Eagle Scout
Leadership Service Project
Information

(Current as of April 14, 2008)

Information I provide through this website is subordinate to Official BSA and/or Council policy.  I make every effort to maintain this website with current BSA information.  However, in the event there are errors or outdated information on this website, the policy, direction and guidance found in Official BSA publications will take precedence.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about the information provided herewithin, please contact Mary Snell at snellj2m@aol.com

Official Boy Scouts of America publications I am using as some of my sources of information are:
 

• Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook (BSA Publication number 18-927, most current printing)

• Eagle Scout Rank Application (BSA Publication number 58-728, most current printing)

• Application For Alternative Eagle Scout Rank Merit Badges (BSA Publication number 58-730, most current printing)

• Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures (BSA Publication number 33088, most current printing)

• The Boy Scout Handbook, (BSA Publication number 33105, most current printing)

• Boy Scout Requirements 2007, (BSA Publication number 33215, most current printing)

• Gulf Coast Council Eagle Advancement Policy  http://gulfcoastcouncil.org/forms/Eagle_Advancement_Policy_Final_2008.pdf
  

Preliminary

Is the Scout a "Life Scout"?

Is the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook (#18-927, most current printing), or correct electronic version being used?  (Back Cover)

Has the Scout read, and does he understand, all of the Eagle Scout Project Workbook, including "The 12 Steps From Life To Eagle"?  (Back Cover)

Has the Scout allowed enough time to complete each phase of the project before the Scout’s 18th birthday?

Cover Page (Page 1)

Is the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook cover page filled in completely and accurately?

Project Description  (Pages 5-6)

 Is there a synopsis, or “high-level” overview of the project?

 Is the beneficiary of this project a "qualifying" group or organization?

 Is the benefiting group or organization's information complete and accurate?

 Is there an explanation of how the project is of benefit to the group or organization for which the Scout is doing the project?

 Is the date of the concept discussion with the unit leader filled in?  (This should be the date the unit leader approved the Scout to proceed with writing up the project concept; it is not the date of the Unit Committee’s approval.)

 Is the information regarding the concept discussion with the benefiting group or organization's representative filled in completely and correctly?

Project Details  (Pages 7-9)

  Does the narrative description of the "Present Condition" convey a clear visual picture?

 Is there a detailed narrative discussion describing the method for carrying out the project?

 Is there narrative discussion, and a listing of the materials / tools to be used?  Does the Scout understand that there is a later requirement to specify the cost of each of the materials?

 Is there a narrative discussion of how many people will be needed to carry out the project, where they will be recruited from (fellow Scouts from the unit, Scouts from other units, family members, friends, or relatives) and the approximate "mix" (adults and youth)?

 Is there a time schedule for carrying out the project?  Has the Scout allowed enough time to complete each phase of the project?


  Are there contingency plans in case the dates provided do not work out? 

 Have all safety hazards involving the worksite, tools, materials, and weather been addressed to insure the complete safety of everyone involved?  Are the safety measures in compliance with BSA standards and policies?

 Has project funding been addressed?  (Is the organization for which the project is being done providing the funding for the materials, will material donations be sought from local businesses, or will there be a combination of both?)

 Have potential problems and possible solutions been addressed?

 Has transportation been arranged?

 Are there provisions for drinks, snacks, meals, or other refreshments for the workers - if appropriate?


 Have bathroom facilities been taken into consideration?

 Are designs, maps, drawings, sketches, or other visual aids included, as appropriate?

Are there "Before" photographs, where applicable?  Are they in the quality and quantity to accurately depict the "Present Condition"?

Does the Scout understand that after completion of his project, the Scout must answer the question "In what ways did you demonstrate leadership of others?"  It may be helpful in meeting this requirement if the Scout discusses how he proposes to "demonstrate leadership of others" in this section of the project workbook.

Approval Signatures  (Page 9) (These signatures MUST be “Original” signatures)

 Has the religious institution, school, or community representative signed and dated the form?

 Has the Scoutmaster / Coach / Advisor signed and dated the form?

 Has the unit committee member (preferably the Unit Committee Chair) signed and dated the form?

  Is the council or district advancement committee member's signature the last to be obtained?

  Does the Scout understand that:

Although he acquired the above four signatures of approval, these signatures are only a "preapproval" to do the project?

This preapproval of the project does not mean that the Eagle Board of Review will approve the way the project was carried out, or that the final write-up of how the project was accomplished is sufficient and acceptable?

The Eagle Board of Review decides whether or not a completed project meets the standards and is officially accepted and approved as an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project?

Overall

 Is this Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project write-up grammatically correct, i.e., spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, overall "flow" of the paragraphs, etc?


 Does it conform to the format of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook (BSA Publication number 18-927, most current printing)?

For a Scout to work on his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project (commonly referred to "The Eagle Scout Project"  or "Eagle Project" for short), he MUST:

Be a Life  Scout.

• As soon as a Scout is awarded the Life Scout rank (there is no minimum age requirement), he is eligible to do an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project.  There is no requirement or restriction to wait until he has earned all the requisite 21 merit badges to begin or complete his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project.

Follow the requirements and format (to the letter) of the latest edition of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook (BSA Publication number 18-927, most current printing).  Along these lines, make sure you read and become familiar with all the information provided in the workbook before you decide on a project.

• In this day and age of computer literacy and computer availability, I strongly recommend the Scout use a computerized, or "electronic", version of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, for several reasons: 

• The actual Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook does not provide enough physical space within its pages on which to write the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project and all its facets.

 
• Electronic versions require "typing", which makes the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project write-up easier to read by those of us (in the Unit, District, Council, and National Headquarters) who will pass judgment on the project.

 
• A computer with a good text editor allows the Scout to quality control his typed information through the use of a spell checker, grammar editor and thesaurus.  It also provides for the selection of font sizes, styles and colors, layout of the text on the page, and the importation and use of graphics and photos - all of which will enhance the "aesthetics" of his write-up.

• Just make sure the "electronic" version you use is exactly the same as the current "Official" one, which is BSA Publication number 18-927, most current printing.  Computerized, or "electronic", versions of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook in Microsoft Word (.doc), Rich Text (.rtf), or Adobe (.pdf) format that are the "Official" electronic versions are available from:

• Computerized or "electronic" versions of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook from any other source are not "Official" versions and therefore are not authorized to be used.

• Use of a computerized or "electronic" version of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook does not give the Scout license to modify, deviate or otherwise be "creative" with the format of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook.  While the Scout is encouraged to use his own style of writing in filling out the requisite parts of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, he must strictly adhere to the existing format of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook and provide the information required in each section of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook.
  

Procrastination or lack of planning on your part DOES NOT constitute an EMERGENCY on anyone else's part!!!  An Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project will take a significant amount of time for you to plan, write up, obtain approvals, and carry out the project.  Do not make the mistake of waiting until the last minute before your 18th birthday to begin thinking about your project.

The following are things (occurrences, events, or issues) that will cause a Scout's efforts to be disallowed toward his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project:
 

• Work done by the Scout toward his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project before he officially becomes a Life Scout 

• Any work done by the Scout toward his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project before his project plan is approved AND signed by the four people who have to preapprove the project (Religious  institution, school or community representative; Scoutmaster/Coach/ Advisor; Unit committee member; Council or district advancement committee member). Time spent researching and finding an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project, planning and writing up the project, and going through the requisite approval cycles is allowable.

• Changes to your project that alter the approved project’s scope, direction, and/or effort might dictate the need for the District Advancement Committee, along with your Scoutmaster and the unit committee, to review and re-approve your project.  In these situations it is best to touch base with the District Advancement Committee, explain to them the magnitude of your changes, and get their guidance and approval before you commence or continue with the project.  The concern here is to prevent your project from becoming degraded to the point that it no longer qualifies as an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project.  You don’t want to be told at your Eagle Board of Review that what you did was a nice community service project, but the changes you made in the project’s scope, direction, and/or effort no longer meet the standards of an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project.
  

The Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project

The Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project has two main goals.  The first is to provide a service project that is beneficial to your religious institution, school or community.  Whatever you decide to do, it must be of benefit to the group that will be helped by the project.  A good thing to keep in mind when you are thinking about what to do for an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project - for you to successfully accomplish the project you are proposing - we feel you should know something about what it is you are proposing to do, i.e., construction type work, bricklaying, painting, hanging sheet rock, etc.

Limitations:  Routine labor (a job or service normally rendered) should not be considered.  Work involving BSA Council property or other BSA activities is not permitted.  The project also may not be performed for a business, be of a commercial nature, or be a fund-raiser.  (Fundraising is permitted only for securing materials or supplies needed to carry out your project.  It should not be a majority of the project.)

How big a project is required?  There are no specific requirements as long as the project is of benefit to a religious institution, school, or community.  The amount of time spent by you in planning your project and the actual working time spent in carrying out the project should be as much as necessary for you to demonstrate your leadership of others.

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 may be a better time than the period just before Christmas.  Remember, you must work within your helpers' and advisors' schedules, not just your own.

The second goal of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project is to demonstrate leadership - to put into practice leadership skills you have learned through your Scouting experience.  As mandated by the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook (#18-927, most current Printing, Page 4) and the Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures (#33088; most current Printing, Pages 27 and 28), after completion of his project, the Scout must answer the question "In what ways did you demonstrate leadership of others?"  The following are abbreviated descriptions of "SKILLS OF LEADERSHIP" that you might find useful in discussing your leadership role in accomplishing your Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project:

• Communicating

Communicate to give and receive information.  Say what you mean.

• Controlling Group Performance

A group that is out of control will not accomplish its goal

• Counseling (Listening)

Listening is needed for effective counseling or else you are just talking

• Effective Teaching

Teaching is not effective unless something is learned

• Evaluating

Without evaluation, you do not know if you are accomplishing your goal

• Knowing And Using The Resources Of The Group

You must depend on what other members of the group can do as well what you can do in order to accomplish your goal

• Planning

Without a plan, a group has no direction

• Representing the Group

You represent your group to others, and others to your group

• Setting the Example

What you are and what you do speak louder than what you say

• Sharing Leadership

Without sharing leadership, no one will be trained to take over

• Understanding The Characteristics And Needs Of The Group And Its Members

Different backgrounds, strengths, and weaknesses; all must be understood and considered

The following is a link to a comprehensive explanation, discussion and example of each of these leadership skills that you may find useful in discussing and carrying out the leadership aspect of your Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project:

The actual Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project write-up must follow (to the letter) the format of the most current printing of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook.  The sequence must be the same, the section titles must be exact, and as a minimum, you must provide the information asked for in each section.  Within this framework, the following are suggestions that will improve and enhance your project write-up.

Take lots and lots of pictures throughout the life of your project.  There is no set number of pictures required in your write-up.  Some of the pictures you include in your write-up need to accurately show the "Before" and "After" aspects of your project, where applicable.  What is the situation that you propose to improve, and when it is completed, what do the final results look like?

As you carry out your project, make sure you take pictures of the work in progress.  Take "action" shots of your workforce at work, of you leading and directing the work efforts of others, and of you actively participating in doing some of the work.  It is a good idea to designate someone to be responsible for taking pictures; someone who you feel has the skills and the dedication to take lots of good, quality pictures.

This is not a facet of your project to skimp on or be cheap.  It is easy to select a representative group of quality pictures if you take a multitude of photographs.  After you have done all the work on your project, it is heartbreaking if you ended up taking only a few pictures and find they either didn't turn out, or don't show the total scope of your efforts.

Remember, "A picture is worth a thousand words."  Pictures make it easier for you to "tell your story" to those of us (in the Unit, District, Council, and National Headquarters) who will pass judgment on the adequacy of your project.  We will, in most cases, have nothing in hand to judge your project other than your written and photographic documentation of your efforts.

The first part of the Project Description section is “Describe the project you plan to do.”  It is here that you give a brief (no more than a paragraph or two) synopsis of your project.  This is a “high-level” overview of what your project is going to be.  Do not go into all the “nitty-gritty” details of your project in this section.  Also, do not tell me in this section why this is a worthwhile project (you will do that later.)  Here you should talk in general terms about the present situation and what you propose to do to correct, improve, or enhance it through your project.  It is beneficial if you also provide some background information on the organization for which you planning on doing this project.  A "nice" adjunct to this part is a street/area map of where your project is located, and maybe a photograph that is representative of the organization for which you are going to do the project.

The second part asks “What group will benefit from the project?”  Here you list only the information asked for – it is self-explanatory.

The third part is “My project will be of benefit to the group because:”  Here you will explain the reasons why your project is of benefit to the organization for whom you are doing the project.

The date to enter for “The concept was discussed with my unit leader on:” is the date you discussed what you wanted to do with your unit leader (preferably your Scoutmaster) and got his approval to proceed with writing up your project concept.  This is NOT the date of your Unit Committee’s approval – that comes later.

The last part of the Project Description section is to identify who your contact/focal point is at the organization for which you are proposing the project.  This should be the individual who has the authority within that organization to grant you approval – from the organization’s standpoint – to proceed with the project.  It should be the person in the organization whom you will coordinate with during the course of your project.

The Project Details section is the "heart", or the "meat" of your proposal.  Here is where you describe, in great detail, all the aspects that you can think of that it will take to complete your project.  The action words here should be first-person future tense - "I will...", or "I plan to...".  Make sure you include (as a minimum) the information asked for in the instructions for this section.  It is in this section that you will include the "Before" pictures in your discussion.

In the Project Details section, provide a written narrative of all the aspects of your proposed project - the what, where, when, how and who that you envision will make up your project.  Here you are to describe the present condition, the methods, materials to be used, project helpers, and a time schedule for carrying out the project.  Describe any safety hazards that might be faced, and how the safety of those carrying out the project will be ensured.  This is the section where you discuss in detail all the things (materials, manpower, time frames, sequence of events, alternative plans) that you see you will need for your project to come together.  Of utmost importance is your need to provide a detailed set of instructions.  These instructions should follow a logical sequence of events as you list the various tasks and the dates when each are to be done.  These instructions should tell your workforce exactly what to do, what order they are to do them in, and who will do them.  Include how you are funding your project, whether the organization for whom you are doing the project will be providing the money for the materials, whether you will seek material donations from local business, or a combination of both.  You will need to identify how many (a number is required here) people you will recruit to help you carry out your project, specify where you will be recruiting them from (fellow Scouts from your unit, Scouts from other units, family members, friends, or relatives) and the approximate "mix" (adults and youth).  Make sure you adequately address (as a minimum) the issues in the instructions for this section.

As you describe your project, incorporate photographs, layouts, drawings, or other visual aids in the body of the text.  The reader will have an easier and better time understanding what you are trying to say if there are visual references (the photographs, layouts, drawings, or other visual aids) of what you are discussing.  The alternative to this is making an appendix at the back of the project write-up and referencing within the text of your project discussion the photographs, layouts, drawings, or other visual aids in the appendix.  No matter where you choose to locate these visual references - in the body of your write-up text or in an appendix - number them or otherwise sequence them in order, and include a caption with each telling what is being depicted.

After completion of his project, the Scout must answer the question "In what ways did you demonstrate leadership of others?"  It may be helpful in meeting this requirement if the Scout discusses how he proposes to "demonstrate leadership of others" in this section of the project workbook.

The last part of the Project Details section is getting the four signatures and the dates they are signed that are required for your project to be "Approved" for you to start work on the project.  I strongly recommend they be obtained in the following order: 

• Religious institution, school or community representative

• Scoutmaster/Coach/Advisor

• Unit committee member

• Council or District Advancement Committee member

The Scoutmaster/Coach/Advisor is the primary contact in your unit to help you with your project.  Some units have a registered adult leader who is appointed as a "Unit or Troop Eagle Advisor" and who will guide you through this process.  It is the Scoutmaster/Coach/Advisor who you should be going to for review and advice on your project write-up.  This is the person who has the initial say as to whether or not what you are proposing qualifies as an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project.  This is the person who should also verify that you have done a quality write-up of your proposal, and that it is ready for the Unit Committee to review.

It is preferred that the unit committee member be the Unit Committee Chair.  Because your proposed project will in all likelihood involve unit assets (time, material, equipment, manpower, etc.) and be a sanctioned unit function, the Unit Committee - as the unit governing entity - should review your proposal.  You should request a convening of, and make a formal presentation to your Unit Committee.  This gives the committee a chance to ask you questions about your project, make sure there are not things you might have forgotten or not thought of and planned for, and make suggestions of how you might improve the project or simplify how you could execute the project.  Once the Unit Committee is satisfied that "all the bases are covered", the Unit Committee (preferably the Unit Committee Chair) should sign as the unit committee member.

The last required signature to approve your package is that of the Council or District Advancement Committee.  The District Advancement Committee will require a formal meeting with you to review and discuss your project.  To stress the importance and formality of this meeting, you should be attired in your complete Scout "Class A" uniform.  This may be the first time we have had to meet you face-to-face, and "first impressions" are extremely important.

If the three previous signatory bodies have done their job correctly, meeting with the District Advancement Committee may turn out to be little more than a formality.  We will want to read what you have written, and question you on issues that aren't clear to us.

A word to the wise:  While we will be interested in the date when you plan to start the actual work phase of your project,  I strongly recommend that you DO NOT come to the appointment with the District Advancement Committee and already have your first workday scheduled for a day or two from that appointment - we might very well ask that you go back and add to your written report, and present it to us again in the near future.  This may cause you to delay your planned or anticipated starting date, which in turn might affect materials deliveries, the availability of your workforce, etc.  To preclude this from happening to you and your project, it is in your best interest to present us with a thoroughly thought out project that covers - in depth - all the issues and topics discussed above.  (Your Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project write-up is large piece in the overall process of attaining the highest award Scouting has to offer, and probably the most important document you will do during your Scouting career.  The analogy here is like that of you preparing a résumé for a highly sought after job.  You would make sure your résumé contained everything that would project you in the best possible light to the prospective employer.  So too your Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project write-up should reflect the very best effort you can put forth in describing and explaining your project to us.)  Mediocrity is not acceptable.

The importance of preparing and submitting a detailed, high-quality write-up of your Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project cannot be overemphasized!  In the (hopefully) unlikely event that you are not approved for the rank of Eagle Scout during your Eagle Scout Board of Review, your Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project write-up will be one part of the documentation that is sent forward to the District, Council, and/or National Headquarters during any appeal process.  It is in your interest to put forth your best effort right from the start.

When we are satisfied that what you have presented to us meets all the requirements for an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project, we will sign your package.

A note of caution - Although you acquire the above four signatures of approval, these signatures are only a "preapproval" to do the project.  This preapproval of the project does not mean that the Eagle Board of Review will approve the way the project was carried out, or that your final write-up of how you accomplished your project is sufficient and acceptable.  The Eagle Board of Review decides whether or not your completed project meets the standards and is officially accepted and approved as an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project. 

You've gotten all your approvals, and now it's time you can "go do" your project.  It is during the actual course of the work that you must be totally and completely familiar with what you wrote in the Project Details section.

In the Carrying Out The Project section your are required to "Record the progress of your project."  This is to include the technical side of everything (how and what) that was done to complete the project.

After completion of his project, the Scout must answer the question "In what ways did you demonstrate leadership of others?"  The Scout must also give examples of how he directed the project rather than doing the work himself.

It may behoove the Scout to create a written narrative that addresses these topics and insert it under this workbook heading.  Other options may include, but not be limited to photographic or video documentation that accurately recorded the progress of the project from start to finish.  The alternative is to be prepared to discuss these topics, in depth, during the Scout’s Eagle Board of Review.

• Should the Scout choose to do a written narrative, the write-up I want to see should be in two separate and distinct parts - the technical side of how and what you did to complete the project, and your demonstration of leadership of others.  The action words should now be first-person past tense - "I did...".  Talk about things in this part of your write-up in the same sequence or order as you did in the Project Details section.  This will make it easier for you ( and the board members of your Eagle Scout Board of Review) to compare what you said you were going to do with what you actually did.  As you describe what you did during your project, again incorporate photographs, layouts, drawings, or other visual aids in the body of the text or reference them in an appendix.  No matter where you choose to locate these visual references - in the body of your write-up text or in an appendix - number them or otherwise sequence them in order, and include a caption with each visual aid telling what is being depicted.  Make sure that you include and identify your "After" pictures - photographs of the completed project.  A "nice touch" here is also the inclusion of a picture of you, in your complete Scout "Class A" uniform, at, and showing off the completed project.

• For determining how much time your project took from start to finish:

• Keep a record of the time YOU have spent on the project.  You will need to keep separate track of how much time YOU spent "planning" the project and how much time YOU spent actually working on the project.  Add these two times together and you have the total amount of time YOU spent on the entire project.  You will need to enter each of these three figures in the part of this section titled "Hours I Spent Working on the Project."

 
• Keep a record of the time others spent helping you on the project.  I recommend you have a "Sign-In/Sign-Out" log at the project worksite, and ask that your helpers document their time.  You are required to list the names, dates, and number of hours worked by your helpers in the part of this section titled "Hours Spent by Scouts, Venturers, or Other Individuals Working on the Project."