|
|
|
Updated
Roughrider District Life to Eagle Guide
ROUGHRIDER DISTRICT LIFE TO EAGLE GUIDE NORTHERN LIGHTS COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
A special thanks to: Darryl Wehner for his years of dedication to the Roughrider District; The Sand Lake District, Central Florida Council; and The Northern Lights Council for their contributions to this guide
Table of Contents Section Page # Forward 4 The Project Review process 7 The Project Workbook 11 Avoid Common Proposal Pitfalls 12 Committee Approval 13 How to Submit Your Proposal 14 Starting the Project 14 Eagle Scout Rank Application 16 Eagle Scout Board of Review 18 12 Steps from Life to Eagle 20 Appendix Resources Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Ideas Troop Checklist to Prepare for Eagle Scout Project Approval
Dear Eagle Scout candidate,
Congratulations, you have made it to the rank of Life Scout! You are now ready to begin working on the requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout. Your climb to the summit of being an Eagle Scout includes an opportunity to demonstrate the leadership skills you have learned along the way to the summit. Your Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project will demonstrate your creative talents and ability to organize and lead others in the completion of a task that will make you and your sponsors proud. The purpose of this Guide is to help you develop your idea and put in on paper in a way that it will easily pass the Roughrider District Advancement Committee. This Guide is not meant to amend or in anyway change the requirements for the Eagle Rank. It is meant as a guide to assist you in finding and submitting a suitable Eagle Project. When in doubt about a requirement, please refer to the 12 Steps from Life to Eagle found in the back of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, hereafter called the Eagle Project Workbook Finding an idea for your Project can be as simple as asking your Troop leaders, or asking leaders of your school, church, park board, or any worthwhile charitable organization. You can also search the Internet under "Eagle Scout Projects". While adults may help you with the concept, it is vital that YOU plan the Project, map out the details and supervise its completion from start to finish. Taking ownership of every detail of your Project will make you proud to be an Eagle Scout because you did your very best. The simplest rule of thumb should be this: if you can say "yes" to wanting to show the Project 25 years from now to your children, then it is probably an Eagle Scout Project. Your Project needs to be worthy of the title. The concept may be simple or require many steps to complete, but when you have finished the Project, it will be an accomplishment to be proud of. The Project should have a lasting value to the organization you are helping. In the years to come, you will want people to appreciate what you and your fellow Scouts have done. Included in this package are many checklists to assist you in completing the Eagle Scout Workbook. These checklists are not meant to add any requirements to the workbook. It is simply meant to help you in developing your Project and making the best presentation of your concept to the Roughrider Advancement Committee. If you have any questions, please feel free to E-mail or call the Advancement Committee Chair. As you begin your Project, you may feel overwhelmed by all the necessary details. THIS IS NORMAL! Pick a Project within your abilities, but don’t be afraid to "stretch" yourself. After all, you are an Eagle Scout candidate. While adults can offer suggestions and assist you with some of the tasks that only adults can do (i.e. Using power tools, obtaining building permits, etc.), remember this is your Project! You are the planner, project manager and supervisor of adults and other people that will help. They are your workforce. YOU ARE THE BOSS! It is your Project. When you have completed your Project, you will be satisfied that you did your best. You will also have learned a great deal about yourself and your leadership ability. You can stand proudly in front of your Eagle Scout Board of Review and later receive your Eagle Award at your Court of Honor. You will know that you have worked hard and earned it.
Yours in Scouting, Advancement and Recognition Committee Roughrider District Northern Lights Council Boy Scouts of America
THE EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT REVIEW PROCESS IS CONDUCTED TO: The following list provides tips for Project application approval. This list provides suggestions to the Scout for completing Project details. The tips are suggestions rather than requirements. Some of the "tips" may be applicable to your Project. The Committee focuses on Project service, planning, permissions, finances, leadership, safety and commitment as detailed below.
TIPS FOR PROJECT APPROVAL 1. Application A handwritten Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook is acceptable, but use of the computer forms is highly encouraged. One available site for forms on the Internet is www.scouting.org/boyscouts/eagleproject/packet.rtf. 2. Service 3. Permission Review the complete application with the benefiting organization and obtain appropriate signatures. 4. Finances Include reasonable itemized estimates of expenditures in the plan. Provide details of the methods of proposed fund raising. Make sure the funding methods are practicable. Make sure you identify potential donors. 5. Time Schedule Set a date or dates for working on the Project. Provide alternate dates in case of inclement weather, missing materials, etc. Write a schedule of events for the planned work dates. 6. Leadership The plans must include the Scout’s leadership of others. You should make provisions for any required adult supervision. 7. Safety Identify all dangers to workers (i.e., chemicals, power tools, edged tools, pressure-treated splinters, dehydration, etc.) and safety measures to be implemented (i.e. adult supervision, Totn’chit, gloves, first aid kit, water supply, emergency numbers, cell phones, rest rooms/wash facilities). Identify any potential dangers to the users. 8. Commitment 9. Project Designation The Project should be designated as an Eagle Scout Project. In your project plan you will need to tell the Advancement Committee how you will show the Project is an Eagle Scout Project. This can be done with a sign or a plaque, etc. It is recommended the sign include the name of the scout and the year the project was completed. It should also include those individuals and businesses that contributed financially to the project. Remember, the Project must not be started until the Project has been approved. Likewise, the project and all paperwork must be completed prior to your 18th birthday. 10. The Proposal Remember, you are writing your proposal as though the person reading it has no working knowledge of any kind. So write the plan in a step-by-step narrative form. By doing this, a person could take your plans and complete the Project. If your Project is, for example, painting or building, go on the Internet and see if there is a do-it-yourself Project available. Use these directions as a guide for writing your Project. So, you can see the need and importance for a Project Proposal to be:
THE EAGLE SCOUT LEADERSHIP SCOUT PROJECT WORKBOOK Many Troops require the Eagle Candidate to use the Project Workbook. This is fine and absolutely acceptable. Recognizing that many Scouts now have access to a computer and the Internet, the Roughrider Advancement and Recognition Committee will accept and encourage the use of the many downloadable facsimiles of the Project Workbook. For the most current version of the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook go to the following website: www.scouting.org/boyscouts/eagleproject/packet.pdf and download the forms. If you want to use a format that you can fill in, the web site is www.scouting.org/boyscouts/eagleproject/packet.rtf. If you use you computer format, you may attach pages. The attached pages should repeat the information in the Workbook and copy the format and font of the text. This will make it easier for the reader to follow the write-up. Your computer-generated copy should look like the workbook. If you are attaching additional pages to your project, please do it neatly. One staple or paper clip in the upper left corner is enough. You should assume that your write up will be disassembled, so it is very important that all pages be labeled as to what part of the book the pages are from. The best way to do this is to identify the sections of the Workbook to which the attached pages belong. For example, put "Carry Out the Project" at the top of the appropriate pages. Page numbers will also be very helpful to the organization of the pages. Should you decide to not use the computerized forms, you can type it or hand print or write the project in the workbook. There will be few grammar and spelling errors. It is suggested that someone with knowledge of sentence structure and spelling, i.e. English Teacher, proofread the write-up before submitting it. Whatever form you use, you need to stay with that form. For example, if you want to have your signatures in the Workbook, then you need to present your project write-up with the Workbook and attached pages. If you wish to have your signatures on the computer forms, then the Workbook is not needed and the write-up is presented on the computer forms only. If the Project is submitted in a form that is not easily read or that contains gross spelling or grammatical errors, you will be asked to redo the Project write up. Project approval of the proposed Project, or Board of Review approval of the final write-up, will not be given until the form of the Project is acceptable.
AVOID COMMON PROPOSAL PITFALLS Signatures The Eagle Scout Workbook requires several signatures. These are very important. They are so important, that if they are submitted improperly it could stop your Project in its tracks. The proper procedure is to discussing the Project with your Scoutmaster, then the representative of the organization that will benefit from your Project. Then obtain the Troop Committee Advancement Chair signature and the signature of the District Advancement Chair. If you do not have all approvals before you begin your Project, you will be required to do another Project - after all approval signatures are obtained for the new Project. Funding Funding is a common proposal pitfall. The funding effort for your Eagle Project is a mini project in itself and needs to be planned. The funding plan may include asking for sponsors, donations or conducting a fundraiser. You cannot fund your Project with your own or your parent’s funds. The funding effort must be consistent with the amount of funds required. Donations work best if the individuals or businesses are asked to donate a specific amount of money. Many smaller donations are usually easier to obtain than one big one. Identify the potential donors in your proposal. Consider a back-up approach to funding your proposal.
THE COMMITTEE APPROVAL A letter will be issued from the Advancement Committee after the Project has been reviewed. The letter will specify one of three decisions regarding your project: Once your Project is approved, the Chair of the Advancement Committee will sign off on the Workbook and then you can begin work on the Project. It is important you understand that just because you have submitted a Project proposal, it does not mean you can begin work on the Project. The Project must be approved before work can begin. Otherwise, you may be doing work that will not count toward your Project requirements. Do not make promises to the recipient of your Project until the Committee has approved the Project. Once again, this is your Project. You are doing it for the benefit of someone or group, but they must understand that the Project has to meet approvals and possibly have questions answered before work begins. Make certain they understand this so that hurt feelings and misunderstandings do not occur.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL Please check the Roughrider website for the name, address, phone and e-mail address of the current Roughrider District Advancement Chair. Feel free to contact that person if you have questions. REMEMBER- the Advancement Committee meets only once a month at the monthly roundtables. The roundtables meet the last Tuesday of the month. You must have your Project in the hands of the Advancement Committee Chair by no later than the Tuesday before the Boy Scout Roundtable. This will allow the Chairperson time to make copies and distribute the project write-up to the other committee members before the monthly meeting. If your Project comes in after that Tuesday, it will not be acted upon until the following month. Plan enough time if you mail the project plan. There will be no waivers or exceptions, so do not ask for them. If you want to have your Project returned by mail, please send a prepaid self-addressed return envelope with your Proposal. You are also welcome to pick up Projects at the Committee Chair’s home by appointment. Once a Project has been submitted, you can expect a phone call to discuss any additional information needed or to notify you of the decision regarding approval of your Project. A letter outlining questions or approval status will follow shortly thereafter. You Scoutmaster will receive a copy of the same letter that will be sent to you. This courtesy copy is to keep your Scoutmaster informed of your progress.
STARTING THE PROJECT With the approval of your Project, you can now start and complete your Project. From the moment you decide to start on the Project, you should keep a notebook and record the progress of the Project along with dates, times worked, the people that worked on the Project, materials, cost, etc. Take lots and lots of pictures. If you can’t take the pictures, designate someone to do this; you will not regret it. Once the actual Project is complete, the final process is to put what happened down in writing. Under the section of the Workbook labeled "CARRYING OUT THE PROJECT" is a section to record what happened. This is the most important part of the Workbook. It should be completed either as a first-person narrative of the project or as a diary. The more detail you include the better. Additional pages will probably be required. If written properly, the narrative should answer the following questions for the reader: Answering these questions is required, and they are listed in your workbook. Your Eagle Scout Board of Review will determine if you have satisfactory answered these questions in your write-up. If changes in your Project are so substantial as to make it a different Project, you should receive prior approval from your Troop and District Advancement Committee. At least a letter explaining the changes and the reason for them would be prudent. Very significant changes may necessitate that a new Project be submitted for approval. Changes of this magnitude are very rare, but if you believe this is happening to you, ask your Troop and District Advancement Committee for guidance. In no case should you abandon or give up on the Project that you have started. If problems or significant changes do arise ask for help from your Troop or District Advancement Committee. An Eagle Scout Service Project’s primary goal is for the candidate to show leadership. A Project can fail, but if the candidate used it to show leadership, it may still be a valid Project.
Other items that should be included in your final write up are:
EAGLE SCOUT RANK APPLICATION To become an Eagle Scout, you must apply for it. To do this you must complete the Eagle Scout Rank Application. This must be completed and sent in prior to your 18th birthday. The most current application is dated April 1, 1999; no other dated application will be accepted.
Follow the directions to complete the different sections of the application. Requirement 2 is important, as these are the people that you will send appraisals to. So think very carefully on whom you select as your character references. The application can be completed and sent to the Council before you complete your Project. The troop advancement chair will mail the application to the Bismarck Council Office. The Bismarck Council Office will review the application and send it on to the Council Office in Fargo for the final review. It will take 10 to 14 days for the Council Advancement Clerk to complete the review of the application. Once the information has been reviewed, the application will be sent to your Scoutmaster or Troop Committee Chair. Requirement #6: This requirement on the application is a statement of your ambitions and life’s purpose. You will also list leadership positions held outside of Scouting and any honors and awards received. The statement should be about a page in length, but it can be longer. Additional pages can be attached. The statement must be readable. It must have the Scout’s name, address and Troop number at the top of the paper. The paper should also be titled "Requirement #6". The Scout may also include a Scouting autobiography, but it is not required. You may list all merit badges earned, ranks and dates, positions held in the troop with dates, summer camps attended, awards, honors, etc. These facts may be helpful for the members of the Board of Review When you have completed requirement #6, you should give it to the Troop Advancement Committee Chair. Appraisal Letters The appraisal letters will be sent to the people you have listed on the Award Application in requirement #2. Form letters are provided with this guide. You complete the top portion of the appraisal letters and then give them to your Advancement Committee Chair along with two envelopes for each letter. The first envelope should have the address of the person to whom the appraisal is being sent. The second envelope should be addressed to the Troop Advancement Chair. This envelope will need to have on it the name of the Scout and the word "Appraisal " written on it in the lower left hand corner. Both envelopes must have the proper postage on them. The Troop Advancement Committee Chair will then mail the appraisals to the appropriate people. When the appraisals are returned, they must not be opened until the Board of Review. When you have completed your write up, give your Workbook, including all supporting documentation, to your Troop Advancement Chair and request an Eagle Scout Board of Review. Remember the Board of Review cannot be scheduled until your Eagle Scout Rank Application is returned from the Fargo Council Office.
EAGLE SCOUT BOARD OF REVIEW The Troop Advancement Committee Chair along with the District Advancement Committee Chair schedule the Board of Review. Please give as much notice as possible. The Advancement Committee serves the entire District, and we want to avoid double-booking of Eagle Boards. The Board will be made up of the following people: The Troop Advancement Chair will provide the Board members with the following: The Board of Review members should arrive about one-half hour before the scheduled time so they can review the information.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE BOARD OF REVIEW At this review, your Scoutmaster should introduce you to the Board. The Scoutmaster may remain in the room, but he cannot say anything unless he is spoken to for some point of clarification. You are expected to be in a complete Boy Scout uniform. This uniform will consist of your shirt, merit badge sash, and troop neckwear. It is strongly encouraged to wear official BSA pants or shorts, though not mandatory. Your patches are to be current, in their proper location, and sewn on neatly. You should bring your Boy Scout Handbook with you. The Board of Review will ask you a series of questions concerning your project, your life as a Scout, any Scout history, and your life’s ambitions. This is not a testing period. The Board just wants to determine you are ready to take on the Eagle Scout rank. Be as comfortable as possible and answer questions to the best of your ability. The Broad of Review will last about an hour. After you have answered all the Board’s questions, they will ask you to step out of the room. They will then vote on your application. The vote must be unanimous. If the Board disapproves the application, you will be told why, and how you can correct the problem. You will be given a time frame in which to make the correction, and another Board of Review will be held. You also have the right to appeal the Board’s decision. Ask the District Advancement Committee Chair for the correct process.. When the Board approves your application, they will sign and date it and the Council Advancement Report form. Your Board of Review date will be the date you become an Eagle Scout. The application must still meet final approval by the National Office for the Eagle Rank to be official, however. This usually takes six to eight weeks. Your Scoutmaster will receive the notification and the Eagle certificate when the process is done.
DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS That’s all there is to it! Pretty simple huh? Well, no not really. But when you think about it, nothing really worth having is easy. Just remember, the light at the end of the tunnel is so well worth reaching, that you will want to meet the requirements and get the job done. Oh, and remember, when in doubt, ask questions. After all, everyone is pulling for you and wants to help, but you have to ask the questions. After all, you aren’t a Tenderfoot anymore!
12 Steps from Life to Eagle The below "12 steps" is a greatly shortened version of that which can be found in it’s entirety in the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook. Please read it for full clarification. Remember: Ask questions! If you do not understand, it is the only way to find the answers.
|
|
|
