Eagle Scout Information
Eagle Scout is the highest advancement rank in Boy Scouting. In 2012, the centennial year of the Eagle Scout Award, 57,976 Scouts earned the Eagle Scout rank— more than in any previous year. From 1912 to 2012, more than 2 million Scouts earned the Eagle Scout rank.
If you would like to get started on your Eagle Scout Award, start here:
-
- Great Falls Council Eagle Process
The Steps from Life to Eagle: Steps 1-5 must be done on or before your 18th birthday.
-
-
-
- Complete all Eagle Rank requirements.
- Complete and gain approval for your Eagle Project Proposal using Workbook with needed signatures.
- Complete Eagle Project and complete the Project Workbook with needed signatures.
- Complete the Eagle Rank application. This can also be generated inside of Scoutbook
- Log into Scoutbook
- Goto the Scout
- Click on Reports
- Select Eagle Application
- Get the needed signatures on the application. Scouting America LOCAL COUNCIL VERIFICATION is not needed before your 18th birthday.
- Write your Statement of Ambitions and Life Purpose
- Contact the References on your application. (See “Eagle Scout Reference” process)
- Have Eagle Application Verified (see “Eagle Scout Application Verification” process).
- The Completed Verified Eagle Application will be emailed to the District Advancement Chair and to the Unit Representative who dropped or emailed the request (original applications will stay with the Council).
- Once your Letters of Reference are received you can schedule a date for the Eagle Board of Review with the District.
- Complete Eagle Board of Review. Eagle App is signed and given to the Committee Chair/Adv Chair
- Committee Chair/Adv Chair delivers or email: EagleVerification@GFCScouting.org signed Application to any Buffalo, Elmira or Oakfield Offices.
- Council Executive signs Application and forwards to National
- Eagle Credentials arrive at the Local Council and the troop is notified.
- You can plan your Eagle Scout Awards Ceremony.
-
-
If you have any questions on the above please email: EagleVerification@GFCScouting.org
You can earn Eagle Scout Palms after you have earned your Eagle Scout Award. Here’s where to get started:
Additional Eagle Scout resources and information:
-
- 1000’s of Eagle Project Ideas
- Eagle Project Ideas and Suggestions
- National Eagle Scout Association (NESA)
- National Eagle Scout Association Scholarship Applications
- Life to Eagle Presentation: This presentation, for unit leaders, advancement administrators, Scouts and parents, addresses the process and requirements for proposing, conducting, and reporting on Eagle Scout Service Project Download Presentation
If you would like additional information or if you have questions, please contact the Scout Service Center.
Eagle Scout Projects
Eagle Scout Projects are the culminating event for a Scout who is trying to achieve the highest rank in the Scouting program. Donations of time, talent, materials, and resources are always needed. The Eagle Project is generally completed in the area where the scout lives and is active and local resources are always appreciated.
WHAT DEFINES AN EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT
Eagle Scout projects are evaluated primarily on impact—the extent of benefit to the religious institution, school, or community, and on the leadership provided by the candidate. The Scout must provide evidence of planning and development.
The Eagle Project must be helpful to any religious institution, school, or community. Projects may not be commercial or for a business but could benefit museums, various service agencies, homes for the elderly, or a public park. The test is whether the project primarily benefits the community, not business profits.
Routine labor is not normally appropriate for a project. This might be defined as a job or service you may provide as part of your daily life, or a routine maintenance job normally done by the beneficiary. For example, pulling weeds on a school football field is not appropriate.
A project may not be a fundraiser. In other words, it may not be an effort that primarily collects money, even for a worthy charity.
The Five Tests of an Acceptable Eagle Scout Service Project:
-
-
- The project provides sufficient opportunity to meet the Eagle requirements.
- The project appears to be feasible.
- Safety issues will be addressed.
- Action steps for further detailed planning are included.
- The Scout is on the right track with a reasonable chance for a positive experience.
-
EAGLE SERVICE PROJECT REVIEW PROCESS
Please email a PDF/Digital Copy of the Eagle Service Project Workbook (only the Project proposal sections is required) with Signed Proposal Page E to your District Advancement Contacts with the following information:
-
-
- Scout Name
- Troop Number
- Scout’s Date of Birth
- Troop Advancement Chair/Eagle Coordinator (Coach) Contact Information for Two Deep Leadership communication. If email is being sent by a Youth, please copy your Scoutmaster/Advancement Chair/Unit Eagle Coordinator (Coach)
-
Troops can expect a response within 14 Business Days. If you haven’t received a response in 14 Days, please email your District Advancement Chair and District Professional. You need to be aware that the process takes time and this needs to be taken into consideration. The proposal may require additional information or a meeting before it is approved. This will be communicated to the Youth & Advancement Chair/Unit Eagle Coordinator (Coach).
Proposal needs to Meet the Five Tests of an Acceptable Eagle Scout Service Project:
Proposal must be prepared first. It is an overview, but also the beginnings of planning. It must show your unit leader, unit committee, and council or district that your project can meet the following tests.
1. It provides sufficient opportunity to meet the Eagle Scout service project requirement. Must show that planning, development, and leadership will take place; and how the three factors will benefit a religious institution, a school, or your community.
2. It appears to be feasible. Must show the project is realistic for you to carry out.
3. Safety issues will be addressed. Must show an understanding of what must be done to guard against injury, and what will be done if someone gets hurt.
4. Action steps for further detailed planning are included. Must make a list of the key steps you will take to make sure your plan will have enough details, so it can be carried out successfully.
5. You are on the right track with a reasonable chance for a positive experience.
When completing proposal, it only needs enough detail to show the reviewer that It can meet the tests above. If showing that it meets the tests requires a lengthy and complicated proposal, the project might be more complex than necessary. Remember, the proposal is only the beginnings of planning. Most of the planning will come with the next step, preparation of the project plan.
Proposals should be reviewed and signed by the Scout, Scoutmaster, Committee (Chair), and Beneficiary before submitting for approval.
If you have any questions concerning this process, please contact your District Advancement Chair/Professional.
Eagle Scout Application Verification Process
Eagle Scout applications can be submitted in-person at our Buffalo, Elmira or Oakfield Offices during normal weekday business hours or by email at EagleVerification@gfcscouting.org. Turn-around time can take up to 10 business days (please plan accordingly).
Eagle Scout Application Verification Requirements
The following can be Drop off, or Emailed:
1. Eagle Application, properly filled out (typed is perfered) signed and dated
2. Project Workbook Proposal signature page with 5 signatures (Proposal Page H)
-
-
- If signatures are collected on multiple digital pages, make sure the Scout’s name and signature are on each page.
-
3. Project Workbook Report signature page with 3 signatures (Project Report Page C)
-
-
- If signatures are collected on multiple digital pages, make sure the Scout’s name and signature are on each page.
-
4. Statement of Ambitions and Life purpose
5. Email Applications should be Scanned into a file (photos from phone are not acceptable).
-
-
- Email packet to: EagleVerification@gfcscouting.org
-
The Completed Verified Eagle Application will be emailed to the District Advancement Chair and to the Unit Representative who dropped or emailed the request (original applications will stay with the council).
The Eagle Board should be scheduled only after the Application has been Verified and Eagle References have been received.
Eagle Application Verification Check Sheet | Download
Eagle Scout Reference Process
Under requirement 2 on the Eagle Scout Rank Application. Our Council advancement committee designates the District Advancement Chairs to secure recommendations from the references appearing under requirement 2. Our Council asks that the Scout or Unit give a Link to those listed. Those asked will go online to complete a form that is private and confidential.
The Troop (Crew) Committee will no longer oversee collecting Reference Recommendations for the Eagle Candidate. We are asking that a Link be provided to those listed on the Eagle Application. Those listed on the application will then go online and complete the reference recommendation for the Scout. Once completed the reference recommendation will be forwarded to the District Eagle Advancement Chairperson/or District Eagle Coordinator. When he/she has received enough of the Eagle references, the Scout will be able to schedule an Eagle Board of Review. This process was changed to ensure the integrity of the recommendation.
The links to the Eagle Reference Recommendation request are:
-
-
- Great Tails District: https://247scouting.com/forms/375-GTEagleRecommendation26
- North Star District: https://247scouting.com/forms/375-NSEagleRecommendation26
- Voyageur District: https://247scouting.com/forms/375-VOEagleRecommendation26
- Whitetail District: https://247scouting.com/forms/375-WTEagleRecommnedation26
- Winding Rivers District: https://247scouting.com/forms/375-WREagleRecommendation26
- Scenic Trails District: https://247scouting.com/forms/375-STEagleRecommendation26
-
CLICK HERE for sample template of email to send requesting recommendation.
Scouts may assist with this, but that is the limit of their participation. Scouts are not responsible for follow-through or any other aspect of the process. It is up to the council’s designated representatives to collect the responses. If after a reasonably diligent effort no response can be obtained from any references, the board of review must go on without them. It must not be postponed or denied for this reason, and the Scout shall not be asked to submit additional references or to provide replacements.
Completed reference responses of any kind are the property of the council and are confidential, and only review-board members and those officials with a specific need may see them. The responses are not to be viewed by or returned to the Scout. Doing so could discourage the submission of negative information. For the same reason, those providing references do not have the option of giving the reference directly to the Scout and shall not be given the option of waiving confidentiality. Once a review has been held, or an appeal process conducted, responses shall be returned to the council, where they will be destroyed after the Eagle Scout credentials are released or the appeal is concluded.
In Scouts BSA, advancement references are required only for Eagle Scout rank. The council determines methods of contact.
Eagle Scout Recognition on Social Media
Eagle Project Publication – The Advancement team provides guidelines to each scout at their EBOR on how to publish their own Eagle project to the GFC Water Cooler (internal) and the GFC Social Media accounts (external). These will be reviewed by GFC before they are published.
Google form (https://forms.gle/s92vxTbtt3nxPbYv5)
Eagle Scout Extensions
A Scout, parent or guardian, unit leader, or unit committee member may use this form to petition for an extension of time to earn the Eagle Rank. Before completion, please refer to the Guide to Advancement, “Time Extensions,” 9.0.4.0, and “Process for Requesting and Reviewing a Time Extension,” 9.0.4.1, and additional instructions on the reverse side. Click here for the Application
More Information
Find more information regarding the Advancement Program and Contacts on our Council Advancement Page
