Why Rush?

[smtroop168]

I'm not a fan of real young Eagles but I would rather see that than have the scout drop out or not complete at age 17.999.

I'm sure National has the data on how many Eagle Scouts are currently registered with their ages. This would tell us how many Eagles are retained after their award and you could see how many that "rush or are rushed" stay with the program.

[rreeder]

As the father of a scout who earned his Eagle at 11 let me respond.

My son earned his Eagle almost 6 years ago. He is currently our Section OA Chief (having served as Section Vice Chief for 2 years, lodge vice chief and lodge secretary).

He has earned all 121 MB (giving him 20 palms).

He has attended summer camp every summer (sometimes 2 weeks)

He has served on the Staff of our COuncil's CUb Scout Resident Camp and our District Cub Scout Day Camps.

He has earned his Hornaday Badge, and is finishing up his Hornaday Medal.

He has been on the Staff at NOAC and was the SPL for our Council's only Jamboree Troop.

He has earned his Venturing Silver and Ranger Award.

He has participated in OA High Adventure in FLorida and will be at Nortern Tier this summer.

He participated in the BSA-SJA (Japan Scouts) international scouting forum in Japan for 2 weeks last year.

So I question - what part of the journey did he miss out on? Seems to me that his earning of the Eagle Rank Early opened up numerous doors that would not other wise be opened.

[MDEagle]

Wow! Welcome rreeder. I haven't seen you post before. You have a lot of reasons to be proud of your son.

I didn't realize is was possible (calendar-wise, that is) to make Eagle at Age 11.

[smtroop168]

Sounds like a great kid! Probably 1 in 100,000. Does he want to join my troop?

I think most people who have an issue with really young Eagles know that most 11-12 year olds may not have the personal skill levels (writing skills, communication/coordination with outside entities) to plan and execute an Eagle Leadership Project. This is a daunting task for 17 year olds. What was your son's project?

Also 11-12 year olds may not have developed their personal leadership traits to allow them a chance to learn and grow. What Leadership positions did he have as a Star and Life? Was he the SPL?

Best of luck to him. He has a great future ahead.

[OldGreyBear]

The only time restriction from scout to first class is the 30 day wait between the exercise portion so a scout could fo from Scout to First Class in 30 days, then 4 months to Star, 6 months to Life and 6 months to Eagle making the shortest time possible to Eagle 17 months. So if you join at 10 years and 3 months, you could be Eagle at 11 years 8 months (I think, feel free to check my math)

[Hubert]

It sounds as he will have a great future. I just like the fact a 17 year old can plan his project, and do his project, even with other distractions. I like the dedication part. Thats why I like it better when scouts make Eagle when they are older. And as said earlier, I do not feel, no offense to anyone here or their kids, an 11 or 12 year old has the skills to do it. When they first crossover, MOST scouts are crazy and off the wall. Again, no offense, but some of them cant even pay atention during skills and instructions. There are the select few however, that do a great job.

Again, I am not trying to step on anyones toes, I am sorry if I did.

[Craft Lady]

Well I know 2 reasons why my son is in a hurry to get as much done as he is really capable.

1. He wants his grandfather to be there when he gets his Eagle. Something he thinks he will not be able to have if he is 18. His grandfather is in poor health and he knows his grandfather will not likley get to see him graduate high school or get married so this is the only other big event in his life left. He tells me if he doesn't get to have his grandfather there, at least his grandfather saw him get his Arrow of Light.

2. He wants to get all the merit badges done so that when it comes time for the project he can really work hard on it and not rush. He has worked on several projects and he said that the ones done when the boy was getting close to 18 was not the quality he knew the boy was capable of doing. He wants to avoid that.

He has never said so to me but I also think he is trying to show his 14 year old cousin that it is not to late to become a scout again. He dropped out because his mom was not supportive. Now that he lives here with his dad, I have offered to get him where he needs to be if my brother won't. He has the attitude why bother, he will never have time to make Eagle. Which to me is sad.

Jennifer

[rreeder]

My son's Eagle Project was to create "bereavement kits" for our local hospital's OB Ward. IF a mother had a fetal demise, the nurses would be able to use the kit to make a mold of the foot and/or hand, take a picture, and have a blanket. The blankets (about 18 inches by 18 inches) were "tied" by cub scouts at a day camp. My son's troop helped put the kits (baggies containing the blanket, plaster kits, and an overall storage box that contained a camera with instamatic film). My son then provided an inservice to the OB Nurses. THis was in the summer of 2001. IN 2005, he was approached by a couple at church who asked if he was the same scout that did this project. THey had a stillborn son, and were greatful for the ability to "bring home somthing tangible" from the experience.

I don't recall what his positions were, but he had been a Patrol LEader, Scribe, and Den Chief prior to being an Eagle Scout. It took him 21 months (December 1999 to September 2001) to make Eagle.

Bob Reeder

[scouter01]

11 years seems a bit young but w/e

Im the youngest persion as a star in my troop. alsmot like ftw.

[Hubert]

Wow RReeder. That is something amazing. would you mind if I geve the advice to another scout in my troop? Its his project, and dont want to steal it. I love that idea, and would it be ok if we started that around my home?

[ronin718]

I know Mr. Reeder from another forum, and he's a highly motivated Scouter from the great PacNW. This topic has been discussed in that other forum, and the environment he comes from lends itself to faster progression. That's not to say that all the boys move as quickly as his son, but the motivation for younger Eagles is present in the program.

OT.... Bob, have you noticed any problems accessing the other forum? I'm having issues lately getting access to the chatter. Thanks.

[smtroop168]

Actually OGB, 2nd class requires participation in 5 troop events (2 of which are campouts) and 1st class requires 10 troop events (3 of which are campouts). So.....unless a unit camps every weekend and he can go to 7 other events in 30 days, you can't be a 1st class that quick.

[wagionvigil]

I have a solution to the problem. Put age requirements on certain required mb's and a couple requirements that can only be done after a certain age, say 14 or 15. ALso put a requirement in that all advancement must be submitted at least 45 day before a scouts 18th BD.

[smtroop168]

I dunno Jerry. Jethro Bodine wouldda never graduated the 6th grade if there were age restrictions.

I did an EBOR a few months ago. The scout joined at age 13 and completed all requirements in 2 years. I think he completed 1st class in 4 months.

[Craft Lady]

Well I know one scout that was able to advance very quickly.

His parents were both on staff at summer camp. As a result they spent the whole summer there. So he was able to earn a large number of merit badges.

He was allowed to join in on any merit badge sessions that were not full the weeks that his troop was not there. So as a result he was able to take almost every merit badge the camp offers. (And our camp offers a large #)

Before camp he had almost finished 1st class, and summer camp was the last camp out he needed to finish that. By the end of summer camp all he had left to do was serve 6 months in a leadership role, be active etc.. for star and I think he was 1 eagle required shy for Life.

It was not the result of pushy parents, but rather parent that feel very strongly about summer camp that they are willing to spend their summer working for low wages. They save up their vaction time to spend at summer camp each year. Their son is a year older then my son and I would not be suprised to learn that he is an Eagle scout already.

The one concern they have is the same one I have, what does he have to look forward to in future camps?

My son just made Star this week. He is 12. I am so proud of him. He could have earned Star in December. Had he done that then in theory (timetable wise) he could have earned Eagle before 13. His comment was "That is just insane." However he could have done it.

Jennifer

[wagionvigil]

I was just being a devils advocate Why worry if a scout is young or at the wire? The main thing is he did it.

[smtroop168]

Jerry...I knew where you were coming from.

For Craft lady....read RReeder's post on all the stuff his son has done. There's a lot of different things to pursue. This scout also might be one of the few who earns all 121 MBs like those we've been reading about recently.

My son is in your son's "that's insane" camp. Most likely Eagle at 15.

[OldGreyBear]

Perhaps I should have been more clear, the theoretically fastest time period to get to Eagle is 17 months. To make First Class in 30 days is certainly quite an undertaking and would require a lot of different things to occur, but it is POSSIBLE, and thats all I am saying. The concept of an 11 year old Eagle is possible following the BSA policies

[evmori]

But what's the rush? Eagle at 11 years old! Get a life. While Scouting is a great program, there is more to be learned in life than Scouting will teach a boy.

OGB are you also OGE?

[OldGreyBear]

why is it that we seem to say that advancement is the scouts' responsibility and definitely past First Class is the scouts responsibility and a huge amount is written on the number of deathbed Eagles there are such disagreement on an Eager Beaver/Gung Ho scout? If he wants to go fast and meets all the requirements, why slow him up? The lad in quesions resume appears quite impressive, who are we to put our notion of what is proper on the boy as long as he meets the requirements?

OGE? isnt he a rather rakish, affable, valiant, plucky, daring and generally cool all around scouter?

I am not sure I know who you mean...