Trail to Eagle

The 20 Steps to becoming an Eagle Scout:

1. Review the requirements in the Boy Scout Handbook or HERE.

   • YOU MUST COMPLETE REQUIREMENTS 1 through 6 BEFORE YOUR 18TH BIRTHDAY, except for the Board of Review. You do not have to have completed the project report or application (steps 11-17 below) but you must have completed all project work (in other words, you must have finished your project), in addition to having completed all your merit badges and fulfilled your position of responsibility. 

   • You must complete your Scoutmaster Conference (requirement 6) before your 18th birthday. For your Scoutmaster Conference, you will be asked to complete this survey.

2. Obtain your individual advancement report from Scoutbook. 

   • Have you completed the Eagle required Merit badges?

   • Have you completed the leadership requirements? Does the Scoutmaster agree?

3. Research and commit to an Eagle Scout Service Project:

   • What organization could I help?

   • Can I demonstrate leadership?

   • Search the web for ideas such as:

     • Local community groups

     • Religious organizations

     • Government organizations (Township, Park and Rec, Library)

     • Schools

   • Also, Get ideas from past eagle scout projects on the web at the Boys' Life Eagle Scout Project Showcase

   • Discussion on Requirement 5 ("plan, develop, and give leadership").

4. Review your project idea with a Troop 98 Eagle Scout Coordinator (Mr. CHANG.).

5. Visit the organization. Discuss and outline the details of the possible project. Send your organization rep a copy of THIS DOCUMENT and ask them to review the contents.

6. Once the organization and Troop 98 agree on the Project, complete pages 8 to 15 (Eagle Scout Service Project Proposal) of the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook. SAVE THIS FILE TO YOUR LOCAL DRIVE THEN OPEN WITH ADOBE. Do NOT use it when it populates inside a browser.

7. Obtain approvals and signatures from the Scoutmaster, Committee Chairperson, and the organization. You almost always must have all of these signatures prior to completing the next step. HERE is a blank of the Proposal Signature page (best if you download this then open with Adobe Reader, not viewing or editing in your browser or Preview).

8. Present your Project Workbook to a District level representative and obtain a signature. Find the representatives HERE (scroll down to "District Contacts for Eagle Project Reviews and Boards of Review" and click on Baden-Powell District link).

9. You are ready to schedule the project on the Troop 98 calendar; coordinate this well-ahead of time with the SPL and Scoutmaster. Consider how you're going to promote your project and gather sign-ups.

When you're setting up a web page for your project and an RSVP form:

• • Make sure link from home page works to get to your Project page.  www.bsa98.com

  • Make sure your PAGE is accurate.

  • Try the SIGN UP LINK (fill out a few different versions of the form).  Make sure everything works. Get permission to view the RSVP spreadsheet and sign yourself up for email notifications.

  • If all of this is fine, then send out an email to the troop and include the links above. We strongly suggest you include an (appropriate) picture of yourself. Scrape one from our picture albums. Ask a Scout leader to edit/proof your email before you send it.

  • When you're ready to email, send it to the troop distribution list (get it from a Scoutmaster). Only use this address on the BCC: line of your email program. This prevents massive spam when people hit REPLY ALL.

10. Complete your project and demonstrate leadership skills. Take pictures (before and after, plus workers doing work and you showing leadership!).

11. Complete the rest of the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook. Have the Scoutmaster and receiving organization sign indicating approval.

    • Include a reasonable amount of photos with captions. A good rule of thumb is a few before, many during, and several after (maybe 20 total?). It's best for you to build your photo deck in a separate file (not the Workbook), then save it as a PDF and attach it separately.

    • Include your project sign-up sheet and webpage, if you had one

    • Include thank you notes; ideas on who to thank:

      • The organization that enabled you to do your project

      • the troop leaders or any other adults who coached you

      • the volunteers who showed up to help, on any day

      • your sibling(s), who may have helped before, during and after. Typically, a sibling is at an Eagle project longer than any youth other than the Eagle himself.

      • your parents, for undoubtedly supporting you throughout your Scouting career (and, at a minimum, for paying for the food on the project day).

    • Make sure you have all signatures on the Candidate's Promise page. HERE is a blank copy of that page if you need it (best if you download this then open with Adobe Reader, not viewing or editing in your browser or Preview).

12. Download the Eagle Scout Rank Application. 

    • SAVE THIS FILE TO YOUR LOCAL DRIVE THEN OPEN WITH ADOBE. Do NOT use it when it populates inside a browser.

13. Obtain instructions from your Troop 98 Eagle Scout Coordinator on how to request recommendations from the individuals listed in Requirement 2 of the Eagle Scout Rank Application.

    • The letter we're sending is HERE.

    • Recommendations take time!  Start early! 

    • If you don't have a reference in the Religious category you may be required to write a statement of religious belief.  Please discuss this with a Troop 98 Eagle Scout Coordinator.

    • You should never have recommendations delivered to you, whether electronically or by mail/hand-delivery. Letters should be emailed to this address: EagleReference@bsa98.com

14. Complete the Eagle Scout Rank Application. 

    • Obtain dates for your ranks and merit badges from Scoutbook or ask your Troop 98 Eagle Scout Coordinator.

    • If you don't have an accurate record of your leadership service, come up with your best estimate and discuss any concerns with your Troop 98 Eagle Scout Coordinator or your Scoutmaster.

    • In the section on page 2 titled "Certification by Applicant", pay careful attention to this requirement:
      "...prepare and attach to your Eagle Scout Rank Application a statement of your ambitions and life purpose and a listing of positions held in your religious institution, school, camp, community, or other organizations, during which you demonstrated leadership skills. Include honors and awards received during this service."
      It's best to have this written prior to your Scoutmaster Conference for Eagle (which must be completed prior to your 18th birthday).

15. Use THIS CHECKLIST to make sure you have everything done correctly.

16. Make and keep your own copies of the following completed documents:

    • Eagle Scout Rank Application

    • Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook

17. Turn in your application, candidate statement, project package, and any other documents at THIS LINK.

    • If the link doesn't work contact your Troop 98 Eagle Coordinator or the Scoutmaster.

    • Troop 98 will review your documents and contact you if there is anything missing or incorrect. If everything is in order Troop 98 will submit your documents to the Council or may ask you to do so at THIS LINK (do not submit here until you've been cleared to do so by Troop 98).

18. If approved by Council you will be contacted to schedule a Board of Review. Recommendation letters received by Troop 98 will be forwarded directly to your Board of Review members (without your involvement).

19. Attend a Baden-Powell District Eagle Scout Board of Review. The chairman of the Eagle Board (not from Troop 98) will notify you via email of the date and location.

    • Your Scoutmaster or an Assistant must be in attendance with you.  Please coordinate this with one of them ahead of time.

    • You will want your Scout uniform to be in tip-top shape. See or message the STUFFSACK for items you need.

    • You may want to prepare for your Eagle Board by reviewing likely questions. You may also team-discuss with other Troop 98 candidates how you might approach your Board of Review. See these 40 great Eagle Board of Review Questions.

20. If passed, you are an Eagle Scout.  You should now discuss with your Scoutmaster an appropriate time for an Eagle Scout Court of Honor (ECOH). You can find the list of ideas and tasks for Troop 98 ECOH HERE.