. Council Scout Executive signs application
11. Application sent to National which verifies and authorizes award (Done electronically within 2 weeks, in some cases; target 6 weeks)
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8. Requirement #1 – Be Active
Be active in your troop, team, ship or crew for a period of at least six (6) months after you earned the rank of Life Scout
Any six (6) month period, not necessarily consecutive
3 sequential tests to determine if requirements has been met:
Scout is registered
Scout is in good standing (not dismissed for disciplinary reasons)
Scout meets the unit’s reasonable expectations; or if not, a lesser level of activity is explained (other positive endeavors)
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9. Requirement #2 – Scout Spirit
Demonstrate that you live by the principles of the Scout Oath and Law in your daily life.
This requirement is NOT for how you act in your Unit, but how you live your life!
See Guide to Advancement section
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10. Live by Oath & Law Continued……
This is NOT Troop Spirit
This is not counting the number of meetings
This is NOT wearing the uniform
This IS about “everyday life”
Do you abide by the principles of the Oath and Law in your everyday life?
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11. Requirement #3 – Earn 21 Merit Badges
Earn a total of 21 Merit Badges (4 required, 6 total for STAR: 7 required, 11 total
for Life Scout) including the following:
First Aid
Citizenship in the Community
Citizenship in the Nation
Citizenship in the World
Communications
Personal Fitness
Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving **
8. Environmental Science OR Sustainability**
9. Personal Management
10. Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling **
11. Camping
Family Life
Cooking
(** You must choose only one of these merit badges. If you have earned more than one of the badges listed, choose one and list the remaining badges to make your total of 21)
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12. Merit Badges and Scouts with Disabilities
There are special exceptions for Scouts with disabilities
Contact the District Advancement Chairman for guidance
See Guide to Advancement section or visit the OCC Advancement site:
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13. Advancement Committee
REQUIREMENT #4 –
Position of
Responsibility
While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of six (6) months in one or more qualified positions of responsibility. List only those positions served after your Life Board of Review date.
Note: The Eagle rank does not accept a Unit Leader created position of leadership (i.e.: Den Chief Trainer, Physicians Aid, Record Keeper, Etc.) only those clearly indicated in the handbook and on the Eagle Scout Application are acceptable. (See next page for acceptable positions) Guide to Advancement section
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14. Eagle Scout Rank Eligible Positions
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
Varsity Scout team. Captain, co-captain, program manager, squad
leader, team secretary, Order of the Arrow team representative,
librarian, historian, quartermaster, chaplain aide, instructor, den
chief, Webmaster, Leave No Trace trainer
Venturing crew/ship. President, vice president, secretary, treasurer,
den chief, quartermaster, historian, den chief, guide, boatswain, boatswain’s
mate, yeoman, purser, storekeeper, Webmaster, or No Trace
trainer
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15. Serve Actively in your Position of Responsibility
You do not have to hold one position for six (6) months.
You do not have to hold the position for six (6) consecutive months.
You may meet this requirement any time while a Life Scout.
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16. Performance in the Position of Responsibility
A Scout may not be held to an extraordinary standard of performance.
The standard of performance used to measure this requirement shall be the same as that applied to other Star, Life or Eagle Scout candidates.
If no unit expectations are given to Scout, and he makes a reasonable effort to perform for the specified time, the Scout fulfills this requirement.
Unit leaders may not expect any Scout to meet an undefined or unknown standard of performance.
See Guide to Advancement section
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17. Requirement #5 – Eagle Scout Leadership Project
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
Guide to Advancement section
More to follow later..
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18. Requirement #6 – Unit Leader Conference
Take part in a Unit Leader conference with your Unit Leader.
A Unit Leader conference is a positive experience, the objective of which is to help a Scout evaluate his accomplishments and set new goals. Even goals beyond the rank of Eagle Scout and/or the age of 18.
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19. Requirement #7 – Successfully complete an Eagle Scout Board of Review
Prepare and attach to your Eagle 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
This requirement can be completed after the 18th birthday
Successfully complete an Eagle Scout Board of Review
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20. Advancement Committee
Board of Review
3 to 6 members over 21 years of age (1 District and/or Council Member must participate)
Unanimous decision must be reached
If the candidate is not approved then an appeal process is available
Candidates may not repeat a board of review, an adverse decision can only be overturned by appeal
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21. Eagle Board of Review Under Disputed Circumstances
To be held when the Unit Leader, the Unit Committee Chair, or the Beneficiary withhold their signature from either the Eagle Application of the Eagle Scout Service Project Report or if a Unit Leader Conference is denied
3 to 6 members over 21 years of age
(volunteers from the Eagle Candidate’s Unit may not participate)
Held at the District Level
Unanimous decision must be reached
If the candidate is not approved then an appeal to the Council Advancement Committee is available
Candidates may not repeat a Board of Review, an adverse decision can only be overturned by appeal
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22. Complete the Eagle Scout Rank Application
Fill it out completely
List references as requested
Be sure all dates are correct
Include unit numbers for merit badges
List only 21 merit badges
Complete and sign the back side
Have Unit Leader & Committee Chair sign
Attach to your Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project workbook
Always make sure you are using the current version of the application!
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23. Confidential Appraisals
You need to print six copies of the confidential appraisal. You need to get at least six confidential appraisals (one from your parents, an Educator, two from Friends, your Employer, and one from a Religious Leader).
If no Employer, you may provide only five confidential appraisals. The confidential appraisals must be from the references listed on the Eagle application.
Letters are mailed to the District contact (see District process for more info.)
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24. What if no Religious reference?
On your Eagle Scout application, you must list your parents on the line for Religious reference since it was your parents responsibility to expose you to religion.
It is also recommended that you write a “Statement of Religious Belief”. This is a letter explaining how you practice a belief in a Supreme Being. Submit this along with the Eagle Scout Application.
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25. Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project
Orange County Council
Boy Scouts of America
While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, school, or your community.
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26. Advancement Committee
1. The Project
Must be a project that conforms to the wishes and regulations of those for whom the project is undertaken.
Must be where the Eagle Scout demonstrates leadership skills learned in Scouting.
The Scout must plan the work, organize the personnel needed, and direct the project to completion.
Routine labor, a job normally rendered should not be considered.
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27. The Project (continued)
There is NO minimum or maximum number of volunteers or hours of work needed to carry out your Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project.
Approvals by the recipient, your Unit Leader, Unit Committee and District Representative MUST be obtained IN WRTITING before you begin.
The Project may not involve Council or BSA properties, may not be performed for a business, may not be of a commercial nature, may not be routine labor or maintenance and may not be for the benefit of an individual.
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28. You must do your own project
A candidate may not use his participation in the project of another Eagle candidate to satisfy the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project requirement
You may not copy or otherwise share your responsibilities for planning, developing or providing leadership to others
It’s all about showing LEADERSHIP
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29. Advancement Committee
2. Have Measurable Goals
The amount of time spent must be sufficient for the Scout to demonstrate his leadership skills
Although the project idea must be approved before work is begun, the Board of Review must determine the manner in which the project was carried out . The following must be answered:
In what ways did you demonstrate leadership of others?
Give examples of how you directed the project rather than doing the work yourself.
In what way did the religious institution, school, or community group benefit from the project?
Did the project follow the plan?
If changes to the plan were made, explain why the changes were necessary.
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30. Advancement Committee
3. Plan, Develop, Carry Out
You are expected to”…plan, develop and give leadership to others…”
Determine what kinds and quantities of materials and/or supplies are needed
Their costs and how they will be acquired
Keep accurate inventory records and a log of work activities
Manage the resources and purposefully direct the project to its completion
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31. A few words about “Fund Raising”
Fund raising is permitted only for the purpose of acquiring the materials and supplies needed to carry out your project.
Fundraising is not a requirement. Fundraising must not be a part of the objectives of the project itself.
Fund raising must conform to the Guide to Safe Scouting (Tour Permits, parental consent, supervision and most important is safety).
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32. Advancement Committee
What if things go wrong?
Even the best planned activities sometimes need change. You will not necessarily be penalized if you had to vary from your plan. On the other hand, if your project did not substantially follow your plan then have you truly demonstrated the leadership skills expected of an Eagle Scout?
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33. 4. Opportunity to Show Leadership
The Board of Review will expect your Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project to be helpful and of significance to the beneficiary for whom it is undertaken
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34. Advancement Committee
Who can help?
Other Scouts, family, friends and classmates, church members, other youth groups, etc., of any age or type may volunteer; they do not have to be Scouts
You should recruit, train, organize and schedule the personnel needed
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35. What about adult supervision?
All Eagle Scout service projects are official Scouting activities and thus are subject to BSA policies and procedures. Projects are part of a Unit’s program.
Proper planning, however, includes preparing for appropriate adult participation and safety concerns. See the Guide to Safe Scouting.
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36. 5. A qualified beneficiary
Service to others is an important philosophy to the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project. Therefore, your Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project must be done outside of Scouting.
Projects can not be done for your Council, Unit or for the District.
You can do a project for your Unit Sponsor if it meets other requirements.
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37. 5. A qualified beneficiary (continued)
A community organization is defined as just about any group that can supply someone to serve as the beneficiary.
Organization can be a not-for-profit charitable 501c(3), but is not required.
Can not be for BSA (e.g. Lost Valley, Oso Lake, etc.)
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38. What your Beneficiary wants
Your Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project must conform to the wishes of those for whom it is undertaken.
The proposal for your Eagle Scout Service Project must be approved by and a signature obtained from proper official of the beneficiary, before it is submitted to your Unit Leader, Unit Committee or the District Advancement Committee.
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39. Advancement Committee
Eagle Coach
It is strongly recommended that you obtain the services of a Eagle Coach to work with you in developing your Eagle Scout Project Final Plan.
The coach can only recommend; not require. You make the final decisions.
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40. Use the Project Workbook…..
You should use the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook in meeting this requirement
Eagle Scout Leadership Service
Project Workbook No
(Note: Always check to see if you have the current version) or
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41. Advancement Committee
Workbook Sections
Contact Information
Name, Unit, District
Project Proposal
Describe project broadly
Identify the Beneficiary
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42. Workbook Sections, continued
Project Final Plan
Create a detailed plan
Material, time, labor
Leadership
Fundraising Application
Approved by District, same person who approves Project
Not necessary if contributions are from the candidate, his parents or relatives, his unit or charter organization, parents of members of his unit, or the beneficiary.
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43. Workbook Sections, continued
Project Report
Describe results
Show logs of your efforts
What happened
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44. Workbook Signature Page
Proposal Approvals
Unit Leader
Beneficiary
Unit Committee Chair
District Eagle Coach
After the project is completed
Candidate Promise: Scout signs and date
Completion Approvals:
Beneficiary sign and date
Unit Leader sign and date
Return to your District Eagle Coach to make sure your workbook is complete
YPT Reminder! Make sure you bring an adult with you to meetings with the Eagle Coach.
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45. Advancement Committee
Can I get an Extension?
You may file a petition in writing for special permission to continue to work toward the award after reaching age 18 – But…
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46. Advancement Committee
Extensions…..
You may file a petition in writing for special permission to continue to work toward the award after reaching age 18 – But…
The petition must show good and sufficient evidence and detail extenuating circumstances
Extenuating circumstances are defined as conditions or situations that are totally beyond the control of the Scout
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47. Advancement Committee
Tough Situations
Some service projects can be worthwhile and beneficial but still not qualify. Replacing a fence for an elderly person at their home is worthy but not acceptable as an Eagle Scout Service Project because it benefits an individual rather than the community.
Some may be tough calls. A blood drive usually lacks the leadership needed for the Eagle Scout project, but it is still possible to qualify under some circumstances.
Orange County Council
Advancement Committee

48. Advancement Committee
Eagle Myths
Some examples of Eagle Myths:
The Scout can not receive help from his parent
The project must involve wood construction
Can not involve any volunteers from outside the unit
Must include multi-media presentations
The project must be completed within 30 days
The project must be completed as the last requirement
The project write-up must be done in such a way that any other Scout could complete it
The Scout must be 16 years of age before beginning work
The project must have a minimum of 200 hours
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49. Q & A and OCC Advancement Website
At this time we would like to answer any unanswered questions.
Visit (youth-advancement), see what all is there for your assistance in the Life to Eagle process.
Thank you for your attention and participation
Orange County Council
Advancement Committee