Selecting Your Eagle Leadership Service Project

Eagle Scout Leadership Service Projects shall be meaningful service not normally expected of a Scout as part of his school, religious, or community activities.

While a Life Scout, a Scout must plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project to any religious institution, school, or community.

As a demonstration of leadership, the Scout must plan the work, organize the personnel needed, and direct the project to its completion.

The Eagle Leadership Service Project is an individual matter; therefore, two Eagle candidates may not receive credit for the same project.

Any service project involving council property or other BSA activity is not acceptable for an Eagle Leadership Service Project.  The service project also may not be performed for a business, be of a commercial nature, or be a fund-raiser.

Routine labor, or a job or service normally rendered should not be considered.  An Eagle Leadership Service Project should be of significant magnitude to be special and should represent the candidate’s best possible effort.

The Scout must submit his proposed project idea and secure the prior approval of his unit leader, unit committee, and district or council advancement committee*, or their designee, to make sure that it meets the standards for Eagle Scout leadership service projects before the project is started.  This preapproval of the concept of your project does not mean that the board of review will accept the way the project was carried out.

Upon completion of the project, a detailed report** must be submitted with the Scout’s Eagle Rank Application and must include the following information:

·         What was the project?

·         How did it benefit others?

·         Who from the group benefiting from the project gave guidance?

·         Who helped carry out the project?

·         What materials were used and how were they acquired?

Although the project idea must be approved before work is begun, the board or review must determine if the project was successfully carried out.  Questions that must be answered are:

·         Did the candidate demonstrate leadership of others?

·         Did he indeed direct the project rather than do all of the work himself?

·         Was the project of real value to the religious institution, school, or community group?

·         Who from the group benefiting from the project may be contacted to verify the value of the project?

·         Did the project follow the plan, or were modifications needed to bring it to its completion?

All the work on the project must be done while the candidate is a Life Scout and before the candidate’s 18th birthday.

The variety of projects performed throughout the nation by Scouts earning their Eagle Scout Award is staggering.  Only those living in an area can determine the greatest value and need for that area.  Determine, therefore, whether the project is big enough, appropriate, and worth doing.  For ideas and opportunities, the Scout can consult people such as school administrators, religious leaders, local government department directors, or a United Way agency’s personnel.

Check the Marin Council’s Website http://www.boyscouts-marin.org/programs/svcproj.htm for a listing of possible leadership service projects in Marin Schools.  School administrators, religious and community leaders, members of the Council Advancement Committee may have some possible leads for you as well.

*&**  You must use the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, No. 18-927A, in meeting this requirement!

1999 Boy Scout REQUIREMENTS, No. 33215B, ISBN 0-8395-3215-6,

©1999 Boy Scouts of America, Revised 1999, pp. 17-18.

Copies of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook may now be downloaded in two formats.

http://www.bsa.scouting.org/boyscouts/eagleproject/dload.html

PDF [222K]  This version can be printed, then completed by hand using a ball point pen. 

This PDF form is identical to the contents of the Printed Version.

RTF [11K]  This version may be completed on your computer.  (Virtually all word processing applications are    

                      capable of opening a Rich Text Format document.)

Either of these versions is acceptable.  Either may be used in place of the Printed version.

The Marin Council Advancement Committee is composed of the following:

If I should be unavailable when you need to contact me, do not hesitate to call any of them for information or to submit your application materials.

Your Eagle Rank Application and all its supporting documents must be Certified by Marin Council before we can convene your Eagle Board of Review.  The National Eagle Scout Board of Review must receive your completed Application within 90 days of your 18^th birthday.  Otherwise a letter explaining why an extension of time was needed will be required.  Since we’ll need at least a week’s time between holding your Board of Review, having it signed by the Council Executive, and your Application’s being delivered to National, it is imperative that you submit all your paperwork promptly.

COMPLETING YOUR EAGLE SCOUT RANK APPLICATION

Congratulations for having attained your Life Rank in the Boy Scouts of America!  You may feel that you have only a few merit badges and your Eagle Service Project yet to complete before achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.  However, some very important paperwork remains to be done. You can complete all this paperwork successfully if you will treat the completion of all your Eagle Scout Rank requirements and Application very seriously.  You will find that it is an excellent exercise in completing any future applications. 

Practice by using a pencil on a Xeroxed copy of the official Application.  Take your time.  Remember that many other individuals must read and approve what you write on your application. 

Therefore, Be NEAT and COMPLETE!   Use a clean-writing black or blue ballpoint pen.  If you can type, practice on a Xerox copy and note the indents, tabs, and spacings necessary for “filling-in” the blanks and boxes.  Despite what you may have heard, the computer-friendly CD-ROM is not yet available from BSA. 

Read each portion and understand what you’ve read before attempting to “fill-in” any information.  Be sure to read all the contents of the blue-shaded box directly beneath the title EAGLE SCOUT RANK APPLICATION.  These are instructions for completing  “date boxes”.   You’ll need to place one number or a zero in each box.  Do not leave any empty  “date boxes”. 

Print very neatly or type one capital letter in each box for your full legal name.  Leave an empty box between your First Name and Middle Name (or Middle Initial) and an empty box between it and your Surname.  Both your Eagle Certificate and Card will bear your name exactly as you indicate in these boxes.   Use a separate box for an apostrophe, as in O’Donnell.   If necessary, attach a special note explaining that your name should have some other special mark, symbol, or punctuation.

Complete your Social Security Number.

If you never registered as a Varsity Scout, Explorer Scout, or Venturer, leave those dates blank.  Ask your Unit Leader or Advancement Chairman for any other dates or assistance you need. 

Mark the boxes, □ , below as your record of completion of each Requirement.

□  Requirement  #1:   Be active in your troop…for a period of at least six months after achieving Life.

Insert the date of Life Scout board of review.  Your troop’s Advancement Reports and your own advancement record—if it has been maintained accurately—should provide this date.

□  Requirement  #2: References  (See Note: below.)      

The application form specifies (1) “Parents/guardians”, (2) “Religious”, (3) “Educational”, and (4) Employer, if any. It provides two spaces for “Other”. If you do not have an employer, line-out  “Employer” and use that space for a third “Other”. YOU MUST HAVE ALL SIX REFERENCES!  Ask each individual if he/she would be willing to write a letter on your behalf.  If they agree to do so, tell them that Mr. Carlson will contact them soon.

Except for your parent/guardian—all of these should be individuals who are well acquainted with you Out-Side-Of-Scouting.  None should be your relatives.  None are to be Assistant Scoutmasters, Troop Committee Members, etc.  (Both your Scoutmaster and Troop Committee Chairman, who sign your application, know you through Scouting and already represent your Troop.) 

List (See p. 6.) complete names, correctly spelled and with proper titles (Mr., Miss, Mrs., Ms., Dr., Fr., the appropriate designation of military rank, etc.) of your references.  Provide complete addresses including any apartment or suite numbers, the correct ZIP Codes.  Provide the proper Area Code for each telephone number outside our 415 area.

┠ Use the last page of these instructions to E-mail or deliver your references to me so I can prepare my letters requesting       

evaluations of  how well you have been living the Scouting Spirit, etc.  I need to receive these reference letters about the same time you submit your completed Application to me.  I allow each person 14 days to respond with their letters.

┠ Requirement  #3: Listing your 21 Merit Badges:

Before listing your TWENTY-ONE Merit Badges (no more than those necessary to fill the 21 spaces provided) read the footnote* at the bottom of the Application regarding #6 and #9.  Line out, using a straight edge to make one neat line through the names of the badges, which you will not use as Required for Eagle. You may list any you lined-out in the spaces following #12 as optional merit badges.

The “DATE EARNED” is the date on which your merit badge counselor “signed-off” your BLUE CARD. Give the number of your Troop or Unit with which you were registered at the time you earned each merit badge.  Eg.  Insert 369 if you were registered with Troop 369.  This assists the Service Center Staff in confirming the date you earned each merit badge if you were registered with different troops.

Submit your BLUE CARDS (Applicant’s) in three polyethylene/vinyl  “Card Collector’s” 9-pocket inserts for 3-ring binders. Arrange them in the order illustrated (p.5)with the signature sides showing.  If any of these 21 BLUE CARDS are missing, substitute an index card (cut to 2.5” x 3.5”) with the date and name of the merit badge.

ILLUSTRATION:  Arrangement of Blue Cards in Collectors Organizer.

□  Requirement  #4: Leadership position(s) must be from those actually listed on the Application. 

Do not be creative!  Talk this over with your Unit Leader.  The tenure of office must total a period of six months after the date of your Life board of review.  Be sure to “fill-in” the date boxes.

□  Requirement  #5:   Completion date of your Eagle Scout Service Project.

Insert the date on which your Eagle Project was “signed-off” in your Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook.  Submit your completed Workbook with your Application.

□  Requirement  #6:

(1)     Write your statement of your own ambitions and life purpose (on one page).

(2)     List recognitions, honors, awards and leadership positions you have earned or held out-side-of-Scouting  (on a second page).  Eg. Those you experienced through schools, churches, other organizations, community, etc.

(3)     Discuss these at your Scoutmaster Conference.  Your Scoutmaster may suggest some additions or changes. Attach your Req. #6 documents to your Application with a paper clip. 

□  Have your Scoutmaster Conference. Your Scoutmaster should check your Application for accuracy and read your 

    Requirement #6 documents.  He may suggest some changes.  Insert the date of your Scoutmaster Conference.

□  Sign and insert the date of your Certification by Applicant.

□  Ask your Scoutmaster (Unit Leader) to sign and date your Application (to show his/her approval)*.

□  Ask your Troop’s Committee Chairman to sign and date your Application (to show your unit’s approval)*.

□  Submit the following completed documents to me:

·         Eagle Scout Rank Application, No. 58-728 (1999)

·         Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, No. 18-927A (1999)

·         Both of your Requirement #6 documents (One page each)

·         Your 21 Applications for Merit Badges, Your  “Blue Cards”, No. 4124

·         If maintained by your unit advancement committee, TWO signed copies of a printout of your Scout Advancement Record.

Plan to stay 15-20 minutes while he reviews them with you.  He will deliver these documents along with the letters of recommendation he has received to the Marin Council Service Center for Council Certification.  He will contact you regarding any dates or other information which are still missing or which need correcting.  (This usually requires less than five working days.)

After your application has received Council Certification, I shall be responsible for your documents until your Eagle Board of Review is completed.  He will also notify your Scoutmaster or your Troop Committee Chairman promptly and arrange for your Eagle Board of Review.

Your Eagle Board of Review will convene within 2 to 3 weeks.  You will be asked to appear in complete uniform.  You will be introduced to the members of the Board by your Scoutmaster or by an Assistant Scoutmaster.  One member of the Board will represent your Troop.  No parent or immediate family member may attend your Eagle Board of Review.  The Board must unanimously approve your application.

If the Board approves your application, Ishall submit it promptly for the Council Executive’s signature and file an Advancement Report with the Council.  Approval by the National Eagle Scout Board of Review usually takes another six weeks.  (You may, if you prefer, pay an extra fee for faster delivery services.)

I, Lester S. Carlson, am a member of the Marin Council Advancement and Recognition Committee.  I chair the Northern Marin (Novato) District Advancement Committee.   I serve as your Eagle Advisor.  Address:  355 San Luis Way, Novato, CA  94945.  Telephone:  897-9069. E-mail:  foureser @ aol.com.   If you are unable to contact me, phone “Bill” Peterson (San Rafael) at 454-7972 or “Jim” Gorder (Larkspur) at 924-6486, Anthony Mei (Novato) at 883-4463, or Edward Keller, Chairman, Marin Council Advancement Committee at 892-0282.

 Before you come to my home to deliver materials or to confer with me regarding your application, please call ahead to be sure that I will be available.  You will need to bring along a parent or a “buddy”. You may find the directions below useful.

Coming from U.S. 101 or Redwood Blvd. and San Marin Drive…Travel west along San Marin Drive and turn south onto San Carlos Way.  Immediately after San Carlos turns west, turn right onto San Luis Way.  Find 355 San Luis Way on your right (north) between Estrella Way and Ramero Court.

Coming from San Marin High School…Take San Carlos Way east and cross San Andreas Drive.  Pass three Courts on your left.  Just beyond the rise of the roadway, turn left (north) onto San Luis Way and find 355 San Luis Way on your left between Ramero Court and Estrella Way.

Yours in Scouting,

Lester  S. Carlson,

References  for ____________________________________________________Troop____________

Address:____________________________________________________Telephone_______________

Parent/Guardian

Name                    ___________________________________________________________________

Street Address      ___________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip     ___________________________________________________________________

Telephone            ___________________________________________________________________

Religious Leader

Name                    ___________________________________________________________________           

Street Address      ___________________________________________________________________ 

City, State, Zip     ___________________________________________________________________  

Telephone            ___________________________________________________________________      

Educator

Name                    ___________________________________________________________________

Street Address      ___________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip     ___________________________________________________________________

Telephone            ___________________________________________________________________

Employer (or Other)

Name                    ___________________________________________________________________

Street Address      ___________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip     ___________________________________________________________________

 Telephone            ___________________________________________________________________

Other

Name                    ___________________________________________________________________

Street Address      ___________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip     ___________________________________________________________________

 Telephone            ___________________________________________________________________

Other

Name                    ___________________________________________________________________

Street Address      ___________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip     ___________________________________________________________________

Telephone            ___________________________________________________________________

Although not required, you may add one or two volunteer Scout Leaders who are not registered with your troop / unit.  (Eg. Your OA Lodge Advisor, JLT/Brownsea Course Director, Jamboree Troop Scoutmaster, or a former Scoutmaster)

You may email this information to me at foureser@aol.com.  Questions?  Call 897-9069