Life to Eagle

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Life to Eagle
Hightower Trail District, Atlanta Area Council,
Boy Scouts of America Paul Porwoll (2005)
Hightower Trail District, Atlanta Area Council,
Boy Scouts of America Jeff Glaze and Paul
Porwoll (08/2004)
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Purpose of this training

• Educate Life Scouts, their troop leaders, and
  parents in the Life to Eagle process.
• Focus on the Eagle service project, which is
  often the most difficult part of the process.
• Use the councils Life to Eagle Guidebook
  (revised June 2005) as the basis for this
  training.
• Pause business as usual and rededicate
  ourselves to excellence.
• Review the results of an analysis of the
  districts Eagle packets from January to
  September 2005 to see how were doing against
  the council guidelines.
• Communicate the districts increased expectations
  that the councils published guidelines must be
  followed.
• Discuss possible outcomes if these guidelines are
  not followed.

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How special is being an Eagle Scout?
50,377 in 2004 (the most ever)
5 5100 of all Boy Scouts 1 1100 of all
Scouts .3 1300 of all males 11-17
Source Scouting Magazine, September 2005,
www.census.gov.
Hightower Trail District, Atlanta Area Council,
Boy Scouts of America Jeff Glaze and Paul
Porwoll (08/2004)
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We have high expectations in Hightower Trail.

• There is a reason why so few young men earn the
  Eagle award.
• It is difficult and demanding. It asks them to
  do things that may seem beyond their years.
• Its up to all of us to ensure that we keep this
  award special and distinguished.
• Scouts Do your best.
• Adults Help Scouts do their best.
• District Help Adults and Scouts do their best.

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The trail to Eagle can be the best of times or
the worst of times.
Best of times pursuit of Eagle, doing your
best, knowing the expectations.
Make it the best!
Worst of times procrastinating, just trying
to get it done, not knowing the expectations.
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Top 10 HelpsLife to Eagle
Hightower Trail District, Atlanta Area Council,
Boy Scouts of America Jeff Glaze and Paul
Porwoll (08/2004)
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1. Read the 12 Steps from Life to Eagle

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Complete 1-page overview of the process.
Located on the last page of the printed Eagle
Service Project Workbook.

• 1 Eagle requirements
• 2 Eagle service project
• 3-4 Completing the Eagle Application
• 5 Council review of the Eagle Application
• 6 Project Workbook must be submitted with the
  Application
• 7 Return of packet from the council to the
  unit
• 8-9 Eagle Scout board of review
• 10 Eagle Application returned to the council
  after the board of review
• 11 Council handling of Eagle Application and
  materials
• 12 National review, awards, court of honor

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Remember especially

• Leadership
• Must demonstrate leadership in your troop or
  patrol and in your Eagle project.
• The test are you a recognized as a leader in
  your troop?
• Merit badges
• Dont put off those with the 3-month requirements
  to the end.
• Letters of recommendation
• Give writers plenty of time.
• Writers send letters to the troop committee
  chair.
• Troop keeps letters unopened until the board of
  review.
• District keeps, then destroys, letters after
  Eagle is awarded.
• Scoutmasters certification
• Your Scoutmaster makes the final determination
  whether youre ready for Eagle. Make sure his
  decision is easy!

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2. Do Your Best

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Doing your best will produce outstanding results
as you manage through the Life to Eagle process.

• You know if your work is your best or just an
  attempt to get by and move on.
• The district will see your work at only two
  points
• Review of the Eagle project synopsis
• At your Eagle board of review
• Everything else is between you and your troop.
• Set high standards.
• Demand excellence.
• Every Eagle Scout should add luster to this
  award.

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3. Know and Use Your Resources

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What are your resources?
People
Written

• You
• Scout leaders
• Other adults
• Family
• Friends
• Neighbors
• District advancement committee
• Anyone who can help you

• Know the resources available to you.
• Not enough to just know about them. You must use
  them.
• You do not have to re-invent the wheel. Just use
  whats there.

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Written resources

• Boy Scout Requirements
• Eagle Scout Rank Application
• Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook
• www.hightowertrailbsa.com/Advancement.html
• www.atlantabsa.org
• www.eaglescout.org
• Atlanta Area Council Life to Eagle Guidebook For
  Scouts, Adult Leaders, and Parents (Revised June
  2005)
• Best single reference

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Are the guidelines in the Guidebook suggestions
or mandatory?

• Official recommendation on how something should
  be done or what sort of action should be taken in
  a particular circumstance.
• Rule or regulation that provides guidance to
  appropriate behavior.
• Statement or indication of policy or procedure
  by which to determine a course of action.

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4. Nature of the Project

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The project whats acceptable?

• Should be
• Service project helpful to your religious
  institution, school or your community.
• Should benefit an organization other than the
  BSA.
• Does not have to be original.
• Cannot be
• Routine labor a job or service normally
  rendered
• Work involving council or other BSA property
• Work performed for a business or an individual
• Of a commercial nature
• Fund-raiser

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How big a project is required?

• There are no specific requirements
• Should be as much as is necessary for you to
  demonstrate your leadership of others.

• OK so what do I aim for?
• How many hours is considered suitable for an
  Eagle project?

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5. Scope of the Project

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Estimating time

• Most projects consist of multiple workdays.
• Projects that are completed in just a few hours
  are generally not adequate to demonstrate the
  degree of leadership expected of an Eagle Scout.
• Put information into a chart or table
• How many workdays youll need
• How much time will be spent on each workday
• When the workdays will take place
• Allow time for district review and other
  potential delays
• Time Scout Youth Adult Hours

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Actual Total Project HoursHightower Trail
District, Jan-Sep 2005(Based on 34 projects
analyzed)
This is where you put the Scout Promise to Do My
Best into action.
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Where do these hours come from?

• Count ANY activity spent on the project from the
  day you start.
• Discussing with the benefiting organization, your
  Scoutmaster, parents, other leaders, etc.
• Walking the site to understand the nature of the
  project.
• Taking before and after photos.
• Going to Home Depot to price materials.
• Writing and re-writing your report.
• Getting workers to help you.
• Leading the work.
• Writing the final report.

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It is essential that you track EVERY hour spent
by EVERY person coming into contact with the
project from Day 1.
Hightower Trail District, Atlanta Area Council,
Boy Scouts of America Jeff Glaze and Paul
Porwoll (08/2004)
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Sample log of your hours (Excel spreadsheet)
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What happens if the project changes?
If you need to change the nature of the project
(e.g., what you are doing, who you are doing it
for) you must submit your new project proposal to
the district advancement committee for approval.
Completing a project that differs substantially
from what you proposed puts you at risk of not
passing your board of review.

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6. Who Does What? Role of the Candidate,
Youth, Adults, Family, and District

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Role of the candidate (Life Scout)
Plan, develop, and lead the entire project.

• Take the initiative and communicating effectively
  with the benefiting organization.
• Plan thoroughly.
• Develop a plan to organize and instruct the
  Scouts to complete the work of the project.
• Lead the work yourself.
• Assign tasks to Scouts and other peers.
• Inspect the work to assure it was done properly.
• Deal with change and other unexpected obstacles.
• Develop a financial plan and securing funding for
  the project, rather than asking your family to
  pay for it.

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Role of youth (Scout and other peers)
Most of your helpers will be Scouts
and other young people.

• Make sure that Scouts, rather than adults, do
  all the work they are permitted to do, but make
  sure that you have taken steps to assure safety,
  and that they have adequate instruction and
  supervision.
• Contrary to popular belief, older Scouts can use
  power tools, except chain saws and log splitters.
  (See Guide to Safe Scouting.)

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Role of adults

• Adults are required to be present, but their
  work should be minimal.

• Adults should not be a major part of your work
  force. Their role is to advise, when needed, and
  there are some things that Scouts are not
  permitted to do (such as the use of chain saws
  see Guide to Safe Scouting).
• If much of the work is done by adults, you are
  not fulfilling your leadership role.
• Adults should help review your synopsis and final
  report and be a resource for you on anything
  related to the Life to Eagle process.

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Role of family
Family members are permitted to help, but their
involvement should be relatively small, in
relation to that of other peers.

• A project done primarily by your family does not
  qualify as an Eagle project.
• Hours spent by adults and family members are
  generally not considered leadership hours for
  you. (If you have a sibling who is a member of
  your unit, they may be considered to be youth
  acting under your leadership when they are part
  of a team of workers other than your family.)
• Having your family provide funding is
  discouraged. Organizing the funding is one
  important aspect of leadership.

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Actual Total Project HoursHightower Trail
District, Jan-Sep 2005(Based on 34 projects
analyzed)
How are we doing in Hightower Trail?
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Actual Percent of Family Project Hours(Youth and
Adults with the Same Last Names)Hightower Trail
District, Jan-Sep 2005(Based on 29 projects
analyzed)
How are we doing in Hightower Trail?
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Role of the district advancement committee

• Reviews and approves Eagle Scout project
  synopses.
• You may not begin your project until it is
  signed by a member of your district
  advancement committee.
• Receives a copy of the Eagle packets for Scouts
  in the district after theyve been approved by
  the council.
• Schedules and manages Eagle boards of review.
• 2nd Sunday of each month, Briarcliff UMC.
• Helps Scouts and leaders understand national,
  council, and district policies and
  procedures in the Life to Eagle process.
• Is a ready resource for questions that arise.
  Use us!

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7. Costs and Funding

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Costs

• You should list all materials, supplies, and
  tools in a chart or table, including where you
  are going to obtain them, and how much each will
  cost. Your list should be complete, including
  everything that will be needed to complete the
  project.
• In Carrying Out the Project, compare estimated
  costs versus actual costs. Explain any
  variances.

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Sample estimate of your costs
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Funding

• Most projects require funding. Describe how you
  will obtain the funds for the project.
• Often, the benefiting organization will provide
  all or some of the funds.
• You can seek donations from individuals or
  organizations that are interested in your
  project.
• Having your family provide funding is
  discouraged. Organizing the funding is one
  important aspect of leadership.

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8. Writing the Report

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Few Scouts look forward to writing the report,
but following the guidelines will make it much
easier.
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Project Workbook

• You MUST use the official workbook (pub. 18-927,
  2003 printing) or its electronic equivalent.
• Workbook is divided into 2 sections
• Project Plan which must be approved by the
  district advancement committee before you begin
  work.
• Carrying Out Your Project reporting on your
  completed project.
• Completing your Eagle project and especially
  writing your report may be the most difficult
  task you have ever done.
• Be thorough and detailed.
• Do not be satisfied with being average or
  mediocre.
• Do your best.

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Required sections of the project plan (synopsis)

• Project Description
• Project Details
• Present Condition
• Before Photos
• Method
• Plans and/or Drawings
• Instructions
• Organization and Leadership
• Funding
• Materials, Tools, and Supplies
• Project Helpers (including estimate of hours)
• Time Schedule (when, where, what, how many)
• Safety Hazards
• Estimated Hours (Scout, youth, adult, and total)
• Signatures

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Carrying Out Your Project

• Actual Hours (Scout, youth, adults, family, and
  total).
• Difference between actual and estimated costs and
  number of hours (and why).
• List of every person who worked on the project
  and the number of hours they worked.
• Any changes from the original plan.
• After photographs
• Signatures

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How complete does the report have to be?

• Keep in mind that your project plan is the only
  information that the district advancement
  committee has about your project.
• Therefore, your plan must be as complete as
  possible, so that district advancement committee
  members will be able to understand exactly what
  you plan to do, and how you plan to do it.
  Approval of your project plan is entirely up to
  your district advancement committee.

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How do you ultimately judge the quality of your
report?
The best way to determine whether you have
included enough information in your proposal is
the following your proposal should be
complete enough that another Scout would be able
to do your project from beginning to end, exactly
how you would do it, without you being present.
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Hints for developing your synopsis

• Make it easy for the district advancement
  committee to approve your project.
• Provide all the information they need.
• The more detail the better as long as its
  relevant.
• Complete enough so that someone could complete
  the project using only your synopsis and without
  you being there to explain anything.
• Use checklists to ensure your report is complete.
• Councils Life to Eagle Guidebook
• Districts Evaluation Form (available on the
  district website)
• Write clearly and format your project neatly, so
  its easy to read.
• Your work should reflect the excellence demanded
  of an Eagle Scout.
• Number the pages.
• Hold the pages together with a binder clip or
  paper clip.
• Do NOT put the workbook into any kind of binder.
• Do NOT staple the pages.

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Tips for adult leaders who sign Eagle project
reports

• Hold the Eagle candidate to a high standard.
• Your signature means you have reviewed the
  project and that it conforms to council and
  district guidelines.
• Encourage the Scout to do his best.
• Make sure the synopsis is complete, and it
  contains all the information just discussed.
• Do NOT accept sloppy work, including poor
  penmanship, grammar, and spelling.
• If you find any problem, do NOT sign the report
  until its corrected.
• Dont put the district advancement committee in
  the position of disapproving a project proposal
  that you should not have passed along in the
  first place.
• Sign in blue ink to make it easier to distinguish
  the original from copies.

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Submitting your synopsis for district approval

• First, be sure the report is ready to submit.
• Then, make a copy of your entire synopsis.
• Send the original to
• Mr. Bob Melton
• 1861 Stapleton Court
• Dunwoody, GA 30338
• Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for Mr.
  Melton to return the synopsis. Address it to an
  adult leader and not the Scout. The district has
  no budget for postage.
• Review can take from a day to a week, depending
  on Mr. Meltons schedule.
• If time is critical, call to discuss before
  sending it (770-394-4731).
• Once you have Mr. Meltons signature indicating
  his approval, you may begin to carry out the
  project.

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9. Final Project Approval

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Who has final approval for Eagle projects?

• The last three people who sign the report after
  the project is finished (applicant, Scoutmaster,
  and member of benefiting organization)?
• The Scoutmaster who approves it at my Scoutmaster
  conference for Eagle?
• The council, when it reviews and approves my
  Eagle packet before sending back to the district?

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AnswerNone of the Above
Hightower Trail District, Atlanta Area Council,
Boy Scouts of America Jeff Glaze and Paul
Porwoll (08/2004)
51

• The board of review is when your completed
  project gets its final approval.

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10. That 18th Birthday

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Why is it important to become an Eagle Scout well
before age 18?

• To impress his friends?
• To put Eagle Scout on his college application?
• To get his Scoutmaster and parents off his back?
• To be a role model within his troop after hes
  become an Eagle?
• To correct any problems that may arise during the
  council certification or board of review?

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Rank requirements whats due when?

• Must be completed BEFORE the 18th birthday
• ALL 6 requirements listed on the Eagle Rank
  Application
• This includes ALL work on the service project.
• ALL information on the Eagle Rank Application, up
  to and including the Certification by the
  Applicant and Unit Approval.

• May happen AFTER the 18th birthday
• Receipt of letters of recommendation, which are
  required for the Eagle board of review
• Delivery of the Eagle packet to the Volunteer
  Service Center
• Council certification of the Eagle Scout Rank
  Application
• Eagle board of review (must take place within 90
  days after the 18th birthday)

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• If it happens that any problems with your
  requirements are discovered during council
  certification and the board of review, you may
  still have time to correct the
  problems if you havent yet turned 18.
• If you have turned 18 and there are problems, you
  are out of time.

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Number of Eagle Scouts Who Were 18 or Older at
the Time of Their Eagle Scout
Board of ReviewHightower Trail District,
Jan-Sep 2005(Based on 34 projects analyzed)
How are we doing in Hightower Trail?
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Actual example whats the right thing to do?
Eagle candidates age 18
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If a Scout does not successfully complete his
board of review, he, his leaders, or his parents
can appeal the decision to the council
advancement committee.For details, seeBSA
Advancement Committee Guide
Policies and Procedures 2004 Printingpp. 32-33
Appealing a decision
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Do not put the district in the position of
denying the Eagle award in a board of review when
deficiencies in the Eagle packet should have been
addressed within the unit well before that time.
Hightower Trail District, Atlanta Area Council,
Boy Scouts of America Jeff Glaze and Paul
Porwoll (08/2004)
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Make the Life to Eagle process a great experience
by

• Knowing your resources.
• Using your resources.
• Doing your best.

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If in Doubt, Ask the District Advancement
CommitteeWe Are Here to Help.
Hightower Trail District, Atlanta Area Council,
Boy Scouts of America Jeff Glaze and Paul
Porwoll (08/2004)