Eagle Scout Project Workbook 2015 Form: Fill & Download for Free

All Eagle Scout requirements must be completed before your 18th birthday, barring an exception for special needs. This includes “merit badges, service project, active participation, Scout spirit, position of responsibility, and unit leader conference.” Guide to Advancement 2015 section 9.0.1.1 [As of 11/6/16 the 2015 version is the most current.]However the signatures need not be dated before the Scout’s 18th birthday. (ibid, 9.0.1.3 #2; also 9.0.1.4) Section 9.0.1.5 mentions that a copy should be made of the application, service project workbook, etc. and once the copies are in safekeeping, the originals should be delivered promptly to the council service center. It says timeliness is especially critical if the candidate is approaching or has already turned 18.So clearly, although the work must be completed before the 18th birthday, the application needn’t be turned in by then. The Guide to Advancement recommends that the work be hand delivered if possible, but suggests registered or certified mail if that is not possible.“There is no requirement that the application must be completed or submitted before the 18th birthday. Councils do not have the authority to reject applications submitted on or after that date.” (Guide to Advancement section 9.0.1.5)The Board of Review will be scheduled after all records have been submitted to National and verified, then returned to the local council. No special permission is required for a Board of Review within 3 months after the 18th birthday (hence a good reason to submit your packet in a timely fashion).Between 3 and 6 months after the 18th birthday a letter of explanation for the delay is required, as is special permission from the local council. At 6 months past the 18th birthday or beyond, it becomes a real pain. Letters must be sent to National and permission granted to have a late Board of Review. Don’t be in this situation.Best bet, as everyone will tell you, is to get it all done as early as possible.

Every Life Scout working towards Eagle has spent many hours working on other people's service projects - other Eagle projects, or other community service projects. (A necessary minimum includes at least 18 hrs: Tenderfoot (1 hr), 2nd Class (2 hrs), 1st Class (3 hrs), Star (6 hrs), & Life (6 hrs). Many Scouts have school, church, or honor society obligations for further service.)For each of these service hours, most Scouts simply show up and spend the hours doing whatever is asked. Someone else conceived of what the community needed, organized it as a service project, planned the project, and arranged for workers to sign up, show up, and serve.The Eagle Service Project is an EXCITING opportunity. For (usually) the first time, the Eagle candidate has the chance to envision what needs to change in their own community. If they could improve their community in one modest way, what would it be?Make their school better? Their church? Local parks? Help out with seniors or homeless? Create a new dog park? Repair a local cemetery's VFW monument? Create shelves for the new guitar class at school? Create support equipment for a local Special Needs center? Cut a new trail at a nature center? Improve a wilderness area with a conservation project?This is a serious thing -- a teenager gets to decide how to change their community and make it better. Who gets to do that?? (Except for Eagle Scouts!)Consider these Twelve Points. The best Eagle project:Is INTERESTING and/or IMPORTANT.One that the Eagle candidate values as making his community better.Is MEMORABLE.Makes an improvement that will be noticed for many years.Is USEFUL. With agreement from a Beneficiary. (Must benefit a government (city, school, park, etc.) or non-profit (church or charitable organization).)Meets REQUIREMENTS. Agreed to by the scoutmaster and local district/council as meeting national BSA requirements.Is BOUNDED. Has a definite mission, with a border, and a well-defined agreement of what "completion" will be. (Manage any changes CAREFULLY! Don't let changes turn it into something more than you should do!)Is PLANNABLE. Tasks can be listed and times estimated. Materials are definite, and plans can be drawn for any physical constructions. (Not that you won't experience surprises and changes during the project!)Is SHARABLE. You've worked on others' service projects -- now it's time to organize one of your own that OTHER people can work on. This demonstrates your LEADERSHIP.Is EXECUTABLE. Tasks can be performed by available helpers (usually fellow Scouts). Some specialty tasks can be performed by adults. A technical expert and/or project planning expert is available to advise you.Is AFFORDABLE. Any materials etc. requiring purchase can be listed, priced, and obtained. Any funds needed can be raised.Is DESCRIBABLE. The project can be concisely *COMMUNICATED* to others - your Scoutmaster, your Troop Committee, and eventually your Eagle Board of Review. Use Maps, Drawings, Designs, and Photos for the concepts, and Words, Tables, and Lists for the details. This is organized in the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, edited on your computer, printed out, and supplemented by the maps, drawings, designs, and photos. Some troop committees prefer a PowerPoint presentation and/or handout when the project is proposed.Is FINITE and FINISHABLE. Besides being BOUNDED, it needs a reasonable SIZE. The 2015 national average was just over 150 man-hours of labor per project. ("Man-hours" are the total hours worked by each person, including youth, adults, advisors, and the Eagle candidate, added together.) There is no minimum labor hour requirement! However, 150 man-hours is a good planning target for a project that is big enough to demonstrate your leadership skills, yet not so big it gets out of hand.Fits in the TIME BOX. If you are getting close to age 18, can the whole project be done well before your birthday? If you are younger, can it be accomplished during the summer, or over school breaks, or on weekends? Do you have additional time available, in case things go wrong? (weather, materials, site availability, approvals...)After you have finished your project and earned your Eagle, know that you can continue to envision and bring about improvements in your community, state, nation, and around the world. I hope this will be the first of many, many ways you improve the world, over your life time!Good luck on your project!