Life to Eagle Conference March 2010

Presented by Michael Cox Sandia District Advancement Committee Chairman With Thanks to John Varney

Filling out the Eagle Application

Requirement #1 Be active in your Troop, Team, or Post for at least 6 months after you have earned the rank of Life Scout.

Requirement #1 (interpreted) Be active in your Troop, Team, or Crew for at least 6 months after you have earned the rank of Life Scout.

Requirement #2 Demonstrate that you live by the principles of the Scout Oath and Law in your daily life.

Requirement #2 (interpreted) Prove that you live by the principles of the Scout Oath and Law in your daily life by getting witnesses.

Recommendation Options At present, who and how someone is contact for a letter of reference is determined by your Troop. Letters – Most desirable – Delivered sealed to Eagle Board of Review Telephone interview Form letter or survey

Letters of Recommendation Parents or guardians Religious leader Teacher or other educator Employer (if any) Two other references

Selecting References Always ask first. Explain the purpose of the recommendation ( you might also have to explain the Scout Oath and Law). Explain how the recommendation will be given. Allow plenty of time. “Will your recommendation be positive?”

Requirement #3 Earn 21 merit badges (12 required and 9 optional)

Required Merit Badges Camping Citizenship in the Community Citizenship in the Nation Citizenship in the World Communications Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving

Required Merit Badges Environmental Science Family Life First Aid Personal Fitness Personal Management Swimming or Hiking or Cycling

Previous Required Merit Badges 1911 – Athletics, Personal Health, Public Health 1934 – Bird Study, Civics, Cooking, Pathfinding, Pioneering, Safety 1961 – Firemanship, Nature

Merit Badge Requirement Be able to document the merit badges that you list. Merit badges can be earned in any sequence and at any time. Merit badges do not need to precede project. 21 is the minimum number of merit badges. It’s OK to earn more.

Requirement #4 While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of 6 months or more in a designated position of responsibility.

Requirement #4 While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of 6 months or more in a designated position of responsibility.

Designated Positions PL, SPL, ASPL, Troop Guide, OA Rep., Den Chief, Scribe, Librarian, Quartermaster, JASM, Chaplain Aide, Instructor, Historian, Venture Patrol Leader Varsity team Captain, Co-captain, Program Manager, Squad Leader, Team Secretary

Designated Positions (continued) Venturing Crew/Ship positions: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer / Boatswain, Boatswain’s Mate, Yeoman, Purser, Storekeeper

Requirement #5 While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project...

The Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project

The Eagle Scout LEADERSHIP Service Project

Planning Document Use either the paper Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook (18-927) or better yet… The Eagle Scout Application can also be found here. Download the form from the BSA website

Planning Document (continued) The.rtf file can go straight into your word processor. Photos can be scanned into the planning document. Use of the electronic form permits electronic review and corrections. Keep signatures on a separate page.

Project Selection It must benefit a religious institution, school or the community (and be approved by the benefiting organization). It cannot benefit a business or your Troop. It must have “lasting value.”

Project Scope Total time is usually 100 or more man-hours. It requires the direction of others. It must be challenging. It must be within the skills of the Scout.

Project Proposal Proposal approval must precede starting the project. Proposal must be approved by: – Benefiting organization – Scoutmaster – Troop Committee – District representative Appearances count; use proper grammar and spelling.

District Approval ( What I will be looking for) Standard - Can I hand your proposal to another Life Scout and the project will still get done without you? Design or engineering approvals needed? How many people will participate? When do you propose to do the project?

District Approval (2) Complete, step-by-step details? Drawings, diagrams or photographs? Detailed list of tools and materials needed? Plan for acquiring tools and materials? Plan for transporting materials from the supplier to the worksite?

Why We Worry About Safety

Safety How can somebody get hurt during this project? How do you plan to prevent these injuries? How do you plan to deal with these injuries when they occur despite your plans to prevent them?

Creature Comforts How will you use your workers? – Consider work teams – Consider rotating tasks – Adults present at all worksites Rest periods, food, drink, and toilet? Transportation to and from worksite - BSA tour permit needed?

Alternative Plans What will you do if the weather doesn’t cooperate? What will you do if other major changes occur? What will you do if the proposal needs changes before it can be approved?

Your Role During the Project You must execute the plan. You are in charge - all questions come to you, all direction comes from you. All adults adults work for you - sometimes as consultants. You do what needs to be done in order to make the project a success.

After the Project Thank those who helped. Make sure that the project meets the expectations of the benefiting organization. Return, replace and restore. Write report.

Project Report It is a detailed description of what happened during the project. If something goes wrong, that’s OK - How did you deal with it? Include pictures of completed work and happy, smiling workers. List all workers and their time. It must be approved by Scoutmaster and benefiting organization.

Project Report Standard 1 -- Someone who wasn’t at the project site can read your report and explain exactly what happened. Standard years from now, your kids will find your report in the attic - They should be impressed.

Project Name and Grand Total Hours Enter project name or description Enter grand total hours ( from page 10 of the Eagle Leadership Project Workbook. Use new form A

Requirement #6 Write a statement of your ambitions and life purpose and a listing of positions held in your religious institution, school, etc. Participate in a Scout Master Conference

The Statement Listing of positions is easy; describing life purpose is hard. Describe your future life. Describe how you plan to get there. Share the statement with your Scoutmaster during the Scoutmaster conference.

After All 6 Requirements Are Met Certify the application by signing and dating it. Get Unit approval by having the Scout Master and Committee Chair sign the application

After All 6 Requirements Are Met (continued) Take the completed application and statement of ambitions and life purpose to the GSW Council Service Center for Certification. Wait for their review and certification before scheduling a Board of Review (allow 2 weeks).

The Board of Review A Troop responsibility Requires a Sandia District representative (allow 2 weeks for one to be assigned) Decision must be unanimously positive. You are now an Eagle Scout!

After the Board of Review Take everything (application, statement of ambitions and life purpose, project proposal and final project description) to the Council Service Center. Wait up to 6 weeks. Schedule a presentation only after your Scoutmaster receives your certificate.

Common Misconceptions I have to earn all of the required merit badges before considering a project. I can decide to become an Eagle Scout any time before my 18th birthday. Once I have completed all of the requirements, becoming an Eagle Scout is almost automatic.

QUESTIONS?

How to reach Mr. Varney Home phone Work Phone

Leadership Service project workbook electronic version. Can be found at /scouts.html