Be Prepared! The project may take longer than you think – it’s not uncommon for a project to take 6 months to a year! The purpose of the project is for you to show leadership. This means that you cannot do a project by yourself. You need other participants (scouts, friends, etc.) to help, and you need to organize their work on your project.

Your Eagle Project Beneficiary

Every project has a beneficiary, an organization that benefits from your project. Examples are a place of worship, a public park, a homeless shelter, a hospital, or a non-profit organization. The beneficiary eventually needs to sign off that your project is complete, so it’s very important that your project is well defined. You will talk directly with someone at your beneficiary organization about this. The first time you talk with your beneficiary, give them this document  – and read it yourself! It has very important information.

What makes a “good project?”

With a good project, you know exactly what you need to do, For example, if your project goal is to “Improve the Bluejay picnic area”, it is still not specific enough to indicate what you need to do. A better goal is “Build a trail from the parking lot to the Bluejay picnic area, including three stairs to prevent erosion”.

Important guidelines when selecting a project:

• The project cannot be “routine labor”, or something that the beneficiary normally does for themselves. For example, pulling weeds on the school football field or painting the church kitchen. (On the other hand, I have seen a very successful kitchen renovation project!)
• A project may not be a fundraiser – in other words, an effort that primarily collects money, even for a worthy cause. However, many projects have SOME fundraising – for securing materials and other project costs.
• One service project per Eagle candidate.
• Projects may not be performed for the Boy Scouts of America.

Got an idea?

Some scouts approach a beneficiary directly, and ask what needs to be done. Other scouts start with an idea that they have, or work for a cause that is meaningful to them. These are often the most exciting project, because they start with a scout’s passion!  The sky is the limit. If you need inspiration, here are some examples, and there are plenty more on the web.

The Project Workbook

Once you have your project in mind and know whom your beneficiary is, you can start on your project workbook. Take a look!   There are 3 sections:

• Eagle Scout Service Project Proposal – Fill this out once you are in agreement with your beneficiary on the project.
• Eagle Scout Service Project Plan – This is similar to the project proposal section, but in more detail. You cannot begin actual work on the project until this is complete.
• Eagle Scout Service Project Report – After your project is complete, you fill this out, get the necessary signatures and then you’re done!

Note: All Eagle pdf forms can be edited directly on your computer and saved! Once your proposal is ready for signatures, print it out and put it into your Eagle Notebook.

Meetings with the District Eagle Chair

During this process you will meet with the District Eagle Chair twice.

• When your Project Proposal is ready. The troop eagle adviser, will help you determine if the proposal is ready to get signatures, and then meet with the District Eagle Chair.
• The second meeting is when you have finished ALL requirements for Eagle.