Eagle Scouts

Welcome Eagle Scouts

We hope you find this site a useful resource.Eagle Scout Rank is the pinnacle of any Boys Scouting Career. Because Eagle Scouts are marked men, Council wants to keep in contact with you as you move on in your life – whether you are headed on to school, beginning your career or family. There are several ways to do that in the Baltimore Area Council including our Eagle Reserve events held throughout the Council or at the annual Gathering of Eagles event. The Eagle Scout badge is widely recognized as a mark of distinction both within and outside of Scouting. Once earned, it is worn for life. To do so, you demonstrated your understanding of leadership, service, character, personal fitness, and outdoor skills at multiple levels.

In addition to the 21 life skills merit badges required to earn the Eagle Scout rank, you complete an extensive self-directed service project. You planed, organized, lead, and managed the entire service effort prior to your 18th birthday. Currently, the average number of hours spent on Eagle Scout projects is 130. In 2011, more than 51,000 young men earned the Eagle Scout Award, which means Eagle Scout service projects alone represented almost 6.7 million hours of community service.

You should be aware that BSA National made rank, process and documentation changes to the Eagle rank 2012. Over the last 10 years the numbers of Scout earning the rank of Eagle has gradually increased. The 2012 average is approaching 5 percent. Last year, over 450 Scouts earned the rank in the Baltimore Area Council. It is anticipated that with the new process a significantly higher number of Scouts will earn Eagle. The Capitol District has noted about a 3 fold increase in the number of applicants.

If you have misplaced your Eagle credentials you can request replacements by completing the

Request for Duplicate Credentials form.

Eagle Facts

You may be interested in a new book that explores the impact of men who have earned Scouting’s highest rank from World War II to the present and beyond. LEGACY OF HONOR: The Values and Influences of America’s Eagle Scouts by Alvin Townley, 256 pages. Thomas Dunne Books, $24.95 www.thomasdunnebooks.com.In addition a recent study conducted by Baylor University, 'Merit Beyond the Badges', found that Eagle Scouts are more likely than men who have never been in Scouting to:

  • Have higher levels of planning and preparation skills, be goal-oriented, and network with others

  • Be in a leadership position at their place of employment or local community

  • Report having closer relationships with family and friends

  • Volunteer for religious and nonreligious organizations

  • Donate money to charitable groups

  • Work with others to improve their neighborhoods

You can read the entire study by downloading the report.

A recent Wall Street Journal on the Eagle Documents and Links page speaks to the worth of the rank. NESA has hosted the Eagle Scout Role of Honor page.

10 Facts About Eagle Scouts

2,151,024 and Growing: That is the total number of men who have achieved the Eagle Scout rank since it was first awarded in 1912 to Arthur Eldred. The 1 millionth Eagle badge was awarded to Alex Holsinger in 1982; the 2 millionth Eagle was awarded to Anthony Thomas in 2009.

    1. The First 100: It took less than 36 months for the first 100 young men to achieve Eagle status once the program was created. By the middle of 1914, Scouts from 19 states had earned the award.

    2. Largest Eagle Scout Class: The largest number of Scouts to earn the Eagle Award in the history of the organization is 56,176 in 2010, which was the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. As the honorary president of the BSA, President Barack Obama’s signature has appeared on more Eagle cards, in the shortest amount of time, than any other president.

    3. Oldest Known Living Eagle Scout: As a relatively new centenarian, 100-year-old Oliver Wooten of Kentucky was born about a year and a half after the Boy Scouts of America was founded. He still lives the tenants of the Scout Oath and Scout Law and gives us all something to look forward to!

    4. In Service to Others: In 2011, 51,473 young men earned the Eagle Scout Award. Before a Scout can be awarded his Eagle, he must create a leadership service project. The average number of hours spent on each project is about 185. So if you multiplied that number by the number of Eagle Scouts in 2011, it represents more than 9,525,610 hours that young people gave back to improve their communities and nation.

    5. Boy Scout Badge: Scouts who earn their Eagle in 2012 will receive a special badge that was commissioned to recognize the 100th year of Eagle Scouts. Eagles and Heroes: There is no higher medal that can be bestowed on a U.S. military serviceman or woman than the Congressional Medal of Honor. There are currently two heroes who wear their Medal of Honor as proudly as they display their Eagle Award, Leo K. Thorsness and Thomas R. Norris.

    6. Beyond Eagle: Beyond the Eagle rank and Eagle Palms are Distinguished Eagles. This prestigious honor is awarded for distinguished service in a profession and one’s community for a period of at least 25 years after attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. Fewer than 2,000 men have received this high honor since it was established in 1969.

    7. Eagle Men: A Scoutmaster could work on and earn the Eagle Award up to 1965, when rules were changed instituting a maximum age of 18 for earning Eagle—unless the Scout is identified as having special needs.

    8. Scouts Among the Stars: Of the 312 pilots and scientists selected as astronauts since 1959, at least 207 have been identified as having been Scouts or active in Scouting. Of the 24 men to travel to the moon on the Apollo 8 and Apollo 10 through 17 missions, 20 were Scouts, including 11 of the 12 moon walkers and all three members of the Apollo 13 crew.

The Capitol District Advancement Committee