A Scout's Guide to Earning Eagle
The journey from Life Scout to Eagle Scout
The Eagle Scout rank is a life-long achievement that's always
carried a special significance. College, business, the military, and
community service leaders all respect an Eagle Scout. This
performance-based achievement has high standards that not everyone will
earn. Only about 6
percent of all Scouts BSA members earn Eagle, making over 2 million Eagle
Scouts since 1912.
Earning Eagle Scout
Scouts will use their Scout Handbook and troop/crew leadership to complete the requirements for the Eagle Scout rank.
Because of the unique nature of this award, special procedures, forms,
and
resources are available to help the Scout, their families, and
Scout leaders on the trail to Eagle. The national Boy Scouts of America
website contains official policies and procedures for earning the Eagle
Scout rank.
- Venturing - The Eagle
Scout rank can be earned as a Venturer. The Scout must achieve the
First Class rank in a traditional troop to continue the rest of the
requirements in a Venturing crew. There are Venturing leadership
positions that can be used to earn the Eagle rank. The crew advisor should be knowledgeable about the Eagle Scout requirements.
Required forms for Eagle: Rank Application and Service Project Workbook
Attaining Eagle can be daunting but is also very rewarding! There are
plenty of materials to guide Scouts on their journey. These resources are available through the Boy
Scouts of America national website and here on our council's website.
- The Scout must complete the official Eagle Scout Rank
Application, No. 512-728. No other form or application method is
permitted.
- The Scout must complete the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, No. 512-927. No other form is permitted.
Eagle Scout Expos/Previews
Obtain information regarding the Eagle Scout rank process, learn how to
complete the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook and Rank Application, get project ideas and tips for
boards of review, courts of honor, and more.
- Who: All Star or Life Scouts AND their parents and leaders
- When: Usually held twice a year. Dates, locations, and times are
set by each District. Contact your District Executive for more
information
Eagle Scout Service Project
The Eagle Scout Service project is one of the most recognizable
parts of earning the Eagle Rank. 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. (The project must benefit an organization other than
the BSA.) A project proposal must be approved by the organization
benefiting from the effort, your unit leader, the unit committee, and
the district advancement team before you
start. You must use the Eagle Scout Service Project
Workbook No. 512-927, in meeting this requirement. All proposal
approval signatures and project fundraising form approvals are done by your local district advancement team.
Confidential Reference Letters
An Eagle candidate must list six references
on their Eagle Scout Rank Application. The only line you may leave
blank is employer (if any). As a courtesy to the board of review
members, confidential reference letters are requested by the unit
leader (or designee) on behalf of the Eagle candidate from these
references. The confidential letters are submitted with the Eagle Scout
paperwork to the council office. See Related Contents for a sample of
the letters.
Resources for the Life Scout
These documents will assist in preparing the Eagle
Scout Rank Application, filling out the Eagle Scout Service Project
Workbook, and submitting paperwork to the council
- Eagle Scout Rank Application Process Checksheet
- Eagle Scout Service Project Process and Tips
- Application Check Sheet with Top 12 Mistakes
- Eagle Scout Confidential Reference Letters
- Eagle Scout data card
- Guide to Advancement Chapter 9.0.1.0
What to complete before turning 18
Be Prepared! There are four requirements that must be completed before a Life Scout turns 18.
- Requirement #3: Earn a minimum of 21 merit badges, 13 which are specifically required.
- Requirement #4: Complete six months of leadership while a Life
Scout in an approved leadership position. See the Scouts BSA Handbook or Eagle Scout Rank Application for approved positions.
- Requirement #5: Eagle Scout Service Project. The physical project
must be completed. (Completing the Project Report and obtaining final
signatures can happen after turning 18.)
- Requirement #6: Unit leader conference.
Extension Requests to complete requirements after turning 18
We cannot grant or deny time extensions. These are
only offered through the National Advancement Team after consideration
of the Council Advancement Committee recommendations. See Guide to Advancement 11.2.0.0 "Request for Extension of Time to Earn Eagle Scout Rank."
- We always welcome back Scouts after inactivity. However,
time-oriented requirements must still be met. Scouts reactivating too
late to complete time-related requirements will not be granted
extensions.
- If a Scout foresees that, due to no fault or choice of their own,
they will be unable to complete the Eagle Scout rank requirements before
age 18, they may apply for a limited time extension. Remember, school, sports, or
work do not qualify as a
reason for extension.
- Submitting completed paperwork to the council office after turning 18 does not need an extension as long as all requirements were met prior to turning 18.
National Eagle Scout Association/NESA Memberships
Visit the NESA website for NESA Eagle Scout membership and scholarship opportunities.
Replacement Wallet Cards and Certificates
Was your Eagle wallet card/certificate lost, destroyed, stolen, or
eaten by the family dog? Have it replaced on the NESA website.
Eagle Scout Scholarship Opportunities
- NESA Hall/McElwain Merit Scholarship Application and other NESA
Scholarship Information and Applications are available on the NESA website.
- Northern
Star Council Eagle Scout Scholarships are offered for high
school seniors each Fall. Check the council website for an application in October.