Venting about Eagle Scout Project Ideas

[mt_goodrich]

I have a young man who told me he is looking to come up with an EASY Eagle Scout project. Something that wouldn't take too much time or effort because he is busy with other stuff.

When he told me that, I was dumb founded. However, not too shocked as the history of this Scout is to do the minimum required to get by on just about everything he does, not only in Scouting, but in just about all aspects of his life.

He said he wanted to get his Eagle Scout so it will look good on a resume because he isn't the best student in the world and needed all the help he could get to get a good job.

I spoke to him about what being an Eagle Scout means to me and that I would really want any Eagle Scout, or Scout in general, to aspire to do more than the minimum required. Not only in Boy Scouts, but in school or with anything they do in life. I was met with a shrug and a blank stare.

He is a good kid. Never had problems with him. He just doesn't seem motivated about anything except for playing video games, which he is very good at.

Have any of you encountered this? Not sure what to say or do.

[smtroop168]

Give him the ES project booklet and refer him to: http://www.eaglescout.org/
Explain the process of coming up with his own Eagle Scout project
Explain the approval process involved with the project sponsor, SM, Comm and District signatures - Does your council have a Life to Eagle gouge?
Mentor as appropriate (does your troop have a separate ES project mentor?)

This will either get him to understand the ESP requirement or you won't hear from him.

Or he can come to PA and finish the other half of the scout's ESP that we've been talking about.Who knows he may be this kid's cousin.

[mt_goodrich]

Or he can come to PA and finish the other half of the scout's ESP that we've been talking about.Who knows he may be this kid's cousin.

I was thinking the same thing!!!!!

[deweylure]

Another point that you might want to make is the project could make or break his dream. Planning,prperation and executuion of the plan is critical.

It seems there are more and more that just want to do the minimum . Maybe it the culture we live in. Just think to do a research paper most scouts go to the internet in the old days we called it a library which took time and effort to look materials up.

No he can not complete the other project no 2 for 1 ( JUST JOKing)

Dewey

[VenturingL]

What types of projects have scouts from the troop done in the past that can be held up as examples to him? My son is in the final planning stage (I hope!) for his project. When the representative of the organization he is helping asked what kind of project he wanted, he replied, "One that will impress my Scout Master." I thought that was an odd answer, but not completely inappropriate (see When to Help a Short Timer thread). He has met with his personal Eagle mentor 3 times since mid-May and twice with the Troop's Eagle advisor + multiple emails. Those two gentlemen have helped 40+ Eagles. They are tough! I think one is a structural engineer. They won't give the answers to the scouts, but point them in the right direction. While I have had issues with the troop leadership (extra rules), I think they have the Eagle Project process correct. Their attitude is that the "project" is really the planning portion, carrying out the plan is the easy part. BTW - both advisors will be on-site during the execution of the project, so no question as to whether or not plan was carried to completion.

[smtroop168]

Send those two gents to Carlisle PA. Actually ask them what they think about the 1/2 a project issue for me.

[mt_goodrich]

All this talk of Eagle mentors made me realize that I don't think my district has any.

Would love to get more information on this.

[wagionvigil]

I have a cave that needs cleaned

[Bill Pitcher]

To mt_goodrich: In our council (Rip Van Winkle Council, Kingston, NY) we are made up of two counties, a small one and a large one (in population and geographic area) and the advancement committee has a chairman, a person in charge of approving MBC's, a Cub advancement person, and 3 of us who conver all aspects of the Scout advancement needs, including serving as Eagle Mentors, Chairmen, Advisors, or whatever they want to call us!!! One of us covers the small county (Northern Dist.) and two of us cover the large (Southern Dist.).
We are responsible for meeting with the Eagle Candidates and thair parents, approving the projects as the Advancement Committee Reps., monitoring the project progress, and eventually holding the EBoR after Council has passed the Eagle Package over to us. We also hold and conduct an ESP workshop in one county in the Spring, one in the other county in the fall, and a speciality week at summer camp (this is the 1st. year) that our Scouts, and some from other councils who attend our camp, can get info on how to find projects, what other Boys (and Girls in the Sea Scouts) have done, how to plan your fund raising, organize tool, manpower, and material needs, etc.. We "Mentor" the whole process and have had very few Eagle Candidates falter!

[VenturingL]

To smtroop168:

I told my son & one of his Eagle advisors about the 1/2 finished project. My son's jaw dropped (literally) & his first words were, "It's not finished." His advisor said the same thing, and added that something was probably missed in the planning phase - paint coverage, drying time, correct square footage being covered, etc. He said if it were his son, they would be at the paint store, even if it had to come out of the scout's pocket.
Part of what my son, or any scout in his troop preparing an Eagle project, has to do is think of as many "what if's" as he can. Trust me - the adults will think of more & send the scout to do more homework. The 7 P's, you know? If you don't know the phrase, you can find it online - our Venturing Crew has modified it slightly - Proper Previous Planning Prevents Panic and Poor Performance.

[Bill Pitcher]

To VenturingL: Look at the first thread under "Eagle." There are a few great lists of Eagle Projects there. A great topic for a Round Table, also!

[WeeWillie]

I told my son & one of his Eagle advisors about the 1/2 finished project. My son's jaw dropped (literally) & his first words were, "It's not finished."

Perhaps if we had Scouts approve Eagle Projects and sit on E-BORS we would see tougher standards applied to our requirements. One of the constants on this list has been Scouts holding their peers to higher standards than many adults. My guess is that they aren't looking for loopholes.