Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project

The Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project, known as the Eagle Scout Project or more simply as the Eagle Project, is the opportunity for a Scout in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to demonstrate leadership of others while performing a project for the benefit of his community. This is the culmination of the Eagle Scout candidate's leadership training, and it requires a significant effort on his part. [cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url =http://www.nesa.org/trail/manual.html | title =Eagle Scout Service Project How-to Manual | format = DOC, RTF, or PDF| work =Trail to Eagle | publisher =National Eagle Scout Association | accessdate = 2007-07-26] The project must benefit an organization other than the BSA, but it cannot be performed for an individual or a business, be solely a fundraising project, or be commercial in nature.

Requirement

A written plan must be submitted using the BSA Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook and be pre-approved by the benefiting organization, the Scout Leader, the unit committee, and a district representative, before work on the project can begin. After the project is complete, the Scout will update the workbook where he will discuss the methods in which he gave leadership, ways in which the plan may have had to change and the benefits of the project to the community.

Examples of Eagle Scout service projects include: constructing park benches, running a blood drive, constructing a playground, building bat houses for a local park, refurbishing a room at a church or school, resetting stones at a cemetery, planting grass for erosion control, or organizing a dinner and collecting necessities for the homeless. [ [http://www.dosomething.org/node/43610 Do Something | Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project ] ]

History

The merit badges required for Eagle have been a requirement since the inception of the award. A Scout's "record of satisfactory service" with his troop was first added to the Eagle requirements in 1927. This changed in 1952 to "do your best to help in your home, school, church or synagogue, and community." This vague statement was refined to "plan, develop, and carry out a service project" in 1965. . In 1972 a leadership component "give leadership to others" was added. cite news | first= Robert | last= Peterson| url= http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0211/d-wwas.html | title= The Way It Was: Evolution of the Eagle Scout Award | publisher=Scouting | date= November - December 2002]

Impact

The idea for a project may be an original one or one already done by someone else. In either case, the Scout must plan, develop, and lead others in doing the project. There is no numerical minimum amount of time or requirement for the length of time in which the project needs to be completed, but that it be enough to "demonstrate leadership. cite news | first= Robert | last= Peterson| url= http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0003/a-trae.html | title= Last Step on the Trail to Eagle | publisher=Scouting | date= March-April 2000] The exact implementation of requirements varies among different districts and councils.

The rigorous nature of the required service project is a major step in the completion of the Eagle rank. Very often, the Eagle Project is what highlights the full impact of the Scouting program to the community at-large. [cite web | last =Elson | first = Martha | authorlink = | coauthors = | date= 2008-01-28 | url = http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080126/NEWS01/801260442/1008| title = Blind-school Scout earns Eagle rank | format =| work = | publisher = The Courier-Journal | accessdate = 2008-01-29] cite news | first= Julia | last= Campbell | url= http://www.hvjournal.com/articles.php?id=2209 | title= Eagle Scout Project to Preserve HHS History | publisher= Hurricane Valley Journal| date= 2005-09-21] cite web | first= Jennae | last= Phillippe | url= http://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/sg072601.htm | title= Eagle Scout project makes local history | publisher=Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society | accessdate=2007-04-09]

ee also

*Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
*Advancement and recognition in the Boy Scouts of America
*

References

External links

*cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url = http://www.nesa.org | title = National Eagle Scout Association | format = HTML | work = | publisher = | accessdate =
*cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url = http://members.cox.net/scouting179/EagleProjectPacket.rtf | title = Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook | format = RTF | work = | publisher = | accessdate = 2006-06-19
*cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url = http://www.troop97.net/pdfbin/eagle_app.pdf | title = Eagle Rank Application (for after project is finished) | format = PDF | work = | publisher = | accessdate =
*cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url = http://members.cox.net/scouting179/Eagle%20Distinguished.htm | title = Distinguished Eagle Scouts | format = | work = Troop and Pack 179 | publisher = | accessdate = 2006-06-08
*cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url =http://usscouts.org/eagle.asp | title =Eagle Scouts | format = | work = | publisher =U.S. Scouting Service Project | accessdate = 2006-06-08
*cite web | last = Smith | first = Randy | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url = http://www.flash.net/~smithrc/eagleprj.htm | title = Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Planning Guide | format = | work = Unofficial, but very helpful guide to planning and carrying out the project | publisher = | accessdate =
*cite web | last = Everette | first = Randy | authorlink = | coauthors = Kathy Lull | year = 2005 | url = http://members.cox.net/scouting179/Eagle%20Scout%20Resource%20Package.doc | title = Eagle Scout Resource Package | format =DOC | work = An Aide for Life Scouts and Eagle Candidates | publisher = | accessdate = 2006-06-14