Welcome to Adobe GoLive 5

I could probably talk on for days about the meaning of Scouting to me and the importance it has played in my life and of many other young men and women - in not only the United States but in many other countries around the world. The efforts begun by General Sir Robert Baden-Powell. When "B-P" as he was and still is affectionately known by Scouts and Scouters alike around the world, set his initial ideas forward in the 1908 first printing of Scouting For Boys, he could have hardly has foreseen the course his concerns and ideas would have. The influence of Scouting, has in many places had on its youth and the manner in which those youth matured and served their families, countries and religious faiths is an object lesson for many of us.

From it's rather humble beginnings in 1910, the Boy Scouts of American has grown and prospered. As I have a chance over the future, I will amend this page with added information about Scouting and some of my experiences and travels along the "trails." However, I will never be able to repay the debt I owe Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell Park. I have been a member of the Boy Scouts of America, in one capacity or another since 1952 and fortunate to be able to celebrate both the 50th and 75th anniversaries of the BSA movement during our National Jamborees in 1960 and 1985. I hope I will be able to participate in the 100th in 2010.

Initially I would like to share several areas of my current Scouting involvement with you. The following outline contains the information and procedures we follow in the Cascade District of the Chief Seattle Council, in which I am fortunate to serve as a member of our District's Advancement Committee. In this capacity, I am privileged to work with and meet some of the finest young Scouts in our District and observe them as they progress toward the pinnacle of the BSA rank achievement - their Eagle Scout Rank.

On behalf of the Cascade District Advancement Committee, I would like to thank you for your efforts on behalf of the Scouts in your units. I would like to share some very important information with each of you, especially the Scoutmasters and Troop Advancement Chairmen, regarding one of your most challenging responsibilities-assisting a Scout to attain the highest rank in Scouting, the Eagle Scout Rank. In addition to the challenges facing both you and the Scout, this is one of the greatest achievements attainable by a young man in America and remain one of your greatest achievements as an adult leader in Scouting. The current Chairman for the Cascade District Advancement Committee is Dr. Mike Lawler, who can be reached by phone at 425-462-1445. Dr. Lawler has also updated the procedures mentioned below and you are recommended to contact him for the latest edition of these guidelines.

I realize for some Scout Leaders, this seems a bit like "preaching to the choir." However, from the District's prospective, based on the number of calls from Scouts, parents and unit leaders, there are still persistent questions about the process by which a Scout can achieve his Eagle rank and we see sufficient numbers of errors each year to warrant this review and outline of our District's procedures. I hope this information will assist you, the parents of your units Scouts and the Scouts themselves.

There are however a few critical steps involved in the road from Life Scout to Eagle Scout and these may be easily accomplished with careful planning, awareness of the steps and process involved and careful counseling of the Scouts seeking the Eagle Scout Rank. Most of these guidelines are procedural and required by the Boy Scout Handbook, 1999 Boy Scout Requirements booklet, the National BSA Advancement Policies and Procedures Guide and some of them are based on the observations and reviews of our District's Advancement Committee and Eagle Scout Review Board members. In most instances, the Scouts we review and observe are among the best Eagle candidates possible and representative of the many fine Scouts throughout your Troops and our District. There is an excellent handout, which includes both the Eagle Scout Application and Service Project Workbook, available in the lobby of the Chief Seattle Council Office. The current issue of this package should be obtained by each Life Scout as he embarks on the final stages of his Eagle trail.

There are several of these procedures which must be followed carefully and fully. The members of the Cascade District Advancement Committee all stand ready to assist you in any way we can. The following are the key steps. As a reminder, we suggest that you carefully review them with each Life Scout as they prepare for the trail to Eagle Scout.

You should carefully discuss with each Scout his proposal for his service project. The Scout should then obtain the written approval of the Troop Leader as well as that of his unit advancement committee and the project's benefactor. After each of these reviews and written approval has been obtained, the Scout should then submit the service project proposal for the review and approval of the District's Advancement Committee. The Scout's Eagle Scout Service Project must be reviewed and written approval received prior to the beginning of the actual service project.

The District's approval of the proposed plan can be accomplished by submission of the plan to one of the following Committee members. We will review and return the proposed projects directly to the Scout, as quickly as possible. It would be very helpful if the Scout would include a self addressed, stamped, 8.5" x 11" envelope, in which we can return the project proposal. These proposals may be submitted to one of the following District Advancement Committee members for review and approval. I recommend that you call one and discuss the broad ideas in your proposal prior to actual mailing to them for approval. In most instances, an appointment to meet with the Committee member to discuss and review your proposed leadership project will be set up where the two of you can meet and see what if any, additional steps or planning should be included in your project prior to its final approval. specific phone numbers and addresses may be obtained by applicants contacting the Chief Seattle Council service center.

Please remember the Districts review and approval is required prior to the projects initiation and remind the Scout that this preapproval of the service project does not constitute the District Eagle Board of Review's approval of the manner in which the project is eventually carried out.

Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, BSA Publication 18-927A

The Eagle Scout Project Workbook (BSA Publication 18-927A, 1999 printing) must be used by the Scout to document his Service Project. This workbook form can be obtained from the Chief Seattle Council office. The Eagle Scout applicant should retain his completed Workbook and other documentation covering his service project and bring it with him to review with the Eagle Scout Board of Review. It will be reviewed and discussed during the Scout's Board of Review. As an important new resource, this workbook can now be downloaded (in one of two different formats, depending on the computer the Scout is using) directly from the BSA web site at: http://www.bsa.scouting.org/sitemap.html (then referring to the Eagle Scout rank requirements section).

References

Three or more completed reference forms (from the six named individuals listed on the Requirement 2 list on the Eagle Application itself) should be mailed directly to the district advancement chairman (Bob LaBouy) by those completing and submitting these references. The form to be used for these references is provided as a sample page within the Chief Seattle Council's Eagle Scout Application package and is available at the reception desk in the Council Service Center. The Confidential Eagle Scout Reference Form is also available for downloading and viewing (as a PDF document) via the Council's web site at: http://www.seattlebsa.org/Pages/frame_map.htm

Age Limitation

All work on the Eagle Scout service project by the Eagle Scout candidate finished and completed while they are a Life Scout. All requirements must be completed and his application submitted to the Council Office before the applicant's 18th birthday.

Quality Applications

In this one area, we recommend that your counseling include a discussion of the importance and value of a quality presentation of the Scout's application. This would include type written or pen preparation of the Eagle Scout application and completion of the Service Project Workbook and having any other reports or notes completed with a typewriter or computer printer. Spell checking is important. Sometimes the Scout does not realize this application will serve as a lasting record of his achievement and personal growth. A copy of the Scout's Eagle Scout Application, which we will discuss during the Scout's Board of Review, will in many instances be retained and later often represent the Scout's only written record of his career as a Scout. It provides a lasting and is certainly more memorable if it has been neatly and legibly prepared.

When the Scout has completed all rank requirements and obtained your unit signatures, the Eagle Scout Application should be sent to the Chief Seattle Council office for verification with their advancement records. Requirement #6 should be attached to your Eagle Application and turned into the Council Service Center. Unit leaders should keep photocopies of these documents for your records. The Scout should also maintain his completed Eagle Service Project documentation and bring it with him, for presentation, at his board of review.

Only the latest version of the Eagle Scout Application will be accepted. Currently this is the April 1, 1999 printing of BSA Application Form no. 58-728. The Eagle Scout Application Form is also available for downloading and viewing (as a PDF document) via the Council's web site (listing Frequently Asked Questions about the Eagle advancement process at: http://www.seattlebsa.org/Pages/frame_map.html

When the District Advancement Chairman has received the Eagle Scout Rank Application from the Council, he will contact the unit leader to schedule a Board of Review. The Eagle Review Board will be comprised of two adult leaders from your troop and two representatives from the District Advancement Committee. The national guidelines do not allow unit leaders or assistants, relatives or guardians to serve as members of the board.

The applicant should also be reminded that their Eagle Scout ceremony may not be conducted until after recommendation action of the District's Board of Review has been approved by both the Chief Seattle Council Executive and returned from the BSA National Office.

The Cascade District Advancement Committee members wish you and the Scouts in your Troop well on their trail to Eagle Scout. We also welcome any suggestions or comments you have about any aspect of this outline or other District Advancement activity. Thanks for your attention and interest in this critical aspect of our District's Scouting program.

Bob LaBouy, Advancement Committee member
Email: ok3wirebob@comcast.net
February, 2004

1999 was a year of transition for many of us in Scouting. These changes include several of the Eagle Scout requirements and a few small changes in the way the process is conducted in the Chief Seattle Council.

It is important for all leaders in Scouting to keep abreast of these changes and be counseling Scouts with the latest in information and resources, which I know is the objective of all Scouters I know. In this process there are several tools you can use and ways in which the District Advancement Committee feels you can serve your Scouts and Units in this regard. We recommend:

Copy this Life to Eagle Process and Provide it to all Scouts and Parents in your unit as they achieve their Star and Life Scout ranks.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COPY AND DISTRIBUTE COPIES OF THIS INFORMATION TO THE LIFE SCOUTS (AND THEIR FAMILIES) IN YOUR UNIT. THIS HANDOUT IS INTENDED TO ANSWER THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND TO CLARIFY OUR DISTRICT'S PROCEDURES.

Use and recommend the various web site resources regarding the Eagle Scout advancement. These include:

THE BSA'S WEB SITE ABOUT THE EAGLE SCOUT LEADERSHIP SERVICE PROJECT GUIDELINES AND THE 12 STEPS FROM LIFE TO EAGLE. THIS IS AN INVALUABLE OUTLINE AND WRITTEN FOR THE SCOUT TO USE IN THEIR PREPARATION FOR THEIR APPLICATION AND PROJECT PLANNING.
HTTP://WWW.BSA.SCOUTING.ORG/BOYSCOUTS/EAGLEPROJECT/12STEPS.HTML

I ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU AND YOUR SCOUTS TO REVIEW THE EXCELLENT LIFE TO EAGLE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE WEB SITE MAINTAINED BY BOB EVANS, CHAIRMAN OF THE NORTHLAKES DISTRICT ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE, AT: HTTP://WWW.EAGLESCOUT.ORG