Quality of Eagle Projects

[PPC_NYLT]

I don't know if it's just me, but has anybody else noticed a decline in the quality of Eagle Scout Leadership Service Projects?

I have seen many bs (and that doesn't stand for boy scout) projects that have gotten through. I feel the bar has been lowered in recent years and that upsets me because I, myself, am an Eagle Scout. I would like to hear what you guys have to say on this topic...

[Mrw]

The only Eagle I know who did a fluff project that never should have been approved was my brother in law who did his project at about age 13 in about 1979.

He cleaned up litter in a city park that was pretty well maintained anyways.

Our boys have done pretty good projects. Building bridges and playgrounds and trails.

[imjorman040991]

one boy i know had a flag retirment ceremony...the only leadership he showed was getting boys to collect the flags, i was crazed by how simple it was

whats yalls position on blood drives for EP?

[scoutaholic]

I know a few years ago, there were several done in my area that were pretty lame. Someone on the district advancement committee was approving these lame projects for the boys in his own troop. I've posted other items about this problem adult scouter.

One boy drove around the sub-division checking on the street lights, and then reported any burned-out or broken ones to the county to be fixed. It probably took this scout longer to do the project paperwork than it took him to actually complete the 'project', and I doubt there was any leadership involved.

No project like that gets past me. Boys in my unit do a good project or they don't get the unit-leaders approval. Without my approval they can't get district approval either.

[momma_bee]

Our next potiential Eagle's project, last I heard, was to 'take pictures of [town name here].' I asked what kind of pictures and his mom said 'pictures of the town' and I asked what he was going to do with them and she said 'whatever the town wants, he'll give them to the borough council.' I said, to the scout, that he should use his project to help develop his leadership skills and ask the other boys to help and mom said...


oh, wait for it....



"He doesn't need the other boys to help. Besides, the borough already approved it"

Then, she proceeded to ask me about the paperwork.

I told her that her son had a disk with the workbook / paperwork on it, and has had it since early Spring. I looked at the Scout and reminded him of the disk and he said 'Yeah, I have it somewhere, I never looked at it."

I have seen some projects that really seem well thought out and include the troop and some that seem to be one man projects. We can't judge too much. After all, when our potiential Eagle settles on a real project, he can count on my son, and maybe one other boy. He already works well with BigBee, so he won't need to lead as much as another Scout might. So, does that diminish any work he does? Does it explain a solo project? We don't know the 'back story.'

And, I have to admit, I feel a bit sheepish when I see some projects because my inital reaction is, why wasn't it already DONE?

[Chief J]

Eagle Scout Projects are supposed to show leadership. I don't see how a solo project can show leadership.

As far as lame projects getting through, that means the Scoutmaster, the Troop Committee, and the District Advancement Committee have all given their blessing and allowed the Scout to perform this project.

As the SM, if you think the project is lame, sit down with the Scout and explain your expectations of what an Eagle Project is. Ask the questions how is the Scout going to show leadership, who is the beneficiary of the project, how will they benefit, etc.

I agree, there are some real lame projects getting through, and i do not understand why. There are multiple levels of approval for a reason.

If this is happening in your district, perhaps there needs to be a discussion wioth the advancement committee chair about their responsibilities, or seek to replace that individual with someone who will do the job.

Chief J.

[lambeausam]

I'm really proud of the project that one of the young men in our troop is proposing. One of the local convalescent centers has a wonderful rose garden. Well, it was wonderful until it was no longer maintained. It is horribly overgrow and no longer enjoyable. He is proposing a complete renovation, including the addition of benches, pathways, etc. He has such excitement and energy when he describes it. I can't wait to see his formal proposal and the completed project.

Sam

[momma_bee]

Re: Solo projects.

I agree there should be leadership and I suppose they don't have to lead Scouts. I was thinking about a recent article I read that said part of the project was the Scout went out and replanted the trees that didn't root. It did mention that other boys helped with the inital planting, but didn't mention them at the follow-up. Did this young man fail as a leader, and therefore couldn't get the help he needed; did he 'add' this step to satisfy himself, or did the band have a competion that day, drawing the troop in two directions.

I couldn't know the answer, so it is hard to judge the quality of the work / leadership.

Sam - around here, the reoccurring theme is a prayer/peace bench. Depending on the setting. I've seen it addressed in at least 4 projects in the past year. The scout designated the area as a place for quite meditation. It sounds like the rose garden accomplishes the same thing. I love the idea, regardless of the setting, because it reminds people to sit and enjoy the little things.

[Lynda J]

The one that got me was a boy in another troop planted 4 trees at the community center 4th of July weekend. It hasn't rained in months here and was hot as heck. He didn't go back and water them and all but one died. To me it didn't show much thought because mid summer is the worse time there is to plant trees. Every nursery I know of tried to tell people to plant them in the early fall so the roots have time to grow before the tree is having to feed leaves.

[OldGreyBear]

My son did a Flag Retirement Ceremony as part of his Eagle Project, he also put together a work force to replace American Flags at 5 local cemetaries (worked with the American Legion) and ran flag collection stations then put together the ceremony. So, yes it was more than the ceremony, a lot more

As far as a Blood Drive would go, I am very skeptical about this being an Eagle Project. As a long time District Advancement Committee member we have had the same approach, we don't say there cant be a Blood Drive Eagle Project, we want to see how the Scout will show leadership. He certainly will not be the person in charge of the Blood Drive, the organization collecting the blood has specific procedures they follow and wont be relying on a scout, no matter how prepared, to tell them how to do their job. So, what does the scout do? Organize the orange juice table? I would have to see how leadership is shown. And if you think Eagle Projects have slipped, dont blame the scouts, its the COmmittee that allows schlock to be approved that is the root.

[momma_bee]

But, he can organize and lead the overall event.

There is publicity. Entertainment. Yes, snacks and juice. Incentives for new donors. Is the high school invited - can you run a shuttle to get the students down and back? If it is a new drive, where is it going to be hosted? Follow up with thank you's to donors as well as donations.

[DadScout]

Our Dist Eagle Board frowns on blood drives unless there's something special to it. Something that will go above calling the blood drive to come and putting up flyers. Many of the items Momma Bee mentions cover it.

Recent projects was a flag retirement, clothing drive, school supplies drive. They all could have been a bit better with one exception. The school supplies one was the best. The benifiting organization was amazed at the quantity of supplies and enthusiasitc participation of the scouts.