Table of Contents (click on items to jump to that
section)
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B. - Who Will Benefit
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Name the
group or organization that will benefit from your project and how your
project will benefit them. Remember,
the project cannot benefit the Boy Scouts (except in the most indirect way). Do not describe the project again, just
focus on the benefit of the project.
Some possible benefits to consider are: improves safety, enhances
appearance, helps needy people, provides essential services, provides
entertainment to a needy group, or improves functionality of a facility. These are just examples and are not all
possible benefits to your project
You should also work with an official of the institution in planning the project. See the section below for some hints on working with an agency.
Hint - Coordination with Benefiting Agency
Finances
are of particular interest. Be sure
both you and the agency understand all financial obligations, and preferably
have them stated in writing. Are they
going to "fund your project" (which you might assume means they
will pay for everything) or "pay up to $100 toward your
expenses"? No one should try to
cheat you, but a misunderstanding can create hard feelings or cost you more
than you had planned.
Another
area where you should ensure complete understanding is in the materials to be
provided. When an agency says they
will provide building materials, make sure you both understand exactly what
is to be provided (see the materials section below). Find out if the agency will deliver the
materials to your work site or if you must pick them up. If you are going to have to go get
materials, find out exactly where (i.e. address) and the name and phone
number of the person you need to talk to when you get there. Do you need to call ahead and setup an
appointment to pickup the materials? Dealing with government agencies can be
particularly frustrating if you do not ensure that all details are understood
by both parties. Making assumptions is
dangerous!
C. - Planning Details
This is
the heart of the project plan and the area that will require the most
work. The plan should include all
details needed to carryout the project. The plan will include the sections
discussed below, if appropriate. All
sections are not applicable to all projects, so may be omitted, if not needed. Since there is limited space in the
workbook, you may attach extra pages with the details. You may prefer to write or type the plan on
separate pages and then cut and paste them into the proper section of the
workbook after your advisor has helped you get it into the final form.
Present Condition
Describe
the current condition or situation that you are going to change. Do not repeat the benefit of the project or
how it will be in the future, but focus on creating a word picture of how
things are now. This is a good place
to include pictures (either photographs or drawings) of the project
area. Remember, the Council or
District Advancement Committee does not know what your church or school or
park looks like, so they cannot understand why your project is important
unless you show and tell them.
Local Government
Compliance Issues
There may be local laws or other
requirements / limitations that could impact your project. Check with a knowledgeable authority to see
if your project is in compliance with all community zoning laws. You may also be required to obtain a
Building Permit for some construction projects. These are rarely a problem for Eagle
Projects, but they are better resolved in advance than to be surprised on
your workday or after the project is completed. If you will need to dispose of a
significant amount of trash / garbage, investigate possible community dump
fees, or other waste disposal regulations / limitations. Pay particular attention to hazardous waste
regulations. Some permits may take
some time to acquire, so plan ahead.
Plans / Drawings / Designs
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If your project is to build something, you will need detail plans or drawings. These are like blue prints and should show all dimensions, paint schemes, floor plans, layouts, or other detail that can be drawn. Plans or drawings are usually done on graph paper that has guidelines, but blank paper is acceptable as long as you are neat. Photographs may also be of value here for some projects. If you have made a design (e.g. emblem, logo, etc.) include it in this section. All plans, drawings, or figures should be labeled with a Figure Number and a Title (e.g. "Figure 1, Playground looking east"). Refer to them in the appropriate sections of the text.
Scripts
/ Program Outlines
If you chose to put on an educational or entertaining program for an authorized group, you should include the program outline, to include the times each activity is allotted. If a script is required for your participants to play their individual parts, that should also be included here, as well. You may not have the final script worked out before submitting your plan for approval, but you need to have a detailed outline of the script to show what is being presented.
Written / Printed Information
If you are going to
use handouts, posters, letters, or other written materials as part of your
project, include a copy each in the plan.
These should be included as attachments to the workbook should have a
Figure Number and Title (e.g. "Figure 6, Sample handout to the
troop") and be referenced in the appropriate section of the text.
Materials
Materials
are those things that become part of the finished product. Examples are lumber, paint, nails, concrete,
etc. This is truly a shopping list, so
include material specifications (exact size, quality, brand, finish, etc.),
number/amount of each item, and cost.
Don't just say, "lumber", you need to describe exactly what
pieces of lumber. If items are to be
donated, state so. This section is
best presented in the form of a separate list or table attached to extra
pages in the workbook. Tables should
include a Table Number and Title (e.g. "Table 1, Materials &
Supplies") and be referred to in the appropriate section of the text.
The Materials table may look something like this:
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Table 2 - Materials |
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Item |
Description |
Quantity |
Unit Cost |
Total Cost |
Source |
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Plywood |
3/4", 4' x 8' B-C interior grade |
3 sheets |
$20.00 |
$60.00 |
Home Depot - donation |
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Paint |
Sherwin-Williams interior off-white (#1342), semi-gloss |
2 gal |
$15.00 |
$30.00 |
Sherwin-Williams - purchase |
|
etc. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
etc. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
Supplies
Supplies
are those expendable things which do not become parts of the finished
product, but that are used to complete it.
Examples of supplies are sandpaper, trash bags, posters, gasoline,
pens, markers, paper, paint rollers, drop cloths, etc. Provide a list of all supplies you will
need and where you will get them.
Since supplies cannot normally be reused, you need to either buy them
or have them donated. You cannot
'borrow' something that you cannot return.
You may choose to combine the materials and supplies into one list
(see above); but label it as such.
Tools
Tools
are those items used to aid in making the work easier, or even make it
possible to do at all. Tools are not
used up and should be saved and used again and again. Examples of tools are hammers, shovels,
tractors, or saws. Provide a list of
all tools required to work the project; don't take for granted that required
equipment will just appear when you need it.
Be very specific (e.g. number of hammers, type of shovels, type/size of paint brushes, etc.). Tell how those tools will be obtained. If you must purchase tools, include them in
the financial plan. You should be able
to borrow most tools from the people who are working on the project or from
someone else. Try not to spend much
money on tools since they are expensive but not part of the finished
product. If you must buy tools,
discuss what is going to be done with them after your project is complete. Are you going to keep them, give them to
the troop or other organization, or maybe to the organization who is funding
the project?
The
Tools table may look something like this:
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Table 3 - Tools |
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Tool |
Quantity |
Source |
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Claw hammers |
6 minimum |
Workers to bring |
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Air Compressor |
1 |
Mr. James’ company will loan |
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Garden rakes |
4 minimum |
2 from church, 2 from Mr. Hightower |
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Circular power saw (7 in) |
1 |
My dad |
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Extension cord, grounded / 3 prong, 50' minimum |
2 |
1 from Mr. Haygood, 1 from church |
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Camera, 35mm automatic (to document work) |
1 |
My mother |
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Cooler, 5 gallon (for drinks) |
1 |
Scout Troop |
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etc. |
. |
. |
|
etc. |
. |
. |
Schedule
A good schedule is a necessity for any successful plan. It shows when everything is done and in what order each step happens. You must make your best estimate of how long tasks will take and in what order they will be done. Your schedule may be in the form of a Gantt Chart (bar chart), a calendar with tasks entered on the appropriate days, or just a list of tasks and the date when they will be done. Include project planning and approval on your schedule. No project follows the planned schedule exactly, but is helps make things happen logically. When you complete your project and do the final write-up, you will discuss how well the project followed the planned schedule and why you think it deviated from it.
In
addition to the schedule, which shows the dates when you think tasks will be
worked, you will also need detailed instructions. These should read like a recipe in a
cookbook and tell the workers exactly what to do. Include a list of every task you can think
of, what order they will be done, and who will do them. Include the clean up
of the work site in your plan.
A sample detailed workday plan may look something like this:
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8:00 |
My dad and I arrive at work site and begin preparation. |
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8:15 |
Workers
and other leaders scheduled to arrive. |
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8:30 |
Brief 3 team leaders on their duties. |
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8:45 |
Get
all workers together and tell them what we are going to do. |
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9:00 |
Team 1
begins clearing ground. |
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10:00 |
Teams 1 & 2 begin constructing the thing-a-ma-gig according to plans. |
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etc., etc. |
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12:00 |
Lunch |
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12:45 |
Teams
1 & 2 construct the thing-a-ma-gig according to plans. |
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etc., etc. |
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3:00 |
Teams 1, 2, and 3 paint the thing-a-ma-gig with one coat (note: 2nd coat will be applied next week) |
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4:00 |
All workers begin cleanup and put trash bags in Mr. Haygood’s truck. |
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4:30 |
All
workers go home |
Financial Plan
Every
project will cost something and you need to discuss those costs in your
plan. Provide a list of all materials,
tools, supplies, etc. with a cost of each.
This information may be shown on your list of materials/supplies. If items are loaned or donated, state
so. Remember to include any fees (e.g.
building permit fees, city dump fees, etc.) in your cost estimate.
Once you have determined how much the project is going to cost, you must find the money to pay for it. You may consider several sources for funding, including the organization for which you are doing the project, donations from others, from your allowance, from your parents, or any other legitimate source. While your project MAY NOT BE A FUNDRAISER, you may conduct fundraising activities, if necessary, to finance the supplies and materials needed for your project. Obtaining the funds to do the project is your responsibility; don't assume that someone will cover cost until you have asked them.
Hint – Requesting Funding: You will have better success in getting funds or materials donated by an organization or business if you can show them exactly what you need. Take your list of Materials / Supplies, with associated costs, when you meet with an organization or business leader. They will be more likely to help if they feel that you know what you are doing and have a real plan.
After
the source of your funding is established, you should also consider how the
money is to be handled. As money is
brought in from fundraising activities, where will it be held for
safekeeping? Exactly how will supplies
and materials be paid for? It is
strongly suggested [by this author] that you do not put your parents or
yourself in the position of holding any substantial amount of money. Discuss this issue with the organization
that is providing financial support.
Consider letting the sponsoring organization's treasure manage the
funds. Your troop treasure may also be
willing to help. Whatever you decide,
ensure you have a complete paper trail for all financial transactions and
include a summary in your final report.
The
BSA Eagle project workbook states, “Any funds raised for a project and not
used for the purchase of project materials must be returned to the donors.”
This may be difficult to actually do in all cases, because you will most
likely have some money donated for which you cannot document the donor (e.g.
if you pass the hat at a group function).
However, you should keep good records of all money raised and who gave
it, to the best of your ability. You may
also avoid an issue if you let your donors know – at the time you are
soliciting money – how you will handle any surplus. You can include a statement in your letters
to potential donors and/or post a notice at your fundraising site. Include your plan for how you expect to
follow this BSA policy in the project proposal you submit to the district for
approval. This will permit them to
concur with your idea and will provide you an approved method of handling
unused funds which cannot practically be returned to the donor.
Warning – you cannot begin
any work on your project until you have your District Advancement Committee’s
approval (i.e. signature in the workbook).
This includes any fundraising efforts.
Although you may talk to people / organizations about possible
financial support during your planning phase, do not conduct any fundraising
events or send out any fundraising correspondence prior to district approval.
A
major part in any project, whether for Scouts, church, community, or a
business, is funding. If you cannot
come up with all the money you need, look at reducing the cost to get within
your budget. You may even find that
the project is too expensive and you will have to choose another one.
One
last financial point to consider – since your project must benefit a
not-for-profit organization, see if the organization
has an exemption from state sales taxes.
If so, find out how to take advantage of this savings before you go to
buy your materials. This may help you
stay within your budget. If they are
not tax exempt, then don't forget to include the sales tax (normally 6 to 8%)
in your budget plan.
Helpers / Workers
You
may recruit your workers from your Scout unit, your school, your friends, or
anywhere you can find willing volunteers who you feel will follow your
leadership. You are not required to
use Scouts to work your project. Your
workers may be youth or adults, but a word of caution – adults will be more
likely to 'take charge', thinking they are helping you. However, their leadership may actually
interfere with your chance to demonstrate leadership (which is the purpose of
the project). If you are going to use
adult workers, make sure they understand that you have to be the leader to
get credit for this Eagle requirement.
In this section, discuss who will be doing the work. You do not need to state names (which you most likely will not know yet), just the number of people, what organization they are part of, and what special skills will be required. For example, are you going to need a carpenter? Describe how you are going to organize the workers to get the work done efficiently. Will they be divided into teams and, if so, who will lead the teams? What tasks will each team be doing? How will you use adult leaders? Remember, you do not have to DO any of the physical work yourself; you are responsible for LEADING others in carrying out the project and ensuring that everything is done the way you want it (i.e. show leadership).
Hint – Recruiting Workers: Don't just make an announcement at a couple
of troop meetings and assume that everyone you need will
just show up. While you do not need a
list of workers by name when you turn in your initial project plan, you
should make a list of potential workers no later than a couple of weeks
before your workday. Remind any Scouts
on your crew that they will earn service hours toward their own advancement
by working on your project. You should
then contact each potential volunteer and get a commitment from them that
they will be there on the workday. If
they hedge by saying, "I'll try to be there," (which often implies
they do not really want to help, but are reluctant to tell you so) remind them
about how important this is and how much you really need them. Try to get them to say, "Sure, I will
be there.”
The
final task in getting your workers to show up is to call each one a couple of
days before the work date and remind them.
Tell them how much you appreciate their help and how you won't be
successful without them. If someone
said they would help and they do not show up on the workday, you may consider
calling them and seeing if they just forgot.
You may feel like you are pressuring people – and you are. As the leader, it is your responsibility to
make things happen and you need help to get the job done.
Also,
it helps if you give each potential worker a handout telling him or her the date, time, and location for the project. Include a map to the work site, if it is
not well known. You should also let
your crew know if you are serving lunch or if you expect them to bring a sack
lunch. Try to give them an idea about
when you expect to finish, too. People
are more likely to participate if they understand what is expected of them.
The
supervisor of any project, in Scouting or otherwise, is responsible for the
safety of the workers. While the adult
leaders who are present during your project will step up to handle any real
emergency, you as the project leader should prepare for the overall safety of
your workers in your project plan. The
key to a safe project is avoiding accidents and being prepared to handle
likely consequences if an accident does happen.
There
will be safety hazards peculiar to your project and your worksite(s) and you
should review these as part of your planning.
Inspect the worksite for potential hazards and either plan to correct
them early on your workday or develop a way to keep your workers away from
the danger. Simply marking minor
hazards to alert workers may be acceptable.
Watch out for the life-threatening hazard of tools or work materials
coming in contact with overhead electrical wires. You should review the worksite hazards
during your first project briefing to your workers.
Often
the tools you will be using may create a safety hazard. Picks, axes, hammers, electrical wires /
extension cords, and motorized vehicles may all cause injury if not used
properly. Power tools are especially
dangerous and you should ensure that only qualified people operate them. If youth are to operate power tools, they
must do so under the supervision of a trained adult. Anyone (youth or adult) using special tools
must be trained in their safe operation.
You or a qualified person may need to provide training before dangerous
tools are used.
Do
not forget the common health & safety issues like sunburn, poison ivy,
heat stroke, heat exhaustion, hyper / hypothermia, and a supply of safe
drinking water. Warn everyone to watch
out for poisonous snakes, if appropriate.
Discuss these and any other safety issues during your worker briefing,
before they begin any physical work.
As
with any Scouting activity, you should have a suitable first aid kit
available on-site. It would be a good
idea to actually open it up and ensure it is clean, properly stocked, and
that items are organized so you can quickly find what is needed in an
emergency. A serious accident will
require more than a first aid kit. It
may become necessary to seek professional medical attention, either at a doctor’s
office or hospital emergency room.
Ensure a suitable vehicle is available at the worksite and that you
know where the nearest hospital with an emergency room is located. In case of a very severe injury, you may
need to call an ambulance, so access to a telephone or cell phone should be
planned.
The
BSA Guide to Safe
Scouting is a valuable resource in planning a safe project workday. You must also ensure that you follow all BSA
safety policies. There are strict
policies on the use of fuels, vehicle operation, adult leadership, and use of
power tools, so read through this document and address any areas applicable
to your project.
Boy
Scout policy (Guide to Safe Scouting, p. 4) states: “Two registered adult
leaders, or one registered adult and a parent of a participating Scout, one
of who must be at least 21 years of age or older, are required for all trips
or outings.” It is your
responsibility to ensure that this policy is followed. Don't assume that the required adults and
leaders will just 'be there' – arrange, in advance, for them to be
there. You should state how you will
ensure this in your plan. Without the
proper adult supervision, you will not be able to work your project.
Also, remember that the adults are not your Eagle Project's leaders. They should be there as safety monitors or they may do some work at your direction. You may need to help the adults resist the temptation of taking charge of your project. (see the Hint in the Leadership section below)
Work Site
Where will the work be done? If you are going to build something, are you going to build it at the location where it will be used or somewhere else then moved? Remember, you must get permission to use any work site from the responsible person/owner. If the location where you are going to work requires special facilities or tools, state so. Think about how the weather will affect your work site.
Transportation
Moving
people, materials, supplies, tools to/from a work site will most likely be
required. Discuss what needs to be
moved, what vehicles you will need, where you will get those vehicles, and
who will drive. BSA policy places
limitations on drivers under 21 years old; ensure you are aware of these
limits and work within them. Remember
that all passengers must be seated with a seat belt on whenever a vehicle is
in motion. NO ONE, child or adult,
should ever ride in the bed of a moving truck under any circumstance! All of this is your responsibility.
Initial Project Approval
There are several approvals required for your project along the way. The first is the approval from your Scoutmaster or unit project advisor that your idea will qualify as a valid project. You should get this before spending too much time writing up the detail plan. After your advisor has helped you get the written plan in order and ready to submit, you will then need several signatures in the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook. A responsible representative from the organization you are doing the project for is the first signature required. It is also a good idea to get a letter from the organization, if possible. Next, your Scoutmaster or project advisor signs, followed by a member of the Troop Committee. The project plan is now ready to turn in to the Council or District Advancement Committee for approval to proceed. Note: you should keep a photocopy copy of the project, exactly as turned in to the council or district, in case it is lost during the approval cycle. It is also a good idea to write down the date and the name of whom you gave the plan to, in case follow-up is necessary.
Be aware that each district and/or council has their own particular procedures for submitting and approving Eagle Project Plans. Many larger councils delegate the approval to the districts, while some councils approve the projects at the higher level. I have indicated “Council or District" throughout this guide, but you will only need approval from one or the other, depending on your local process. Check with your council and/or district and make sure you follow their procedures.
It is very important that you do not DO any of the project work, except planning, until the Council or District Committee has signed it. Once they have approved the project plan, it will be returned to you in accordance with the particular Council or District Advancement Committee's procedures. After you have the approved version of your project, THEN you can begin to DO the project!
Now that the
hard part is over, you can begin the fun part – working the project! If you have prepared a good plan (which you
will have or it won't be approved by the council or district), all you have
to do is follow the plan and make the project happen. Do what you said you were going to do.
It is
important that you keep very good notes about everything that is done. Keep lists of all work done, who does the
work, and how much time they each spent.
For your final report, you will need to discuss how well the plan
worked and all areas where you were not able to follow the plan, so keep good
track of this information as you go along.
Take pictures of each stage of the work. These will be included in the final report
and will be a nice souvenir of an important milestone in your life. Keep track of all materials, supplies,
tools, etc. used,
paying particular attention to any differences from you original plan. Save all receipts.
Leadership
A couple of years
ago, the title of the Eagle Scout Service Project was
changed to the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project. As stated in the BSA Project Workbook, the
real purpose of the Eagle Project is to give you an opportunity to
“demonstrate leadership of others.” This is not to say that service to
the community is not important, just that leadership is equally important.
Eagle
Scouts are considered leaders, both in Scouting and in their community. From the time you first joined Scouting,
you have been receiving leadership training.
Hopefully you have been a member of a “boy led troop.” The
Patrol Leaders Council (PLC), which is made up of the Senior Patrol Leader,
Patrol Leaders, and several other youth leaders should have been leading your
troop: planning the troop meetings and campouts. To reach the ranks of Star, Life, and Eagle
you have served in several leadership positions in your troop and most likely
served on the PLC. The Eagle Project
is just another chance for you to lead others in accomplishing a significant
goal for the benefit to your community.
This time, you get to choose the activity that interests you.
So how do
you “demonstrate leadership of others?” First, you need to establish
yourself as the man in charge, the one who others look to for guidance. This means you must take the initiative to chose
your project, coordinate it with the appropriate agency, and prepare the
detail plan on how to accomplish the goal.
Don’t wait for others to do your job.
This makes you the expert – the man with the answers. Others will come to you to learn what they
need to do to complete their task.
The leader
coordinates all the activities of others to make sure the final goal is
reached. He considers everyone’s
talents and decides which tasks each member is given, and then makes sure
they understand their assignment. The
leader takes care of his team. He
ensures they are safe and have sufficient food and water to remain healthy
and productive. He makes sure they
have the proper training and tools to do the job.
The leader
is the problem solver. No matter how
well a project is planned, there will be things that don’t go according to
plan. When problems arise, the project leader must
consider all available information and make a decision on how to resolve that
problem. If it is not safe or
practical to force the project to follow the plan, he may need to revise the
plan, or even redefine the final goals.
It is ok if your project doesn’t reach all the original goals, but you
need to be able to explain why and how you solved the problem.
A good
leader will consider advice and suggestions from others, but in the end, the
leader must make the final decisions.
A wise Scout would listen to his troop’s adult leaders and parents
because they have many years of experience to share. However, be careful that the well-meaning
adults don’t lead your project. Beware
of a common problem, which can easily hamper your chance to lead. During projects where an adult's technical
skill is required, the adults often tend take over the leadership role. Both you and your adult technical advisor
should be very aware that YOU must lead the project. Your advisor should only give you guidance
and suggestions, but he should not give direct instructions to your work
crew, unless you have directly assigned him to supervise a small team for a
specific task. That would deny you
your leadership opportunity.
Hint: You and your advisor should talk this
over and agree on a signal which you will politely give him if you see him
taking too much control of your workers (which is a very natural thing for
adults to do). For example you may
agree to say something like, "Mr. Coffman, would you like something to
drink?" He would get the point
and agree that he was thirsty and go "get a drink." No one else would know what you were doing,
but later you and Mr. Coffman can laugh about how "thirsty" he was
on that workday.
The leader
gets the job done and keeps the group together. Getting the job done is fairly easy to
understand. Keeping the group together
means you help the group enjoy the activity, feel
appreciated for their efforts, and earn a sense of pride in the
accomplishments of the group. A leader
continually encourages his workers and gives them positive feedback on what
they do well. He helps his workers
understand when they are doing something that does not help the group
accomplish the goal and he gives them guidance on how to do the right
thing. Often when workers aren’t doing
what the leader wants, it is because the leader did not do a very good job of
explaining the task to them.
Leadership
is a very rewarding activity. As the
leader, you should feel a sense of pride for what your team accomplished
under your guidance. A well-led
activity is also rewarding for those who follow. In the end, the goal is reached and the team
feels good about their collective accomplishment. The leadership skills you have learned in
Scouting and demonstrated in completing your Eagle Project will serve you
throughout your life.
Final Write-up
After the actual work on the project is completed, you are ready for the last phase of your project – the final report. This is the section where you describe what actually happened as you carried out the plan. This information is entered in the last section of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, titled, ‘Carrying Out the Project’.
As with
any project, it is important to review what was done and see what lessons
were learned, as well as providing a historic record. In this case, you also need to write a
final report because your project is not complete without it! In the 'Carrying Out the Project' workbook
section, briefly describe what was done and how you deviated from the
plan. The following sections are
required.
Changes
You
should use your project plan as guide for preparing the final report. Go through each section of the plan and
write a summary of the results versus the plan. Summarize the actual costs, the tools used
(and tools needed that you did not have), what objectives were accomplished
or not accomplished (and why not), how your workers performed their tasks,
how you handled any major problems, and anything else of interest (both positive or negative).
Materials Required to
Complete the Project
Discuss if you had all of the materials and supplies you needed or if you had a lot left over. If you had a shortage, how did you resolve this? If you had a significant surplus, what did you do with those items? The simplest way to show this information is to include an updated version of the Materials / Supplies Table from the original plan, with all changes annotated (possibly in a ‘Remarks’ column replacing the ‘Source’ column). You may also choose to just describe the materials in a text paragraph.
Hours Spent Working
the Project
Provide
a record of all the time worked by you and your volunteers. Don’t forget to include all the time you
spent planning the project, writing the plan, getting approvals, and
gathering tools / materials, not just the time doing the labor. This can be documented in a list or table
showing names, dates, hours worked, and tasks performed by you and each
volunteer. Also, don’t forget to give
your Scoutmaster a list of those who worked on your project so that they can
get credit for service hours toward their own advancement.
Note
on Minimum Hours – The BSA Eagle Project Workbook
specifically states: “Size – How big a project is required? There
are no specific requirements, as long as the project is helpful to a
religious institution, school, or community. The amount of time spent by you
in planning your project and the actual working time spent in carrying out
the project should be as much as is necessary for you to demonstrate your
leadership of others.”
The BSA Advancement Committee Policies and
Procedures (#33088D) says: “There is no minimum number of hours that must be
spent on carrying out the project.”
(pg. 27) This BSA document also
states:
“No council, district, unit, or individual has the authority to add to or
subtract from any advancement requirement.” (pg. 23)
Therefore,
it would violate the stated BSA policy for anyone to add a new “minimum hour”
requirement.
Photographs
Include
a section in your final report for representative photographs, which you took
during each phase of the project. The
photos help the Eagle Board of Review members better understand your project
and it will be easier for you to discuss the project if you can show them the
actual work in progress and the final results. A photo of you presenting the finished
product to the organization for which you did the work helps show off the
value of the project. A group photo of
your work crew is also a good memento of your project. Of course, the photographs should be
securely mounted and labeled, not just thrown in an envelope.
Since the objective of the project is to demonstrate leadership of others, you should discuss your leadership role. Give examples of how you were able to lead the volunteers. Did you have any problem with getting them to come to work or to stay focused on the assigned tasks? Leading people is a difficult task and you most likely learned something about this. The final reviewers want to read about what you learned about leading people.
You will
most likely require some advice from your project advisor before you are
ready to turn the project in for final signatures. Consult with him / her often as you are
completing the report. As with the
original project plan, you may want to have a parent, teacher, or troop
leader read over your final version to find errors before submitting to the
council or district. Once you and your
advisor are happy with the result, it is time to get the final approval
signatures.
Suggestion: While you are writing your final report
would be a good time to write thank-you notes to those who donated materials
or made other significant contributions for your project. Many companies have a budget for donations
to organizations like Scouting and a small thank-you can help them understand
the value of their donations and encourage them to continue helping future
Eagle candidates.
The
organization may also appreciate a copy of your final report, which will
reinforce the significance of the Eagle Leadership Service Project. Many people not associated with Scouting
are very impressed with the effort required and the special talent it takes
for a young man to complete the Eagle Project.
You
aren't expected to write notes to all your volunteer workers, but some
recognition at your next troop meeting would certainly be appreciated.
Final Project Approvals
Only a
couple of signatures are required on your final report, the most important of
which is yours. If you are proud of
your effort and pleased with the write-up, then sign it on the last
page. You also need the signature of
your Scoutmaster or unit project advisor.
The representative of the institution benefiting from your project
must also sign your workbook after you complete the work. While these are the only signatures
required in order to submit it, the project's final approval will come during
your Eagle Board of Review. Remember
that each district or council has their own particular procedures for
submitting and approving Eagle Project Reports and Eagle applications, so
check with your council or district and make sure you follow the required
procedures. The full project write-up
is kept until your Board of Review, and then returned to you. Remember to keep a photocopy of the final
write-up when you submit it, just in case it is lost.
Hint
– The Eagle Board of Review
Among
other topics, the members of the Eagle Board of Review will ask you about
your Eagle Project. This is the final
judgment on whether your overall project (the plan, how it was carried out,
and the final report) meets the BSA requirements. While your plan was approved in advance of
beginning any work, how you worked that plan and your final write-up are
evaluated here.
The
Board members will likely ask you to describe what you did and why you chose
that project. They will want to know
how it went, and in particular how the actual work compared to your original
plan; what went right, what went wrong.
They will probably ask how you handled any changes in plan; any
shortage in materials, supplies, and tools; and any worker issues. While you are not required to accomplish
every objective of the original plan, you should be prepared to discuss why
it was not possible to meet all of your goals. Beware: Poor planning is not a very good
excuse, however.
Since
the real purpose of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project is for you “to
demonstrate leadership of others”, they will certainly want to discuss this
area in some detail.
Getting Printouts of this Guide or Project Workbook
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This Eagle
Scout Leadership Service Project Planning Guide is one continuous file
(approx. 12 pages) and may be printed in its entirety using your web
browser. Just press the
"print" button or go to browser pull-down menu item FILE | PRINT.
If you
need an electronic version of the official BSA Eagle Scout Leadership Service
Project Workbook (BSA #512-927), download it from the official BSA National Eagle Scout Association
(NESA) website. It is also available from Scouting Forms from the
National Council - http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-927.pdf. Both forms are the same PDF “savable
form-fill” of the 2009 printing of the workbook.
The BSA Guide to Safe Scouting is available at
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34416.pdf.
While not
required as part of your Eagle project plan or final report, you will soon need
the Eagle Scout Rank Application, so you may want to download a copy of it
while you are at the BSA forms website.
The Adobe Acrobat Reader PDF “savable form-fill” version of the 2009
printing of the Eagle Scout Rank Application, (BSA 512-728) is at Scouting
Forms from the National Council http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-728_web.pdf.
Copyright
This is a copyrighted © document. I ask that you do not modify this guide in any way and please keep my name and address on all copies. However, please feel free to print all the copies you need to help the Scouts within your troop, district, or council. I encourage you to add a link to this guide on your Scouting web sites, but please do not copy any part of this HTML file to other websites, in any form. If you are still tempted to copy or modify my work, please read this.
Disclaimer
This is an unofficial guide, which should help you in producing a complete, well-planned project. Some elements stated here might exceed the minimum BSA requirement. Think of this as the guide to an “A+” project. If you are only interested getting by with the minimum (a “C-“ project), then disregard anything stated here which is not specifically listed in the official Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook.
There are two BSA publications, which present all of the official Eagle Project requirements and limitations: the BSA Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook (BSA #512-927), and the BSA Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures (#33088). Other BSA publications may repeat some of this information, but do not offer anything additional. The final approving authority on your project is your unit and your district/council Advancement Committee, but they must work within the requirements of these two BSA documents.
I hope
this guide proves of value to you.
However, if you have any questions concerning the approval of your
project, please seek the approval of your troop leaders and/or district
committee before proceeding.
NEW -- Top Eagle Service Project Award
Competition (Optional)
The National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) has just introduced a new
award -- the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service
Project of the Year Award -- to recognize a Scout for his Eagle Scout service
project. This is a completely optional
award which any Eagle Scout may apply to win in a national
competition. This award does not have
any bearing on earning the Eagle rank.
The details are at the NESA website (www.nesa.org; follow the Awards link to
the Adams Award Nomination Form [www.nesa.org/PDF/542-026.pdf])
but in summary: Any Scout may submit his completed project to his council;
each council will select one project to go forward to the region; each region
will select one project from their council winners and submit it to national. One overall National Top Eagle Service
Project annual winner will be selected from the regional submissions. There
are monetary awards for the top region and national winners.
Check out the NESA website and see if you think you would like to go
for this new award. If you used my
guide to help plan and carryout your project and then submitted it to your
council, I’d love to hear from you.
Questions or Comments
If you
have any questions, problems, or comments about your project or this web
site, please feel free to contact me.
I also enjoy receiving feedback from the Scouts, Scouters, and parents
who are using this guide. I make
revisions based on your comments and questions, so help me help other Scouts
with your input.
Troop Leader Resources
I have
posted two additional web pages to help the adults as they guide the Life
Scouts through the Eagle Project experience.
These are specifically for the adults, since everything for the boys
is in this project-planning guide.
Although the Scouts may find the information interesting, they do not
even need to go to those sites in order to prepare for their projects.
This is an
extra resource for troop leaders to explain the Eagle rank requirements and
process to their Scouts and the Scout's parents. This link
takes you to an Eagle Candidate Seminar overview web page. There is also an associated PowerPoint
presentation, which may be adapted for your unit's use.
I have
finally posted my long-promised guide to the Eagle Project for parents, troop
leaders, and the benefiting organization to help them help the Eagle
candidate with his project: Guide
to the Eagle Scout Project for Adult Leaders and Benefiting Organization
Representatives.
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Author: |
E-mail:
R. C. Smith |
Web address of this guide is: http://www.flash.net/~smithrc/eagleprj.htm |
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