1. Trail to Eagle Prepared by Tahquitz District Advancement Committee California Inland Empire Council

2. Tahquitz District Advancement Committee Chairman: Ken Radosevich (951)302-6070 ken767@aol.com ken767@aol.com Eagle Projects: Greg Gray (951) 756-1328 tahquitz3@verizon.net Eric Monson (951)302-7121 Ericmonson@verizon.net Eagle Review Boards: Tammy Wagonis Board Location SetupBeverly Gruedner Board ChairmenCraig Jaeger Craig Shelley Tom Axline Merit Badges: Ray Fassbender (951)302-8100 nanfass@aol.com

3. Earning Eagle Scout Your Eagle is Earned You must meet the same standards as all other Eagles who have come before you You must allow time to complete it Anything less cheapens every other Eagle badge ever earned since 1910

4. Earning Eagle Scout Should be a combined effort by the Scout, the Parents and the Troop

5. Begin Working Toward Eagle as Soon as You become a Scout Should be viewed as an ongoing process that really begins in earnest after First Class Most happens after you make Life Scout Life Scout to Eagle becomes the biggest hurdle More Responsibility on Scout Bad timing as Scout enters High School

6. Complete Final Steps to Eagle as Soon as You Earn Life Scout You can become an Eagle within 6 months of earning Life Scout You must perform in a listed leadership position for 6 months You can do your Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project anytime after Life Scout

7. Eagle Scout Mentors Developing a Troop level Mentor program can really help keep Scouts on track Help Scouts set goals and target dates then follow up with them Provides someone other than the parent who Scout may listen to Scouting sees the value of the Mentor by putting an award pin in the Eagle presentation kit See Sample goal sheet

8. Eagle Scout Progress Sheet

9. Requirements for Earning Eagle Scout Rank 1. Be active in your troop and patrol for at least six months as a Life Scout. 2. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life. 3. While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of six months in one or more of positions of responsibility. 4. 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. 5. Take part in a Scoutmaster conference. 6. Successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review. Requirements #1 through 5 must be completed before the Scout’s 18th birthday.

10. Requirements for Earning Eagle Scout Rank Requirements #1 through 5 must be completed before the Scout’s 18th birthday. Eagle Scout District Board of Review must be completed within 90 days after age 18 Any exceptions to the age requirement must be approved at the National Headquarters Exceptions based on Physical Disability or Physical problems must be verified and serious

11. Requirements for Earning Eagle Scout Rank Remember that all but the Project Approval and Board of Review are certified by the Troop

12. #3 Earn a total of 21 merit badges (1) Twelve required merit badges (Silver Borders) First Aid  Communications Citizenship in Community  Citizenship in Nation Family Life  Citizenship in World Personal Fitness  Environmental Science Personal Management  Camping Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving Swimming or Hiking or Cycling Some required merit badges take time to complete and cannot be delayed until just before a Scout’s 18 th birthday Merit badges earned beyond the 21 required can be applied to Eagle Palms. (1) Italicized merit badges typically require a few months or more to complete.

13. #1 Be active in your troop for at least 6 months as a Life Scout Troop must establish a definition of what “active” means Definition of “active” for leadership positions has higher requirements Active should mean more than merely showing up, and must include Scout Spirit…

14. #4 While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of 6 months in a Position of Responsibility Eligible leadership positions include: patrol leader, SPL, ASPL, troop guide, den chief, junior assistant Scoutmaster and other positions as approved by the Scoutmaster. Note that Asst. Patrol Leader and Bugler are not on the list Troop should establish requirements for leadership positions Definition of what “active” means Your Leadership position and how the Scout worked at it may be a topic at the Eagle Board of Review

15. The Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project

16. The Eagle Scout Service Project Eric Monson (951)302-7121 Ericmonson@verizon.net Greg Gray (951) 756-1328 tahquitz3@verizon.net

17. Eagle Project: Pick a project Before we go any farther: If you have less than a month until you turn 18 and you are looking for a project, you are too late

18. Eagle Project : Understand the purposes Leadership: Service: Skills development: Initiative:

19. Eagle Project: Pick a project Troop mentoring and parent support at this stage are crucial What makes for a good Eagle project: Should be a project that you are enthusiastic about Must benefit a non-profit group other than Scouting Leaves something with lasting value behind which you can be proud of Doesn’t have to bea physical item Requires planning and leadership of others to complete Project scope: This is the critical aspect that will define a approved project and one that isn’t Guidelines are about 125 to 250 man hours, including planning Large enough to demonstrate leadership of others

20. An Eagle Project CANNOT: Be a job normally done as routine labor; Be performed for a business or individual; Be of a commercial nature; Be a fund-raiser; Be shared by another Eagle Candidate; Be of benefit to any BSA element.

21. Eagle Project: Pick a project Places to look for a project City recreation departments Schools Religious organizations Non-profit organizations Look to things that interest you

22. Start by talking with Your favorite teachers Volunteer coordinators at non-profits Your minister or church youth program leader Any non-profit organizations that you or your parents are involved with Other Scouts who have completed their projects www search using “Eagle Project” will lead to many other ideas Check in the Tahquitz District Project Binder to see what other Scouts have accomplished Eagle Project: Pick a project

23. Eagle Project: Select a time Decide when you want to get the project completed.  Set a deadline for completing the project and stick with it.  Your enemy is procrastination.

24. Eagle Project: Get organized Eagle Service Project Worksheet are now available only online. Make sure the form is the latest version. Download a “soft copy” of the Worksheet from: http://www.scouting.org/filestor e/pdf/512-927.pdf

25. Eagle Project: Plan the project Once you have the “OK” from an Eagle Mentor, prepare an initial write-up using a soft copy of the Workbook.

26. Eagle Project: Plan the project Take “before” photos of your planned project, including narrative Include a sketch or drawing of your project What will it look like Include measurements Conceptual and technical

27. Eagle Project: Plan the project Once you know what to do then develop how to do it What help will you need? Scouts Parents Friends Charter Organization Benefiting Organization

28. Eagle Project: Plan the project A How much will the project cost? How will it be paid for? What will materials and tools cost for the project: have an itemized list with unit costs (see format on next slide) If the sponsoring agency will not pay for all materials, how will you raise the money? (Parents cannot be the principal source)

29. Eagle Project: Get your plan approved Review your initial write-up; this may take 2 to 3 meetings Get signatures on two Workbook copies: official BSA form and word processing copy Your project must be formally signed off by each of the following in this order:  Executive at non-profit sponsoring your service project  Scoutmaster  Troop committee Chairman for the Committee  District Project Chairman  Be prepared: it often takes a few meetings and 4 to 8 weeks before you have all the approvals to begin. You cannot start performing the project until you have all these approvals completed

30. Eagle Project: Get your plan approved Troop Involvement in Approval Process is critical Don’t rubber stamp every project Don’t set up Scouts for failure at the District level Scoutmaster Take a hard look at the project based on the criteria outlined above before sending it on to the Committee Committee Insure the project is a worthy project before you sign and send the Scout to the District for approval

31. Eagle Project: Carrying out the project Keep detailed, daily record of project and progress Keep detailed records to answer the following in your final write-up: 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. Include Donation Letter and Thank You letter

32. Eagle Project: Completing the project Write- up with the same thoroughness as an important term paper Put in a binder that is labeled and well organized. Organization counts. Include official BSA “hard-copy” of Workbook with original signatures Use “soft copy” of Workbook for practice write-up. Maintain two complete, signed off copies of your Eagle Project book. District will keep one for Project Binder

33. Eagle Project: Completing the project Be sure to answer the following in your final write-up: 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.

34. Eagle Project: Obtain signoffs Project sponsor at non-profit agency: obtain signatures on two hard copy Workbooks Your leadership service project will ultimately be reviewed at your Eagle Board of Review by the Tahquitz District.

35. The Eagle Scout Scoutmaster Conference and District Board of Review Tammy Wagonis Eagle Board of Review Coordinator

36. Take part in a Scoutmaster conference: paperwork to check in advance Obtain Eagle Scout Rank Application and complete the form accurately: Individual History report from Troopmaster database Suggest a check against printout of your advancement history from the council records (the Council can print this out for you.) All dates for advancement, merit badges etc. on Eagle application must tie to the council records. If the council records are incorrect, work with the troop advancement chair to get them corrected. Blue Cards are your proof of completion so don’t lose them If you moved from another Council you will need your records from there too Note that you are required to supply references who know you personally and can attest that you live by oath and law. Application must include a brief summary about Scout’s ambitions and life’s goals

37. Use the Current Application Available Online: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-728_web.pdf

38. Use the Current Application Current Application has block for Project Description and hours

39. Take part in a Scoutmaster conference: Procedure Scoutmaster conference will be conducted by Troop May want to include more than one Scoutmaster Goals of the conference: Confirm that all requirements for Eagle rank have been completed other than Scoutmaster conference and board of review Review of Scout’s experience in Scouting and knowledge gained Assessment of preparedness for Eagle rank Have Application, Project Workbook and Scout Handbook and review them for accuracy and completeness Expect to take time for conference. Scout may be asked to come back for follow up meeting. Scouts should prepare as they would for an important final examination and appear in full class A uniform.

40. Complete an Eagle Board of Review Suggest a Troop Board of Review before scheduling a District Board A prepared Scout has a better chance of success at District A prepared Scout reflects credit on his troop

41. Complete an Eagle Board of Review Last evaluation of Scout’s worthiness for Eagle Rank

42. Complete an Eagle Board of Review Submit your application to the council Advancement dates will be checked and references may be contacted prior to scheduling the board of review. The Council Advancement Clerk conducts reviews on Monday and Tuesday Suggest you personally take it to Council in case there are problems The Council Advancement Clerk will sign for the Council then you may schedule a Board of Review

43. Complete an Eagle Board of Review Eagle boards of review are conducted at the district level. Boards are scheduled twice monthly, usually during the First and Third weeks of each month

44. Complete an Eagle Board of Review You must contact the District Eagle Board of Review Coordinator to schedule your Board Do not contact Mrs. Wagonis until you have your application signed at council You should notify your Scoutmaster once your Board of Review is scheduled so that one of them can introduce you to the Board of Review Parents should also plan to attend

45. Complete an Eagle Board of Review: Scheduling Contact Tammy Wagonis at least two weeks in advance All Eagle paperwork must be at Board of Review location at the time specified on your confirmation email Eagle Application Project Workbook (4 Copies) and one original If the paperwork is not there on time you will be rescheduled

46. Complete an Eagle Board of Review: Scheduling Do not wait until the last minute!!!! Council must have referred you to contact Tammy Wagonis You may not be able to get it done in time if you wait Scheduling is not instantaneous It can take up to 2 months if we are back logged! If it cannot be done it will be no one’s fault but yours

47. Complete an Eagle Board of Review: The Board Conducted by 3 to 4 people Advancement Committee member, Scouters, prominent members of the community Be on Time! Be in full Uniform! Reviews are wide ranging and typically encompass: Review of Scout Oath and Law, their meaning and application in the Scout’s life The history of scouting, the scout badge Proper display and handling of the American flag The Eagle Leadership Service Project with focus on leadership Attitudes about Scouting and life in general How Scouting has affected the Scout and his outlook on life Typical duration is about 30 minutes after which the board meets privately to decide whether the Scout meets the requirements for Eagle rank. Decisions must be unanimous.

48. The Final Steps Once the board of review is successfully completed, your paperwork will be submitted to the Council Office This will be your Application and Advancement Form presented to you at the end of the Board of Review Council will certify and forward to the BSA national office for final approval, which may take a few weeks. Process typically takes 2-4 weeks unless there is a problem May be expedited for a $40 fee and returned in around a week after National gets it – (credit card only, contact Council offidce The date of the Eagle Scout Award is the date of the Board of Review

49. Concluding comments The key elements in reaching Eagle rank are your initiative, active involvement and perseverance. The troop and your parents can help but ultimately the achievement and recognition are yours. Plan on reaching Eagle within two years of achieving Life Scout rank. Create a plan and: Remain active in troop and patrol activities Identify and complete an Eagle Leadership Service Project Identify and complete a leadership role that is interesting to you Complete your merit badges

50. A Final Reminder You now have a responsibility to give back to Scouting all that it has given you. This is not the end of the road but the beginning You must now be a mentor and example for all those Scouts looking up to you to reach where you have “Once an Eagle Scout, Always an Eagle Scout.”