Some Scouts are being exposed to the Eagle process for the first time while others have been exposed to the process many times through brothers, friends or fellow Scouts. Some troops have “Eagle mentors” to assist with the process while other troops do not. The purpose of this checklist is to provide everyone with guide for getting through the Eagle process, regardless of the experience level.

All requirements (tenure, Scout spirit, merit badges, positions of responsibility, project and the Scoutmaster conference) must be completed BEFORE the candidate’s 18th birthday.

As we stated in an earlier article the purpose of the Eagle project is to demonstrate leadership. The project review process is designed to help insure the project gives the Eagle candidate the chance to demonstrate leadership. For example, blood drives are NOT usually recommended for an Eagle project. Most of the work is done by the blood bank. This is not to say that one couldn’t develop a successful demonstration of leadership during a blood drive, but there are so many other projects available that offer a much better chance to show leadership.

The Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook No. 18-927 must be used to complete this requirement. All signature blocks on the Eagle Project Workbook must be completed BEFORE the project can be started. The pre-approval of the project does not mean the project will satisfy the leadership requirement for the Eagle rank. It means that all the signers believe that the project will provide the Eagle candidate with the opportunity to demonstrate his leadership. The Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures manual states, “This pre-approval of the project does not mean the board of review will approve the way the project was carried out.”

For example, two Scouts present projects to build 3 benches for a local church. Both projects show plans for the benches, state that the benches will be painted or stained and installed in the church courtyard.

Scout 1: goes to Home Depot and buys 3 bench kits. The wood is already stained, the mounting holes are predrilled and all the hardware is included. On Saturday afternoon the Scout, his dad and his brother assemble the benches and drop them off at the church.

Scout 2: determines the quantity and size of the lumber he needs to complete the project. He also selects the color of stain and the hardware necessary to build the benches. On Friday afternoon he has some older Scouts come to his house where they measure and cut the wood and drill holes for the mounting hardware. On Saturday two groups of younger Scouts arrive. The first group stains the wood while the second group (under the leadership of one of the older Scouts) assembles the benches. During this time the older Scouts were at the church selecting the site for the benches and leveling the ground. After all the work was completed, the benches were transported to the church by one of the older Scouts and the benches were installed in the courtyard.

Both Scouts completed the project, but did both demonstrate leadership? A checklist for helping you through the process is provided in the Forms and Images section of the Boy Scout site.