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The Trail to Eagle (the paper trail overview)
The Trail to Eagle (the paper trail overview)
Eagle Candidate,
This is an overview of the paperwork that you will encounter on way towards earning the Eagle Rank. This portion assumes the candiate has completed all the requirements, including the Eagle Service Project, and if needing assistance with filling out the forms.
The following official process is documented below (prior to COVID-19)
BSA does not accept e-signatures such as Verisign, but under the COVID-19 exceptions, they will accept scanned images of original signatures.
Make an effort to find a good scanning tool on your mobile phone so the documents look clean and legible. Consider PhotoScan (Google) or Scanner App (iOS).
Key Contacts
Key Contacts
Eagle Candidate, also known as the Scout
DISTRICT - Advancements Chair - tbird.advancements@gmail.com
COUNCIL -Eagle Processor - Keri Smeaton - Keri.Smeaton@scouting.org
Typical Documents Needed
Typical Documents Needed
The following are the documents that are generally used as part of the application process and in the Board of Review.
The Eagle Application. Download from the BSA site. This form is essentially the Scout's request for earning the Eagle Rank.
Workbook - this is the document used to plan, develop and lead the Scout's service project. This may include attachments including drawings, pictures, and other related documents. There are 4 sections: Introduction, Proposal, Project Plan, and Project Report.
Troop Advancement - a report, such as Troopmaster - that documents the achievements earned at the unit (the Unit is stating that the Scout has met all the requirements for Eagle).
Life Ambition Statement - used in the Scoutmaster Conference and sent to Council as part of the Eagle Application.
Project Notes, diagrams, photos - ideal to share at the Board of Review.
Letters of Recommendation - the Eagle application lists 5-6 references. The scout or unit should reach out to the references and request they write Letters of Recommendation on behalf of the scout. Send the letters to tbird.advancements@gmail.com. The scout should not be in possession of any of the letters.
Filling Out the Eagle Application
Filling Out the Eagle Application
The directions should be pretty clear. The Scout should complete the Eagle Application - all of page 1 and the section on page 2 outlined in GREEN.
COVID-19 Alert: Signatures may be a combination of original signatures or scanned copies of signatures.
At this point, the Scout will have:
The ORIGINAL application with the Scout’s original signature.
Signature of the Unit Leader - either on the ORIGINAL app or a scanned version.
Signature of the Committee Chair - either on the ORIGINAL app or a scanned version.
Double check all the following on the Eagle Application:
Make sure all your references are included. You may skip Employer if you do not have a job. If you do not have a Religious contact, please list one of your parents instead.
Double check that all signatures are in place
Double check ALL your DATES as well
The date the Scout joined Scouting
Dates for First Class through Life boards of review
All your merit badges
Dates for your positions of responsibility (“TO’ and “FROM” dates)
For your Service Project (requirement 5) - completion date - which is the date of the final signature on the project. Also include the name of your service project , and the number of service hours. Service hours comes from your workbook and should include all your planning hours as well as the volunteers.
The date of your Scoutmaster conference. (this should be the last date so far)
Verify Application with the Council Office
Verify Application with the Council Office
Verify the application is another way of saying the Council wants to make sure that their records for the Scout matches the Troop's. The Eagle Scout Rank application must be verified prior to conducting an Eagle Board of Review.
The Scout should make copy of the project workbook and all items mentioned below. Make sure to have physical and electronic copies of all signature pages. Once copies are in safekeeping, contact the Eagle Processor at the Fickett Center to schedule a time for verification.
COVID-19 Alert: Signatures may be a combination of original signatures or scanned copies of signatures.
Collect the following items:
Eagle Application: The application must have all signatures.
Statement of Life Ambitions: a statement of your ambitions & 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.
Any supporting verification documents, such as the Eagle Application Assistance report from Troopmaster, Individual History report from Scoutbook or other unit management software,
The Eagle candidate does not need to be present for verification. A parent, guardian, or unit leader may submit the documents on his behalf either by appointment or by dropping off at the Fickett Service Center.
COVID-19 Alert: Documents may be emailed to the Eagle Processor - keri.smeaton@scouting.org. Council signed documents will be returned via email.
The unit and eagle candidate will be notified by email when the application has been verified and is available for pick up.
The Scout is now ready for an Eagle Board of Review.
Application Verified - Schedule the Board of Review
Application Verified - Schedule the Board of Review
The Scout and the Scoutmaster should receive an email from the District that the Scout can proceed with the Board of Review.
Once the SCOUT receives confirmation from the Council, they have cleared all the requirement hurdles and now is time to consider setting up your Board of Review.
First, the Scouts should consider WHO they want to be part of this special event.
They should invite a Scout leader to introduce the Scout to the Board of Review. This can be ANYONE.
The Scout should also consider inviting a leader to serve on the board. Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters from the unit are not able to serve on your board.
Both of these are considered to be an honor, so put some thought into this step.
The Scout or someone from the unit should provide a place to hold the Board. DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS - BOARDS MAY BE HELD OVER VIDEO LINKS.
Go to the Thunderbird Advancements website and select a PRIMARY and a SECONDARY date for your board of review. Please pick any OPEN dates at least 2 week out.
The Thunderbird Advancements team will find 2-3 volunteers to attend the board. Once the board is full (maximum of 6 people), we will send out an email confirming all the details.
Make sure that your references on your Eagle application are contacted to write recommendation letters on your behalf. The letters are MAILED or EMAILED to your Advancements contact directly. We prefer EMAIL since these are easier to track (see below for contact details).
You will need to have your Life Purpose Statement prepared.
Contact Thunderbird Advancements with any questions.
Prepare for the Eagle Board of Review
Prepare for the Eagle Board of Review
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of Recommendation
The Scout should reach out to the Eagle Advisor or Scoutmaster to notify them that the Council has approved the Eagle Application and start preparing for the Board of Review.
Make sure the REFERENCES on the Eagle application (page 1) are contacted to write recommendation letters on behalf of the Scout. We need the letters EMAILED to tbird.advancements@gmail.com and have them addressed to the Thunderbird District Advancements Team. Please avoid using postal mail (snail mail) if possible.
Notify tbird.advancements@gmail.com with the names of the people you are asking to write letters.
Here is a template for your Letters of Recommendation if needed:
Preparation For the Board (For the Eagle Candidate)
Preparation For the Board (For the Eagle Candidate)
Eagle Candidate: Please provide the following electronic files. The District Advancements team will place this files in a shared area, along with the Letters of Recommendation:
Eagle Scout Workbook - all sections - this should be in a PDF document.
Photo/scans of all the signature pages from the Workbook
Proposal Signatures - Proposal Page E
Project completion - Project Report Pace C2
Fundraising Application Page A (If applicable) Photo/scan:
Eagle Application - both pages including any signature pages
Life Ambition Statement
Photos - before & after of your project - suggest sharing using Google Photos or Apple Photos
Optional: Photo/Scan of your Rank sheets found in the Advancement section at the end of your Scout Book
Optional: Troop advancement records - as found in Troopmaster or equivalent tool
Optional: Scans / photos of interesting notes, sketches, or other documents you used as part of your planning
The Scout should have the Original Eagle Scout application with signatures.
Under COVID rules, this will be the VERIFIED version of the Eagle Application that was emailed from the Council Office (PDF document with Keri Smeaton's or designate's signature).
During the Board of Review, the Scout should have the following to reference:
Work binder (the raw notes from your work project)
Additional Pictures of the project
Notes / Receipts and miscellaneous planning documents
Please attend the board in FULL Scout uniform (per your unit's policy). Generally this means:
Class A, neckerchief, scout pants, scout belt, and scout socks.
Appropriate shoes (ex: hiking boots)
All relevant patches.
Merit badge sash - with all merit badges (if you have them)
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