Eagle Projects

[optimist]

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ScoutmasterBob
Counselor

Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Posts: 79
Location: Woods Cross, Utah
Posted: 05 Aug 2004 09:18 am Post subject: Eagle Projects

Are you working on your project?

Have you completed your project?

Questions about paperwork?

Nervous about your Eagle Board of Review?

Share your projects with us, what worked and what didnt.
_________________
Bob Torkelson
Scoutmaster Troop 538
www.wx5troop538.homestead.com
Live The Oath!

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Kobalt
Star

Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Posts: 98
Location: Louisville, KY
Posted: 05 Aug 2004 11:16 am Post subject:

I'll be able to go for life exacting on the six month mark
(August 24th), and then I'll be needing some ideas. I had a
great idea for a book drive, but an older scout stole it from
me.
_________________
John Baunach
Troop 42
"If it were easy, it would have been done before." -Jeana
Yeager, co-pilot of Voyager

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Guneukitschik
Life

Joined: 02 Aug 2004
Posts: 162
Location: Waynesboro, PA
Posted: 05 Aug 2004 09:23 pm Post subject:

A scout in our troop is working on new welcome signs for our
town...the existing ones are either missing or in bad shape.

A problem i have seen in the past is that parents try to take
control of the project and not let the scouts plan and carry
out the project...I think sometimes its hard for them to step
back and let their child do the work.

Also when you get help from professionals such as general
contractors, equipment operators, etc. they are usually
willing to donate some time but typically don't like to wait
around for stuff...so they tend to jump in and take control of
the project just to get it done.

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ScoutmasterBob
Counselor

Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Posts: 79
Location: Woods Cross, Utah
Posted: 06 Aug 2004 10:23 am Post subject:

Keep in mind, that an Eagle Service project is not just about
doing the physical labor to get the project done, but it about
showing and using leadership skills.
I agree parents can help but they need to "follow orders" like
everyone else involved with the program.
If your are able to get a contractor to donate time materials
and skills to your project, I think you should let the
professionals do their part.
As long as it is in the plan for the project.
The service to the organization is important, but learning and
using leadership skills is also an important part as well.
_________________
Bob Torkelson
Scoutmaster Troop 538
www.wx5troop538.homestead.com
Live The Oath!

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Guneukitschik
Life

Joined: 02 Aug 2004
Posts: 162
Location: Waynesboro, PA
Posted: 06 Aug 2004 10:44 am Post subject:

I agree....Professionals are a great asset, however we have
seen projects that they end up going beyond their scope of
work for the project. Taking control of it and actually
telling the scouts what to do instead of the future Eagle.
Granted..there may be certain situations where safety may
become a concern and someone needs to get involved...but not
for most situations.
_________________
http://www.bsatroop88.org

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[Buffalo Bill]

Unsure about how much detail to put on your Eagle project workbook?

I've posted a checklist that I found on the net and cleaned up a little. It was adapted for our Council, but I'm sure it can help just about anyone to jog the mind about all the steps needed for your project approval--at least the paperwork end...

http://troop509.org/egleprojchecks.pdf

[Guneukitschik]

That Checklist is a great idea! I think that you can never have too many pictures!!!! The more the better showing the project from beginning to end!

[dparker]

My nephew is finishing his project right now and I think it is coming together nicely. His grandmother runs a local genealogy library, so she has been a great resource for the project. In a nutshell, his project is to enumerate part of a local cemetery and submit that information to various websites to make the information freely available to researchers on the net.

He contacted the office for the cemetery and made arrangements to come over with a group of Scouts to do the actual enumeration. He developed a spreadsheet based on the requirements of the various websites. The Scouts then went through one section of the cemetery and filled in the information from the grave markers. They buddied up to make sure the data was copied down correctly.

Another day, he set up several computers and had some boys come over and to transcribe the data. He then went back to the cemetery to add data to the spreadsheets by working with the cemetery office and their paper records.

Another day, he had some people go and take digital pictures of many of the graves, also to be included in the online submission.

He is now in the process of doing some online research in the various indices available to add even more information to the spreadsheets. By the time he finishes, it will be one of the best enumerations in the county of a cemetery. Again, this will be available free of charge to any researcher.

The project had no cost, except the time of the volunteers, so that worked out really good for his family, since they are not that well-off.

[wagionvigil]

One of my boys just completed his project which was a river bank clean up over a couple of Saturdays. Advertied in thepaper for Volunteers etc.

[BM_Crawford]

I led the construction of two park grills and two small sidewalks to them It was a fun project for more details just chime in

[wagionvigil]

I was talking with a district advancement chairman yesterday and we were discussing Eagle projects. He said he requires 100 hours. I told him he could not do that and he said until someone complains that was what he would do. Well if anyone tells you how many hours you MUST have get your parents to call the council service center and file a complaint. You may have to have your BOR in another district But you cannot be told how many hours are required. This also includes your SM and TC.

[t305spl]

Question I have two Ideas for my Eagle Project let me know which one you think I should do.
1.Create 600 Identification Kits and distribute them in the local schools.
or
2.Repaint the house numbers on the curb in reflective paint for emergency vehicals to see more easily and put reflective tape on all the fire hydrants so they are easier to spot.
Let me know which one you think I should do or of an idea along these lines that you think I should use.

[OldGreyBear]

Those are interesting ideas, how do you plan to show leadership in each one?

[wagionvigil]

Both are good. Which is needed more in your community?
Do you live in an area with Snow? The Numbers cannot be seen in the Winter time with snow cover. AS a driver of a Fire Apparatus I don't think I would be able to look down whule driving.
Check with your Local Fire Department.
Would it be the whole area covered by the Fire Co? If not it is not good.
What woud, be in the Ident Kits? Would the School alow ytou to do it?
Just being a devils advocate.

[Guneukitschik]

I've seen Eagle Projects where the house numbers are white letters on a green reflective aluminum sign approx. 4" x 11" and these are sold to homeowners. The scouts actually gathers the materials and manufactures the signs and applies the appropriate house number. The signs are then mounted by the scout on the Homeowners mailbox or another post in front of the house.


I've also seen scouts that paint storm drains all over town with reminders that about pollution! Seems like an interesting idea...but the paint eventually wears off and the eagle project is forgotten.

Please explain more about the identification kits?

[Rick Tyler]

My son's Eagle project is to restore two trails through a nature center adjacent to the local elementary school. Both are overgrown with blackberries and other plants. He's going to clear them, bark them, restore the self-guided tour markers, and install a couple of new benches. Ironically, the original benches were placed by a Girl Scout troop, but they've rotted away.

[dad69]

Those are interesting ideas, how do you plan to show leadership in each one?

It is obvious that OldGreyBear is an adult leader. Who else could ask such a tough and necessary question. This is a little off topic, but isn't this what we are supposed to do as leaders, make them think. In our troop, we are trying real hard to make our 'Scout led' troop be Scout led. We find that by asking the tough questions, the boys will hopefully think their idea all the way through and be able to explain it. It works with some , but not all.
compliments to OldGreyBear

[Woodbadgegirl]

My son asked me to post this here today. He is already starting to think about his Eagle project and is in desperate need of some suggestions.

Everyone in his troop has either made park benches or picnic tables, and although these are really nice, he wants something a little more original. Got any ideas?

[evmori]

My son asked me to post this here today. He is already starting to think about his Eagle project and is in desperate need of some suggestions.

Everyone in his troop has either made park benches or picnic tables, and although these are really nice, he wants something a little more original. Got any ideas?

Anything around your church need done?

Contact your local game commission to see if they are in need of nesting boxes. They should either supply the kits or the instructions.

[wagionvigil]

Eagle Projects so many ideas.

1. Blood Drive we had a scout organize,advertise and have a red cross blood drive
2.River Clean up Just did this one. Over three weekend removed trash from a river bank using boats etc.
3.Nature walk in a park
4. Bat Houses in a neighborhood with a lot of bats.
5.USSCOUTS .org type in eagle projects
6.Used Book collection and turned over to goodwill or salvation army

there is no minimum number of hours BUT the Project must be worthy of Eagle. ALso they may begin their project the day they are Life Scout.
Remember when you start planning this After Life keep track of every discussion you have on it that is planning. If you your son and your husband are all talking for an hour that is three hours in planning.

[Woodbadgegirl]

there is no minimum number of hours BUT the Project must be worthy of Eagle. Also they may begin their project the day they are Life Scout.

He just finished all his requirements for Star (We are the ones with the attendance problem), and will have all the requirements for Life in January with the exception of the 6 months of responsibility. He was just thinking about it this morning, and wanted to start now getting some ideas now. He is wanting something that is worthy of Eagle, but differnt as well.

[dparker]

He just finished all his requirements for Star (We are the ones with the attendance problem), and will have all the requirements for Life in January with the exception of the 6 months of responsibility. He was just thinking about it this morning, and wanted to start now getting some ideas now. He is wanting something that is worthy of Eagle, but differnt as well.

You can check with your local Parks Department and see if they have any needs. Often they have several projects for which they just need manpower. I have seen a couple of projects where they even provided the materials.

[wagionvigil]

Just for fun I typed in Eagle scout Projects on yahoo and got over 2000 hits. scoutorama.com has a list of 322 great projects.

[OldGreyBear]

This has always been a hot issue on the local Council. Blood Drives are not generally accepted as an Eagle Project. The reasoning is based on the requirment that the scout give leadership during the event and he will hardly be telling the Blood taking professionals how to d their job. Now, I understand there is a lot of prework involved in a Blood Drive, lining up the date, getting the place, advertising, getting workers, set up and clean up come to mind but then again most of these are common to any Eagle project and the scout has to follow his plan. When the first donor comes in to register until the last donor leaves the recovery area the scout has little to do except push cookies and juice.

Now, I may have overstated this position. I would like to hear from others whose scouts have done Eagle Project Blood Drives and see how the scouts ilustrated leadership. I am not saying I can't be wrong, I want someone to persuade me.