SINNISSIPPI COUNCIL
Eagle Project
Resource Guide
First Edition:
October 22, 2001
Table of
contents
Page
I. Eagle Board District Chairperson List aa
II. Resource
Guide Overview bb
III. Introduction 1
IV. Choosing a Project 1
IV. Initial
Planning & Project Write-up 2 & 3
* Project Description 3
*
Planning Details 4 - 7
*
Initial Project Approval 8
V. Working on the
Project 9
VI. Final
Write-up 9 - 11
VII. Turning in your Project and Eagle Application 11 - 13
Eagle Board District Chairpersons
John
Kordatzky, Chairman
District
Eagle Board of Review
Tomahawk District
North:
Kent Keobke, Chairman South: Dave Ketchpaw, Chairman
District Eagle Board of Review
District Eagle Board of Review
Ron GeRue,
Chairman
District
Eagle Board of Review
aa
Eagle
Project Book Resource Guide
Over View of Key Points
* The purpose of your Eagle Project is
to demonstrate PLANNING SKILLS, DEVELOPMENT SKILLS, and DEMONSTRATING LEADERSHIP OF OTHERS.
* The project book is divided into two
parts; Planning and Carrying Out The Project.
In planning, you need to emphasize how you will demonstrate leadership
and then explain how you demonstrated leadership while carrying out the
project.
* Select an Eagle Project that is
meaningful to you and the group or organization you are doing the project
for. Pages 1 and 2.
* IMPORTANT:
Maintain records on your project. Keep
a diary or journal starting from the very first day of planning and continue to
record your progress all the way to completion. Why? This will be very
handy as you are putting together your project book presentation.
* The writing of your project book can
be done with word processing, printing neatly, or writing neatly. Page 2
* Project Description and Project
Details will be your first order of business to submit to the appropriate
individuals for approval. Pages 3
through 7.
* IMPORTANT:
Do
not begin to carry out your project until you’ve received all the approving
signatures. Page 8
* Be sure to take pictures before the
project starts, during, and after the project is completed. Visuals enhance the project
presentation. Be sure to provide a
brief description for each photo.
* NOTE:
You are not confined to the space allotted to you in the project workbook. You are encouraged to add extra pages as you
need them. Another note to mention -
the project workbook does not specifically tell you to provide a write up on
how you carried out the project. It is
highly recommended that you do include a write-up explaining how you accomplished
the project. Page 9.
* It is requested that you include
Letters of Recommendation when submitting your project workbook to the District
Eagle Board of Review. The individuals
that provide these letters are listed on the Eagle Application.
* Do not forget to include Requirement
Number 6, which is found on the Eagle Application. Pp 12
* Detail and organization of your
project book is important. Eagle Scout
is the highest rank and the most
prestigious rank to attain; so, remember to put your best foot forward and do your best !!
bb
I. Introduction
After working with a number of Scouts
in preparing their Eagle Projects, it was found that they often did not know
what was expected of them or what an Eagle Project Write-Up required in order
to be approved. It has also been found
that the BSA Eagle Service Project Workbook is sometimes very vague in its
explanations.
This guide has been developed to help
the Scouts understand what is expected and aid them in preparing and completing
their project.
The Eagle Project will require a lot of
time to complete, possibly 2 to 6 months.
Since you do not have to complete all 21 Eagle merit badges before
beginning your project, you should choose a period when you can most afford to
put in the time. For example, summer
would be a better time than the period just before Christmas. Remember, you must work within your helpers’
schedules, not just your own. For the
leaders and your own sake, please begin your project at least 6 months before
your 18th birthday. All Eagle
requirements must be completed, and that includes the project and the final
write-up, before you are 18 (NO exceptions). PLAN
AHEAD.
The
Eagle Project must demonstrate leadership and provide service to a worthy
institution other than the Boy Scouts.
See the first page of the Eagle Service Project Workbook for all
requirements. You should look for a
project idea which is truly valuable and a challenge to you. Your project may include members of this or
other troops or may be done entirely by non-Scouts if you choose. You should not spend much time planning a
project until you have talked the idea over with your Scoutmaster or Eagle
coordinator to be sure that it is a valid project. You may choose to build something, do service for someone,
present a program to a group, or correct a problem area for the benefit of an
authorized organization. Where can you
find Eagle projects? There are many
Internet web sites devoted to Eagle Project ideas. Use an Internet search engine like Yahoo or Excite to
search for “Eagle Scout Project.” Here
is a list of some of the resources that you can go to and seek out projects
from:
**
Your Charter Organization
**
Churches
**
School Districts
**
Cities
**
County Seat
** Department of Natural
Resources (DNR)
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1
III. Initial Planning & Write Up
After
you have talked over possible project ideas with your troop leaders and have
chosen the right one for you, it is time to begin the detailed planning and
initial write-up, which will then be submitted to the District for
approval. Remember that you cannot begin actual work on the project until the
District approves it.
Get a current copy of the Life to Eagle Packet, which includes the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook from the Council Office or one of the troop leaders to use in preparing your plan. (The Council generally sends this packet to you.) This is the official booklet that is submitted to the district for approval. Read everything in it before beginning to write up your plan.
You must use the Life to Eagle
Packet format to present your project. Using a word processor, handwriting or
printing neatly can accomplish your write-up.
We recommend using a word processor primarily because it seems to be
easier to work with and it makes it easier to do corrections or to do a
re-write if necessary. In the past it
was required to use the pages in the Eagle Project Workbook for your write up;
however, diskettes are now available
from your District Eagle Board that contains an Eagle Packet Template. This template may be used for doing your
preliminary write up and final write up for submission. It is strongly suggested that you make back
up copies of all your work. You never
know when something can be misplaced or lost.
Obtain
a three-ring binder for your project documents. It is easier to organize your pages and it looks better if you
use Poly-View sheet protectors in your binder.
Be sure to include every page from the Life to Eagle Packet or diskette
template that you have filled in. Also,
be sure to fill in all the blanks (your name, address, etc.) on the Service
Project Workbook face page.
Take
pictures of each phase of your project as well as before and after
pictures. Include these where
appropriate. Be sure that the photos
are clearly labeled; explaining what is depicted in each photo.
If
your project is a food or clothing drive, be sure to include the results of the
drive (i.e. how many pounds of food, how many bags of clothing, etc.). Remember,
a fundraiser cannot be used as an Eagle Project. Fund raising is permitted only for securing materials or supplies
needed to carry out your project.
You
should keep a photocopy of your project exactly as turned into the
District. In case it is lost during the
approval process, you have a back up.
Your
Planning Details should tell someone else everything they would need to know to
carry out your project without you. You
should include the following information as shown in the workbook:
Describe
what you plan to build or what you plan to do for your project. This should not include any details. Those will come later. Describe briefly how you are going to carry
out the project, where you are going to do the project, and for whom you are
doing the project. This description
should be limited to the space provided in the workbook. This will generally be
one paragraph or possibly two.
Fill
in the blanks appropriately. Name the
group or organization that will benefit from your project.
MY
PROJECT WILL BE OF BENEFIT TO THE GROUP BECAUSE...
Write
one paragraph to explain how your project will benefit the organization or
group you plan to help. Again, do not
provide details just yet. Just focus on
the benefit of the project.
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3
Planning Details
This
is the heart of the project and the area that will require the most work. The plan should include all details needed
by someone else to carry out the project as though you were not around. Make sure you adequately, and in detail, address
the following topics using a separate heading to begin each topic.
Describe
the present condition of the location or place where you are going to perform
your project. It is highly advisable to
include photos and/or drawings when possible.
Be sure to label the photos or drawings. If your program is a drive or a service program, explain the
present condition or circumstances of the people your project will benefit.
Describe
in detail exactly how you will plan and perform your project. The plan should include all details needed
by someone else to carry out the project as though you were not around. Detail is the key word.
Divide
your project into parts or phases where possible. For example:
Phase
One - Purchasing of Materials and obtaining tools and equipment.
Phase
Two - Recruiting volunteers.
Phase
Three - Your Leadership
Role and how the work day(s) agenda will unfold.
Explain
each phase in detail and include in your description exactly how you are going
to show leadership and planning in each phase of your project. Examples: “I will recruit my helpers from my
Troop and my church” - “I will instruct my volunteers to do this...” - “I will
show my volunteers how I want this done.”
Since there is limited space in the workbook, you may attach extra pages
with the details. Be sure to add:
“Continued on following pages” to the bottom of the page. If your project is to build something, you
will need detailed plans or drawings.
These plans should show all dimensions, paint schemes, floor plans,
layouts, or other details that can be drawn.
Page
4
List
all the tools, equipment, and materials to be used in your project. Give specific dimensions and quantities of
materials. Remember, detail is the key. Also, list the cost of the materials. Estimate if you don’t know the exact
cost. Below is an example:
TOOLS COSTS
3 Hammers Loaned
Circular
Saw My uncle’s
(Adult to operate)
3 Shovels Loaned
Wheel barrow My dad’s
6 Paint Brushes $22.00
First Aid Kit My Troop’s
MATERIALS COSTS
5
lbs. Of 1 inch nails $11.00
(8)
8 ft 2x4s $48.00
(9)
8 ft 4x4s $54.00
2
Gallons White Latex Paint $24.00
Total Cost $159.00
Important: Every project will cost something and you need to discuss
those costs. Explain who is donating
tools or materials and how you intend to finance the project. Are you or your relatives going to pay for
materials or are you going to ask local businesses for donations or is the
organization you are helping providing the funds?
If
you are going to use handouts, poster, letters or other written materials as
part of your project, include a copy of those in the plan. These should be included as attachments to the
workbook.
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5
You
don’t have to list the names of your helpers at this time. Explain where you are going to recruit: Troop, church, friends, etc.. List how many helpers (number of Scouts,
number of adults, etc.) you plan to use for each phase or part of your project.
A
good schedule shows when everything is done and in what order each step
happens. It should include the number
of helpers needed for each phase of the project. You must make your best estimate of how long tasks will take and
what order they will be done.
EXAMPLE:
“I
will start this project within one week after it is approved and plan to
complete it in two to three weeks.”
Recruiting Volunteers
How many workers and
estimated time per person?
Youth No. Est. Time Adults No. Est. Time
Per Person Per Person
Scouts: Scout Families:
Family: Family:
Friends: Friends:
I
estimate that it will take approximately: _____ Working Hours
The
project will take: ______ Days
Time Schedule
Dates Time
Rain
Dates Time
(Note:
Although there is no stated minimum number of hours for a project, you must
show that you have demonstrated leadership of others.)
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6
Leadership
This
section is very important. Explain in
detail how you are going to exercise and demonstrate your leadership in
carrying out your project.
Be
specific. (Examples: “I will recruit my
helpers from my Troop and my Church” - “I will have my volunteers meet at the
school.” - “I will instruct my volunteers to do this...” - “ I plan on dividing my volunteers into
three groups with each group being responsible for... - “I will show my volunteers how I want this
done.” etc.)
It
is OK to repeat specifics that you have already used in the “Phases” of your
Plan write up.
Safety
Describe
any safety hazards you might face and explain how you will ensure the safety of
those carrying out the project.
Remember to include the Buddy System and Adult Supervision
in your planning. Also remember that an
adult must operate power tools (except for powered screwdrivers). BSA policy places limitations on drivers
under 21 years old. When helpers are
transported in vehicles, the drivers must be 21 years or older and each
passenger must have a seat belt.
Page 7
*** Initial
Project Approval ***
There
are several approvals required for your project along the way. The first is the verbal approval from your
Scoutmaster or Project advisor that your idea will qualify as a valid
project. You need this before spending
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 Service
Project Workbook. A responsible
representative from the organization you are doing the project for is the first
signature required. Next, your
Scoutmaster or project advisor signs the form, followed by the Troop Committee
Chairperson. The project is now ready
to turn into the District Advancement Committee for approval to proceed. Note: You should keep a back up of
everything you do (copies).
It
is very important that you DO NOT DO
any of the project, except planning, until the District Committee has signed
it.
Once
they have approved the project plan, your Scoutmaster or Project Advisor will
return it to you. You will receive a
signed approval form. It is important that
you keep this form in your binder, as this is your proof that your project was
approved. Now you can begin to do the
project. An exception would be if the
project plan has been approved by phone call, because of unforeseen
circumstances.
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8
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 submitted to the district), all you have
to do is to follow the plan and make the project happen. Do what you said you were going to do.
As
you carry out your project, keep detailed notes on everything that is
done. Keep detailed lists of everything
done, who did the work, and how much time you and each of your helpers spent on
each phase of your project. Take
pictures of each phase of the project.
Detailed notes will greatly aid you in the write-up of your project.
After
the actual work on the project is completed, you are ready for the last phase
of your project - 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 Service Project Workbook, following the Initial
Planning section that was approved by the District. After your Project is completed, try to include in your binder a
letter of acknowledgment from the organization or group for whom you performed
your project.
Carrying Out The Project
Include
a detailed description of your project in chronological order. Include all the
dates that you and your helpers worked on your project. Describe in detail what was done during each
phase of the project and who and how many helpers participated in each
phase. Remember to describe very
specifically how you displayed leadership during each day or during each phase
of your project.
Report (Including Leadership Role)
Provide
a detailed description of your project in chronological order. Your report can be written in journal
entries. Important!!! Within your report, summarize in detail how
you demonstrated your leadership in carrying out your project. Be specific. (Examples: “I had to recruit my helpers from my Troop and my
church: - “I had volunteers meet at the school.” - “I instructed my volunteers
to do this...” - “I instructed my volunteers on how I wanted this done.”
etc.) It is OK to repeat specifics that
you have already used in your write-up.
Time Spent
Complete
this portion of the workbook with the total number of hours you spent planning
and carrying out the project and the total hours spent by others assisting on
the project.
Assisted By
List
all of your helpers and describe what they did and how many hours they worked
on each day of the project. Be sure to
include the date. Below is a partial
example:
Name Description Date Hours
Peter Piper Discussing
Project April 5,
1998 0.75
Jimmy Digger Planning April 8, 1998 1.50
Jerry Slick Buying
Supplies May 2,
1998 2.00
Ollie Olson Picking
up food sacks June 1,
1998 5.00
Beau Bumper Sorting
food supplies June 2,
1998 4.00
Total Project Hours = 152.50
Tools/Materials Used
List
all the supplies and materials actually used in the project. Be sure to include the costs of the
materials. Also, explain how you paid
for the materials used. Below is an
example:
Type Costs
Staplers (6) Donated
Paper (1000 Sheets and Copying
Charges) $59.39 (Kiwanis Club)
Rubber bands (1000) $ 2.04
Plastic bags (2000) $52.25
(Kiwanis Club)
Barrels (4) Donated
Trash Bags (35) $ 6.50
Staples (2000) $ 3.00
Gas (30 gallons) $33.00
--------------------------------------------
Total = $156.18
(All
costs were paid for by the local Kiwanis Club and my family except for the gas,
which was provided by the drivers.)
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10
Changes
Most
projects do not proceed exactly as planned, making it necessary to make some
changes in your original plans. List
all the changes that you had to make while carrying out your project. Give the reason for each change.
Photographs
Take
pictures of each phase of your project (as well as before and after pictures)
and include them in your final write-up.
Be sure that the photos are clearly labeled, explaining what is
depicted in each photo.
Approvals for Completed Project
Once
you have completed your Project Book it is time to sign and date in the
appropriate space and obtain the signature of the Scoutmaster or Eagle Advisor.
If
you have completed all the rest of the Eagle merit badges and Eagle
requirements you are now ready to complete your Eagle Application and submit it
along with your finished Project and Eagle Appraisal letters to your
Scoutmaster. You should keep a
photocopy of all documents, exactly as they are turned in to the
Scoutmaster. This is your back up in
case your write-up is lost.
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11
The Eagle Application
Carefully
and neatly print all the required information on the Eagle Application
form. Be sure all your information and
dates are correct, as the District will verify these in detail. Check to see that you have listed four (4)
Eagle required merit badges and two (2) elective merit badges with dates prior to the date of Star Scout
Rank. Also check to see that you have
listed a total of seven (7) Eagle required merit badges and four (4) elective
merit badges with dates prior to
the date of your Life Scout Board of Review.
Also be sure that your leadership positions and dates are correct. It is a good idea to make a copy of the
Eagle Application and practice filling it out before completing the Official
Form.
Also note: To satisfy Requirement
6, you must write a paper on your ambitions, life purposes, and past
accomplishments. This may be ½ to 1-½
pages in length.
Eagle Appraisal Letters
(Letters of Recommendation)
All
the Eagle Appraisal Letters must be submitted with your Final Project Write - Up
and Eagle Application. Therefore don’t
wait till the last month to ask the appropriate persons for a Letter of
Recommendation. They need time to write
the letters and return them to you. You
should begin this process at least two months prior to your anticipated turn-in
time. Be sure to prepare an envelope
for each letter so that the person can mail it to you if they so desire.
Scoutmaster Conference
It
is now time to schedule your Scoutmaster conference. Your Scoutmaster then signs and dates your Eagle Application in
the appropriate space. The Scoutmaster
will make sure that all required signatures are in place. He will also set a date for your Troop
Board of Review.
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12
District Board of Review
After
you have had your Troop Board of Review, your Project Book will be turned in to
the Council Office for review and then turned over to the District Board of
Review. You will then be contacted by
the Board to confirm a meeting date with you.
Once you are completed with the District Board of Review, your
application will be forwarded to the National Boy Scouts of America
Office. By this time, you should
successfully be an Eagle Scout.
Disclaimer
This
is an unofficial guide, which Districts have used and feel that it is within
the intent of the Eagle Project and the guidelines of the BSA Eagle Service
Project Workbook. It has been adopted
by all three Districts of Sinnissippi Council and is distributed to all troops
by the District Advancement Committees.
It is the hope that this guide proves to be of value to you, but please
seek the approval of your troop leaders before proceeding on a project.
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