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How to help
your son earn his Eagle Scout Rank.
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Things that
help.
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Things that
don't help.
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Guaranteeing
his success.
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How to help
him join that top 2% of his peers
nationwide who will earn the Eagle rank.
Encouragement
One of the most important things
you can do is to provide encouragement. Many young men get
discouraged, while others get distracted. They may feel
pressure from their peers that Scouting isn't "cool". You
can encourage him, and remind him that earning the Eagle
Scout rank will have more long-term significance throughout
his life than almost anything else he does as a boy. He
must make the decision to reach for this accomplishment, but
your support and encouragement often makes the biggest
difference. Help him set deadlines, timelines, goals, and
waypoints so that he does not run out of time to complete
the process.
Life to Eagle Seminar
You and your son should attend
the annual Life to Eagle Seminar together. You will hear
the same things he does, and can help him absorb all the
information presented. This seminar covers all seven
requirements, and concentrates on the planning and carrying
out the Eagle Scout leadership service project. Attendance
will save many hours of work and frustration. Be sure he
has visited the Eagle Scout information web site at
www.eaglescout.itgo.com and downloaded the Eagle Scout
Leadership Service Project Workbook before the seminar.
This web site has information and links that will be helpful
throughout the process.
Finding a Project
When your son is ready to find a
project, help him to evaluate ideas in light of his skills
and interests. Whatever he chooses to do, he will have to
teach a group of youth how to carry out the project. If he
has worked with tools all his life, a construction project
might be a good choice. If he is a computer expert, he
might consider using those skills. Suggest he talk to
other Eagle Scouts and talk with his Scout leaders. The
restrictions on what makes an acceptable Eagle project are
detailed in the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project
Workbook. If your son has a question, have him
call the District Advancement Chairman.
Learning the Skills Needed to Carry Out the Project
Your son may need to learn new
skills. You can help your son find people who can help him
learn these skills. Remember that he will need to
understand these skills well enough to teach others while
leading the project. You may have skills and information
that he needs. Other Scout leaders or parents may be able
to help him out. In some cases your son may need to contact
a professional for help. The library is always a good
source of information, from basic construction to
landscaping and horticulture to designing events for younger
children.
Writing the Proposal
Once your son has decided on a
project, and learned the skills to plan, develop, and lead
the project, he needs to write up the project in the
Workbook. He needs to write this.
Writing up the details is an important step in the planning,
and demonstrating to himself and others that he is ready to
lead the project. You can help with proofreading, spelling,
formatting, and editing. Make sure he follows the
instructions carefully.
Reviewing the Proposal
Your son should be able to tell
to you, step by step, what the boys working on the project
will be doing. He will be leading the project. The boys
working with him probably will know much less about how to
carry out the project than he does. You can take him
through the project step by step. Ask questions such as: "On
the first day of your project you are at your site, you have
a pile of materials and tools, and a group of boys ready to
work. What do you tell them to do?" "How should
they do it (remember these are boys, not skilled
craftsmen)?" "What next?" And so forth through
the entire project to completion. Ask, "when you go to
buy the materials, exactly what materials, types, sizes, and
quantities will you buy?" All these details should be
laid out fully in the Workbook project plan details.
These are the same types of questions he will be
asked when he is ready to get his proposal approved by his
Scoutmaster, Troop Committee, and the District Advancement
Committee.
Carrying Out the Project
You and other adults in the troop
should have very little to do while your son is actually
carrying out the project. Scout policies require two adults
to be present during a Scouting event. Be careful not to
take over running the project. You may need to be involved
with transportation. Only adults can operate dangerous
tools and machinery. Beyond these few specific activities,
the most helpful thing you can do is to bring a lawn chair
and a good book. Stay close enough that you can be reached
in an emergency, but far enough away that he (and his
workers) will not be tempted to turn to you with questions
that he needs to answer.
Writing the Report
Here again, you can help with
encouragement, review, and ideas for improvement. Help him
to be sure he has covered all the points listed in the
Workbook under "Project Report". Remind your son that this
report is a key piece in demonstrating that he should be one
of that top 2%. It should be the kind of report he would
turn in at school for a yearlong project with the
expectation of receiving an A+ grade. For most of the Board
of Review members, this is the only exposure they have to
his project and the basis for approving the project he has
carried out.
Recognition
While your son and the troop are
planning the Eagle Court of Honor, work with them to help
make this event have the importance and lasting significance
to your son that is appropriate for the accomplishment he
has achieved. If your son is not sure what he wants, he can
talk to other boys and troops about what they have done for
an Eagle court of honor. For more ideas, he can also
download the
EAGLE COURT OF HONOR RESOURCE BOOK
for ideas. This is a large file (153 pages). |
