Question: In your opinion, how....

[yardhunter]

.................young should/could a scout be to earn the Eagle award??
I finished mine up with 39 MB's & 3 months before my 18th birthday. For me, that's too close for comfort, but I made it anyway.

So, in your opinion,
do you feel 13-14 year olds are too young or inmature ( especially for an effective Eagle project ) to earn this high award??.............see ya yardhunter

[BM_Crawford]

I think it depends on the person. My one friend is 15 years old and I think he is mature enough to earn it while there are others in the troop who I feel are not.

[EagleBoy62204]

16 - 18. once they reach this age, my experiences watching the boys between this age in the troop,they Understand what scouting is about, and hold their own with leading the group. Once they become SPL from their peers, should be a right age.

I dont like young eagle scouts. Expecially those who earned it at around 13 - 14 years old. They didnt take time to be in the program, and it seems like they were pushed by their parents to get eagle.

[wagionvigil]

Personally 15-17 years 6 months. I hate those that are finishing everything the week before their 18th. Sevaral troops have put into effect(although not allowed) that give a cut off prior to the 18th so as not to have the mad dash.
Maturity is the name of the game but I have seen some 14 year old Eagles that were very mature. ANother factor for young Eagles is Requirement changes that happen every so often and to avoid these they push to get finished before the change.

[OldGreyBear]

The perfect age to earn Eagle is the age the boy is when he completes the requirements. Troops that place artificial barriers in the way of a scouts advancement is just doing stuff in a BSA uniform, they are not Boy Scouts.

Why squash a young man'd efforts, just because his vision of success doesnt match yours?

[wagionvigil]

If you notice I posted that those rules are not allowed.

[DadScout]

How young should/could a scout be to earn the Eagle award??

One is opinion, the other is the rules. My guess is a scout "could" become an eagle around his 13th birthday, give or take a few months. Given the rules that require you to be active in your troop for 6 months & all. My opinion is that a good age is 16-17, maybe 15 depending on the maturity. That's an age where, in general, a boy has the maturity to appreciate it all. Old enough to know what he's doing and why. Young enough to give a bit back to the troop as an eagle.

This is personally what I've told my son. He wants to be an Eagle, I'm all for it. I just want him to enjoy it and learn from it. I told him it's a journey, not a destination.

My opinion - 16-17, the rules 13ish and I'll not stand in the way of the rules.

[PaulSWolf]

As soon as he meets the requirements - be it age 13 or age 17.99

Don't look for more than it is - an indication that he has fulfilled the specific requirements - nothing more - nothing less.

[yardhunter]

If you notice I posted that those rules are not allowed.

I must be missing something. What rules have I broken?? ...........see ya yardhunter

[wagionvigil]

you have broken none! The Troops that make up their own rules have broken them.

[Scouting179]

This has come up before, but I'll still say this again.

The youngest a Scout has earned Eagle is 12y, 6m. This is entirely possible if a Scout bridges from Cubs at about 10 1/2 and is highly active.

BSA has no minimum age for any rank (other than to join a unit in the first place), so those who impose articifial limits on a Scout's progress ARE DEAD WRONG. You are entitled to your OPINION, but to impose these limits on a motivated Scout is WRONG and against BSA policy. If national ever caught wind of this, they overturn it every time. I know one SM who says "I'm not having any 14yr old Eagle in my troop". Why not? If he's met the requirements, there's absolutely nothing one can legally do to stop him. That would do nothing but put the brakes on a motivated Scout.

In our troop (founded Sep 1991), we've produced 27 Eagles. One was at age 12 y 11m, and one was at age 12y 9m. They were both fine, motivated Scouts who gave lots back to the program. I will say they were uneasy with being Eagle at such an age, but they grew into it and developed a unique perspective on things that the older ones would never come to see. The first stayed active until he was 18 and the second is currenlty SPL and plans to stay to 18. Both have several palms.

What I personally detest are the ones who make it just before they are 18 or make it and quit--they are not giving anything back to the Scouting movement yet they have lots to offer. And yes, our troop has had several of these too.

[yardhunter]

What I personally detest are the ones who make it just before they are 18 or make it and quit--they are not giving anything back to the Scouting movement yet they have lots to offer. And yes, our troop has had several of these too.

............well, I'm probably one of those you'll dislike. I spent 7 years in the BSA ( 1970-1977) with one troop going to summer camp 7 straight years. I loved it so much, I almost fooled around & waited too long. I finally earned the Eagle about 17 yrs 9 months with 39 MB's. Yes, it was time to get out at 18 & go to college.

22 years later, my son joined up as a Tiger cub & ol' yardhunter here became a Cubmaster of a 94 member ( 14 adults too ) cub scout Pack for the last 5-6 years. I'm a ASM now & my son is a 1st Class scout at 11 yrs 7 mos. old with 7 MB's & he loves it all the way.

There's no stopping this child....................see ya yardhunter

[JazerNorth]

I let them do as they may to earn their Eagle. I got mine early, and didn't do much in advancement afterwards, but I did help the other scouts. I stayed in until 18, quit and came back as a leader at 27. Was I 'mature' when I got my Eagle? NO, but that is not one of the rules, nor needed. The idea isn't to MAKE them mature or have them BE mature, but rather that they learn the skills needed to become a mature. When they actually do it, is completly up to them.

I became Eagle just after turning 13. 6 months laters I was helping do another Eagle project and did something that was completly against being an Eagle Scout. My dad asked me if that was appropriate for being and Eagle, I said no. I then paid restitution to the offended party. Was I mature, no, but I also knew better and was able to learn some very important lessons from it. There is no way I would ever stop someone from getting their Eagle if they completed all of the requirements (including scout spirit). Their maturity will grow on their own and does not need some leaders shutting them down from Eagle because they are not acting like Adults. They are youth, let them be youth. If I was shutdown as a youth, I probably wouldn't be a leader now.

JazerNorth

[Scouting179]

What I personally detest are the ones who make it just before they are 18 or make it and quit--they are not giving anything back to the Scouting movement yet they have lots to offer. And yes, our troop has had several of these too.

............well, I'm probably one of those you'll dislike. I spent 7 years in the BSA ( 1970-1977) with one troop going to summer camp 7 straight years. I loved it so much, I almost fooled around & waited too long. I finally earned the Eagle about 17 yrs 9 months with 39 MB's. Yes, it was time to get out at 18 & go to college.

22 years later, my son joined up as a Tiger cub & ol' yardhunter here became a Cubmaster of a 94 member ( 14 adults too ) cub scout Pack for the last 5-6 years. I'm a ASM now & my son is a 1st Class scout at 11 yrs 7 mos. old with 7 MB's & he loves it all the way.

There's no stopping this child....................see ya yardhunter

But at least you finished Eagle. Every Life scout I know that didn't finish his Eagle lived to regret it and they usually do so as soon as they turn 18. Also, you did eventually came back to help the Scouting movement. Cherish this time with your son, it's precious and doesn't last forever.

[Scouting179]

I let them do as they may to earn their Eagle. I got mine early, and didn't do much in advancement afterwards, but I did help the other scouts. I stayed in until 18, quit and came back as a leader at 27. Was I 'mature' when I got my Eagle? NO, but that is not one of the rules, nor needed. The idea isn't to MAKE them mature or have them BE mature, but rather that they learn the skills needed to become a mature. When they actually do it, is completly up to them.

I became Eagle just after turning 13. 6 months laters I was helping do another Eagle project and did something that was completly against being an Eagle Scout. My dad asked me if that was appropriate for being and Eagle, I said no. I then paid restitution to the offended party. Was I mature, no, but I also knew better and was able to learn some very important lessons from it. There is no way I would ever stop someone from getting their Eagle if they completed all of the requirements (including scout spirit). Their maturity will grow on their own and does not need some leaders shutting them down from Eagle because they are not acting like Adults. They are youth, let them be youth. If I was shutdown as a youth, I probably wouldn't be a leader now.

JazerNorth

Well said.

[RWSmith]

I let them do as they may to earn their Eagle. I got mine early, and didn't do much in advancement afterwards, but I did help the other scouts. I stayed in until 18, quit and came back as a leader at 27. Was I 'mature' when I got my Eagle? NO, but that is not one of the rules, nor needed. The idea isn't to MAKE them mature or have them BE mature, but rather that they learn the skills needed to become a mature. When they actually do it, is completly up to them.

I became Eagle just after turning 13. 6 months laters I was helping do another Eagle project and did something that was completly against being an Eagle Scout. My dad asked me if that was appropriate for being and Eagle, I said no. I then paid restitution to the offended party. Was I mature, no, but I also knew better and was able to learn some very important lessons from it. There is no way I would ever stop someone from getting their Eagle if they completed all of the requirements (including scout spirit). Their maturity will grow on their own and does not need some leaders shutting them down from Eagle because they are not acting like Adults. They are youth, let them be youth. If I was shutdown as a youth, I probably wouldn't be a leader now.

JazerNorth

Well said.

Ditto!

[yardhunter]

I let them do as they may to earn their Eagle. I got mine early, and didn't do much in advancement afterwards, but I did help the other scouts. I stayed in until 18, quit and came back as a leader at 27. Was I 'mature' when I got my Eagle? NO, but that is not one of the rules, nor needed. The idea isn't to MAKE them mature or have them BE mature, but rather that they learn the skills needed to become a mature. When they actually do it, is completly up to them.

I became Eagle just after turning 13. 6 months laters I was helping do another Eagle project and did something that was completly against being an Eagle Scout. My dad asked me if that was appropriate for being and Eagle, I said no. I then paid restitution to the offended party. Was I mature, no, but I also knew better and was able to learn some very important lessons from it. There is no way I would ever stop someone from getting their Eagle if they completed all of the requirements (including scout spirit). Their maturity will grow on their own and does not need some leaders shutting them down from Eagle because they are not acting like Adults. They are youth, let them be youth. If I was shutdown as a youth, I probably wouldn't be a leader now.

JazerNorth

I'm with you. Maturity makes no difference as long as the boy gets the requirements done.

I couldn't agree with you more!! ...............see ya yardhunter

[ICanCanoeCanU]

Talk about a "hot topic" that's been discussed many, many times before - this is it!

In our troop (founded Sep 1991), we've produced 27 Eagles.

PRODUCED - hum, like a production line with Eagle being the only goal? Here lies a problem with the scouting program - the focus has been lost (at times - for some) and it usually takes adults running a program to produce.

Maturity makes no difference as long as the boy gets the requirements done.

Well, maturity does go hand in hand with finishing major accomplishments, in my opinion, and all too often, this is a result of adults involvement and not truely from the boy. Honestly, when I hear about a 12 yr old obtaining Eagle, I figure the adults got another one. I do understand this isn't always the case, but that's what my first thoughts are.

Most of you won't agree with me on this and that's ok - just my thoughts that I thought I'd share.

[yardhunter]

Honestly, when I hear about a 12 yr old obtaining Eagle, I figure the adults got another one. I do understand this isn't always the case, but that's what my first thoughts are.

Most of you won't agree with me on this and that's ok - just my thoughts that I thought I'd share.

I agree with you in this case. Most 12 year olds don't have the "know " how or even the desire to obtain the Eagle without a parent's help. I didn't say all scouts, just most.

Personally, I'd rather see a scout that is old enough to work his Eagle project with at least some idea of how to organize & lead it.

I guess there's no right or wrong answer to this one...........see ya yardhunter

[Mick Scouter]

I like how the discussion always moves toward maturity when age is discussed. I can think of some 20, 30, 40, 50, and older people that are not necessarily mature. There is certainly a reason why maturity does not appear in the requirements. I think it is very subjective and also hard to measure.