Reif Kessler
Chairman, Big Lick District Eagle Review Board
Blue Ridge Mountains Council
March 2, 2013
By the end of today’s session
 Understand the nature of an Eagle Scout Service
Project
 Understand the role of the Eagle Project Coach
 Understand the process by which Eagle Service
Projects are approved
 Be able to evaluate the appropriateness of projects
What is the purpose of the Eagle
Scout Service Project?
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Service
Leadership
Learning
Appropriate challenge
Organizational Experience
Acceptance of Responsibility
Planning
Stretch
Growth
Key Learning
“As an adult, you may not remember the particular
experience or challenge of any merit badge,…
… but you will never forget your Eagle Service Project.”
Adult Eagle Scout
The Eagle Project Coach
 The Eagle Service Project will be challenging. The
Scout will need an adult to coach and encourage
him through the process.
 The Scoutmaster (SM) appoints an Eagle Project
Coach (EPC), who has completed Eagle Coach
Training.
 If you do not have sufficient experience ask the
District Advancement Committee (DAC) for help.
The Eagle Project Coach (EPC)…
 Is a role, not a position
 Is an adult –registered and preferably with basic
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training – associated with the unit
Is often the Scoutmaster, but need not be
Could be a member of the District Advancement
Committee or District Eagle Review Board
Is not self-appointed
Should not be the parent of the Eagle candidate
Should complete Eagle Project Coach Training
The Responsibilities of the Eagle
Project Coach. . .
 Primary coach for the Scout throughout the
Service project
 Ensures that the project meets BSA’s requirements
 Ensures that the project offers leadership and
growth potential for the Scout
 Encourages the Scout to do thorough and careful
planning
 Informs appropriate individuals if there are any
special circumstances of which the District
Advancement Committee (DAC) should be aware
when evaluating the appropriateness of this
project?
The Process
 Phase I - Project Concept Approval
 Phase II - Project Planning
 Phase III - Executing the Project Plan
Criteria for an Eagle Scout Service
Project
 Significant contribution of benefit to the community
 Sufficient magnitude to be special and challenging
 Must require the Eagle Scout candidate to demonstrate
significant leadership
 Must be realistically achievable
Restrictions
 Cannot involve council property or any other BSA
activity; the Boy Scouts cannot be the beneficiary
in any way.
 Cannot be shared with any other Eagle candidate.
 Cannot be routine labor or service normally
rendered.
 Cannot be performed for a business or an
individual (with some exceptions)
Examples
 Raised gardening beds for senior housing facility.
 Community or church playground upgrades.
 Outdoor meeting areas, patios, picnic areas, amphitheaters, meditation
gardens.
 Nature trails, public access trails, stairs.
 Storage facilities for churches, schools, community service facilities.
Restrictions
 Cannot be of commercial nature.
 Cannot be a fundraiser. (But fundraising is a part of
most projects.)
 Cannot be a solo project. The Eagle Candidate must
lead a group of people, most of whom should ideally
be youth. (Projects executed by the Eagle Candidate
alone do not qualify.)
Fundraising
 Car washes.
 Spaghetti dinners.
 Yard sales.
 Sponsoring organization funds.
 Limited donations, family funds, or personal funds.
 No raffles or games of chance.
 Fundraising Applications must be submitted and approved. No funds
are to be raised until project and fundraising plans are approved.
Phase I - Concept Approval
 The Eagle Candidate develops one or more ideas
about possible Eagle Service Projects.
 He discusses his ideas with the EPC to narrow or
prioritize the options.
 The Eagle Candidate discusses the project with the
benefiting organization and secures their approval.
 He finalizes his idea in sufficient detail for
presentation to the DAC (Eagle Review Board) for
approval.
Phase I - Concept Approval
Details required for Concept Approval
 Project description and beneficiary
 Leadership – what team is needed, recruiting,
 Materials, supplies, tools, permits and permissions
needed
 Preliminary cost estimate
 Project phases and logistics
 Safety issues
 Future planning needs
Phase I - Project Concept Approval
Scout discusses
project with
benefiting organization
Concept
approved
by EPC
No
Yes
Concept
approved
by District
No
Yes
Go to
Phase
II
Role of the District Advancement
Committee
 Quality Control
 Ensures that the project plan complies with the
criteria and restrictions of an Eagle Service
Project.
 Ensures that the project is realistically
achievable.
 Shares their experience regarding successful
projects. (The more detailed the proposal
concept is the better able they are to provide
meaningful help.)
Role of the EPC
 Attend meetings between the Scout and the
DAC/ERB
 Let the Scout do the presentation - keep quiet
 Take notes on comments and concerns of the
DAC/ERB
 Review the requested changes, if any, with the
DAC/ERB and the Scout; ensure that there is
understanding and agreement
What if the District Advancement
Committee does not approve the
plan?
 Heed their advice and input – they are
experienced.
 Carefully review their recommendations and
address in detail all points of concern.
 After addressing all points of concern, the Scout
and EPC will meet again with the DAC/ERB and
review the corrections.
What if the District Advancement
Committee approves the plan with
comments?
 Heed their advice and input – they are
experienced.
 Carefully review their recommendations and
address in detail all points of concern.
 There is no need for further approval, but
proceed with caution. Failure to properly address
concerns could result in disapproval upon project
review.
“Be Prepared”
 The plan describes how the project will be done
and should be written with sufficient and
significant detail so that the plan could be given to
others to lead the project if the Scout were absent.
 The project will be performed by a group of youth
under the Scout’s direction. Remember that the
“doers” presumably know less about the project
than the Scout.
The Project Details
 Present Condition
 Materials/Supplies/Tools
 Budget/Fund Raisers
 Project Helpers
 Schedule/Phases/Logistics
 Safety Hazards
 Leadership
 Contingency
Scout Tests His Understanding
 Review the written proposal with the EPC. Could
another youth use the plan to execute the
proposed project in the absence of the Scout?
 Have you checked spelling and grammar?
 Ask people to read the proposal critically and
suggest improvements. Listen to their
suggestions.
Module 4 – The Process
Phase II - Project Planning
Scout plans project
and discusses
project details with
benefiting
organization
EPC coaches Scout
Project plan
approved
by EPC or SM
Yes
Go to Phase
III
No
Scout revises
project plan;
EPC coaches
Warning: There is no
further review by
DAC/ERB
Summary of Roles
 The Eagle Candidate is the owner of the Eagle
Service Project
 The Eagle Coach guides, coaches, and encourages
the Eagle Candidate through the process.
 The District Advancement Committe/Eagle
Review Board ensures that the project concept and
preliminary plan comply with the criteria and
restrictions of an Eagle Service Project and that the
scope of the project is appropriate for the Scout.
Eagle Board of Review
 A group of Scouters interested in seeing Scouts
succeed in achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in a
meaningful way.
 A conversation with the Eagle Candidate, not a
“grilling”.
 Did the Scout undertake the approved project with
limited deviations.
 Was the Scout the leader of the project.
 Discussion of the Scout’s scouting experience.
 Discussion of the values of Scouting and their
meaning to the Scout.
Eagle Court of Honor
 An individual ceremony honoring only the Eagle Scout. No
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other ceremony in the life of a young man will be focused on just
him.
Many in attendance will have never seen an Eagle ceremony.
Ceremonial opening – Color Guard, Pledge of Allegiance,
Recitation of Scout Oath and Law.
Review significance of the Eagle rank and its requirements.
Recitation of the Eagle’s scouting career, experience, leadership,
and accomplishments.
Can have a religious emphasis if desired.
Involvement of family members is appropriate.
Celebrate!
Conclusion
Obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout is a significant
event. It should not be cheapened by “easy” projects
or by the over-involvement of adults. The Scout
must be the developer and leader of a significant
project.
But, a Scout will require careful guidance, and each
to a different degree.