Become an Eagle Scout
An Eagle Scout is a rank within Boy Scouting of America and applies to American Scouts. Eagle Scout is the highest rank, above that of Star and Life. This rank is achieved by 4% of all Scouts, and has been given to more than a Million people since it was first awarded to Arthur Eldred in 1912. It is awarded to Scouts who consistently perform to the best of their personal ability, exceeding expectations at every stage.
Contents
Steps
- Join a scout troop. Join a troop that you like and that fits with your personality. It is recommended to choose troop nearest to your home such as your own town.
- Get a Scout Handbook. This is very important in Boy Scouts. You have to complete requirements and earn your ranks by having the book. The way it works is that you do requirements in a meeting or a camping trip. Then, your scoutmaster or whoever did the requirement has to sign it. Also, they have great tips on how to do everyday things when camping.
- Earn your Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star Scout, and Life Scout Ranks. If you work really, really hard, these can be accomplished within a couple years. However, there are a few requirements that require time actively involved in the troop and time demonstrating leadership to younger scouts. Try to get them done before they discover the wrath of the 3 G's (girls, gas and grades), but don't force it, you'll burn yourself out.
- Get the required merit badges for Star and Life. There are approximately 130 merit badges available for Scouts to earn, even though only 21 are required to complete the Rank of Eagle Scout. This is so that each scout has the ability to tailor the program to their individual interests, and possibly find a career one day out of one of these short study sessions. The required Eagle merit badges are:
- First Aid
- Citizenship in the Community
- Citizenship in the Nation
- Citizenship in the World
- Cooking
- Communication
- Personal Fitness
- Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving*
- Environmental Science OR Sustainability
- Personal Management
- Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling*
- Camping
- Family Life
- Don't rush; do them as the chance arises. A great way to earn badges is at Summer Camp. Usually 5-7 at a time of the 21 needed. Work on Merit Badges before even starting Star and Life. Keep the Blue cards that you receive on completion of each merit badge in a binder in playing card sheets, these are extremely important.
- Continue working on merit badges, and begin to think about Eagle Scout projects. Projects can be anything that benefits the community, an organization, or a church, other than BSA. Ask anyone and everyone for help or suggestions. The project has no time length, but 100 people hours is the general length. That means that a total of all hours worked by all people equals 100. After that, work with your Eagle adviser on your Eagle Scout Project Workbook, and get all your papers in order.
- Give your Scoutmaster or Advancement chair names and addresses for six adults to provide character reference letters of recommendation for your Eagle Application. Typically these should be your parents, a school teacher or coach, an employer, a pastor or person from your church, along with two other people who know you well and have been a mentor to you- these people must be able to see how you follow the Scout oath and law everyday. This is a judgment of character.
- Do not forget to write your personal statement of intent. This is a letter to the board talking about your goals and plans for the future. How is your experiences in scouting going to help you in the future?
- Meet with the Eagle Review Board. This is your chance to prove yourself. Don't act cocky, being reserved might even help a little. When confronting the board, make sure every answer is well thought out and carry it on as a conversation. They will ask you questions, but it’s up to you to lead the conversation and tell them about yourself. They know you only as a name, blue cards, and recommendation letters. Tell them about your life ambition, if you don't have a solid one, tell them that your merit badge experience has given you the chance to look at many types of jobs and professions. Don't panic; tell them what a great thing Scouts has been for you. Sell yourself to them. As long as you keep a cool head and can explain your experience in scouting coherently, you'll be fine. After all, if you've done all the work correctly, then you're already an Eagle Scout.
- Wait for that handshake and smile from your Scout master as he reads out your name at your Eagle Court of Honor Ceremony.
Tips
- Besides being personally rewarding, being an Eagle Scout also looks good on resumes and college applications.
- There are many scholarships for Eagle Scouts.
- Scouts is about having fun, not about attaining Eagle. Its about learning to be a man and make good decisions.
- Check with your council to be sure their records match your troop's concerning merit badges before submitting your application
- As a Scout, go and live in the outdoors, feel the joy that comes from separating yourself from this concrete and steel world.
- Also keep in mind there are two choice one lifesaving OR emergency preparedness and Hiking OR swimming OR cycling chose the one your most interested in, the other(s) count as optional merit badges
- Don't wait to get the hard merit badges- lifesaving, wilderness survival, etc... If you can, get them for star rank, that way all you need for eagle is the easy ones because you should be focusing on your project!
- Don't push too hard, you will burn out. Many people push too hard, have no fun, and quit scouts because they don't have any fun. Don't let that happen, have fun above all.
- The trail to Eagle is a marathon, not a sprint. Work carefully and constantly. Make it a lucrative experience!
Warnings
- It becomes harder to earn your Eagle as you pass your 16th birthday. I've seen many boys in my troop let it slip through their fingers until they're scrambling to get a service project in before their 18th birthday. Jobs and cars and driving and girls start to seem more important at that age. Be aware of that, watch for it. Stick to it. Being an Eagle Scout is for life. It's one of the best things a young man can do for himself.
- Scouting is addictive, possible side effects include: love of outdoors, healthy lifestyles, finding jobs easier, meeting new people.
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- Join the Boy Scouts
