Eagle Project Guide Page
INTENT
It is the intent of this document to provide unit adult leadership, Life Scouts, and their parents with a set of guidelines that will assist them in the development of an Eagle Scout Leadership Project. The question is often asked, “What makes a good project”. The short answer is “any project that allows the scout to demonstrate his leadership skills.” Unfortunately, this answer does not provide any guidance. It is also unfortunate that most Life Scouts do not appreciate all of the different opportunities they have to demonstrate their leadership skills during the planning and execution of their projects. This guide is designed to help them.
Below are 15 criteria that have been identified that provide a scout with an opportunity to demonstrate his leadership skills. Each criterion is explained and a sample rating scale has been provided to indicate how much leadership is required for each criteria. Remember, a score of 75 is a Perfect Project....
It is the intent of this document to provide unit adult leadership, Life Scouts, and their parents with a set of guidelines that will assist them in the development of an Eagle Scout Leadership Project. The question is often asked, “What makes a good project”. The short answer is “any project that allows the scout to demonstrate his leadership skills.” Unfortunately, this answer does not provide any guidance. It is also unfortunate that most Life Scouts do not appreciate all of the different opportunities they have to demonstrate their leadership skills during the planning and execution of their projects. This guide is designed to help them.
Below are 15 criteria that have been identified that provide a scout with an opportunity to demonstrate his leadership skills. Each criterion is explained and a sample rating scale has been provided to indicate how much leadership is required for each criteria. Remember, a score of 75 is a Perfect Project....
1. The Idea
Where the idea for the project came from is probably the single biggest determinant of the overall success of the project. The project should be the scout’s idea, and it should be something that he is passionate about. If it is something he feels very strongly about, he is much more likely to take real “ownership” of the project and make it something very special. If, on the other hand, it has been suggested or “given” to him, it is more likely to be viewed as just another requirement that he has to do to earn the Eagle rank. Unfortunately, more projects fall into this category, than the former category. Eagle coaches, advisors, or scoutmasters should not suggest any specific project. They should try to identify areas in which the scout has a strong interest and get the scout to develop a project that will benefit the community based on those interests. If the scout just can’t come up with anything, then he is probably not ready to be an Eagle Scout (even if his 18th birthday is rapidly approaching).
1----- A Project someone else in the Troop did a while back
2 ---- An Adult in the Troop suggested
3 ---- Suggested by the benefit Organization
4 ---- Agreed upon by the Scout and the benefit Organization
5 ---- Scout's idea
Where the idea for the project came from is probably the single biggest determinant of the overall success of the project. The project should be the scout’s idea, and it should be something that he is passionate about. If it is something he feels very strongly about, he is much more likely to take real “ownership” of the project and make it something very special. If, on the other hand, it has been suggested or “given” to him, it is more likely to be viewed as just another requirement that he has to do to earn the Eagle rank. Unfortunately, more projects fall into this category, than the former category. Eagle coaches, advisors, or scoutmasters should not suggest any specific project. They should try to identify areas in which the scout has a strong interest and get the scout to develop a project that will benefit the community based on those interests. If the scout just can’t come up with anything, then he is probably not ready to be an Eagle Scout (even if his 18th birthday is rapidly approaching).
1----- A Project someone else in the Troop did a while back
2 ---- An Adult in the Troop suggested
3 ---- Suggested by the benefit Organization
4 ---- Agreed upon by the Scout and the benefit Organization
5 ---- Scout's idea
2. Benefiting Organization Approval
This step can be as simple as the organization representative saying “okay”, to having to go before a committee and making a presentation multiple times to obtain approval. The more involved the approval process, the more opportunities for the scout to demonstrate leadership.
1 ---- One conversation
2 ---- Multiple conversations
3 ---- Formal Meeting
4 ---- Presentation requiring extensive preparation
5 ---- Multiple presentations / approvals
This step can be as simple as the organization representative saying “okay”, to having to go before a committee and making a presentation multiple times to obtain approval. The more involved the approval process, the more opportunities for the scout to demonstrate leadership.
1 ---- One conversation
2 ---- Multiple conversations
3 ---- Formal Meeting
4 ---- Presentation requiring extensive preparation
5 ---- Multiple presentations / approvals
3. Design
If the project contains a construction/creation element, how extensive is the design for the project and who prepared the design. Projects that use kits should be strongly discouraged unless there are several other opportunities within the scope of the project to demonstrate leadership. Also, it is not uncommon for the benefiting organization to provide a design, particularly with landscaping projects, where the scout has no opportunity for input. These types of projects should also be avoided since they typically end up being a “labor only” project.
1 ---- No design required
2 ---- Simple hand drawing
3 ---- Detailed drawing
4 ---- Detailed drawing with multiple elevations / angles
5 ---- Professional quality plan
If the project contains a construction/creation element, how extensive is the design for the project and who prepared the design. Projects that use kits should be strongly discouraged unless there are several other opportunities within the scope of the project to demonstrate leadership. Also, it is not uncommon for the benefiting organization to provide a design, particularly with landscaping projects, where the scout has no opportunity for input. These types of projects should also be avoided since they typically end up being a “labor only” project.
1 ---- No design required
2 ---- Simple hand drawing
3 ---- Detailed drawing
4 ---- Detailed drawing with multiple elevations / angles
5 ---- Professional quality plan
4. Tools
The need for tools and the type of tools provides varying levels of leadership skill due to the need to train others in the use of the tools, safety issues associated with some tools, or the supervision of adults who may be required to use certain tools due to a high level of skill required.
1 ---- No tools
2 ---- Simple hand tools
3 ---- Basic power tools
4 ---- Skilled power tools
5 ---- Heavy equipment
The need for tools and the type of tools provides varying levels of leadership skill due to the need to train others in the use of the tools, safety issues associated with some tools, or the supervision of adults who may be required to use certain tools due to a high level of skill required.
1 ---- No tools
2 ---- Simple hand tools
3 ---- Basic power tools
4 ---- Skilled power tools
5 ---- Heavy equipment
5. Skill Level
The amount of skill necessary will provide the scout with an opportunity to train his helpers. Skills the scout does not personally have he should either learn so that he may teach others, or plan on supervising an adult with those skills. The adult should not be the boy’s parent.
1 ---- No skill required
2 ---- Minimal instruction (less than 10 minutes)
3 ---- Significant instruction requiring training session prior to Project start
4 ---- Specialized skills that are beyond the scope of the project
5 ---- Skills requiring a license
The amount of skill necessary will provide the scout with an opportunity to train his helpers. Skills the scout does not personally have he should either learn so that he may teach others, or plan on supervising an adult with those skills. The adult should not be the boy’s parent.
1 ---- No skill required
2 ---- Minimal instruction (less than 10 minutes)
3 ---- Significant instruction requiring training session prior to Project start
4 ---- Specialized skills that are beyond the scope of the project
5 ---- Skills requiring a license
6. Time Between Final Approval and Project Start
Simple projects can be started immediately after the final approval has been given. More complex projects, requiring more coordination and planning, also require more time to set into motion. This includes lining up helpers, securing tools and materials, etc.
1 ---- Can be started within the week
2 ---- Can be started the following week
3 ---- Will require two weeks to begin
4 ---- Will require as much as a month to begin
5 ---- Will require more than a month to begin
Simple projects can be started immediately after the final approval has been given. More complex projects, requiring more coordination and planning, also require more time to set into motion. This includes lining up helpers, securing tools and materials, etc.
1 ---- Can be started within the week
2 ---- Can be started the following week
3 ---- Will require two weeks to begin
4 ---- Will require as much as a month to begin
5 ---- Will require more than a month to begin
7. Number of Helpers Needed
Obviously the more people who will be working on the project at any one time the greater the leadership skills necessary to insure the smooth execution of the project.
1 ---- 5 or less
2 ---- 6-10
3 ---- 11-15
4 ---- 16-20
5 ---- 21+
Obviously the more people who will be working on the project at any one time the greater the leadership skills necessary to insure the smooth execution of the project.
1 ---- 5 or less
2 ---- 6-10
3 ---- 11-15
4 ---- 16-20
5 ---- 21+
8. Type of Helpers
The type of help the scout is going to use on the project will require varying degrees of leadership skills. At one extreme, if the scout only uses close friends, other scouts, and family members, less leadership skill is required than if the scout is seeking help from a group of people, particularly adults, that the scout does not know.
1 ---- Close friends / family
2 ---- Members of the scout's troop / church / youth group
3 ---- Members of other scout troops
4 ---- School group such as NHS or PALS / people from the benefiting organization
5 ---- People the Scout does not know
The type of help the scout is going to use on the project will require varying degrees of leadership skills. At one extreme, if the scout only uses close friends, other scouts, and family members, less leadership skill is required than if the scout is seeking help from a group of people, particularly adults, that the scout does not know.
1 ---- Close friends / family
2 ---- Members of the scout's troop / church / youth group
3 ---- Members of other scout troops
4 ---- School group such as NHS or PALS / people from the benefiting organization
5 ---- People the Scout does not know
9. Amount of Time Spent per Day on the Project
A longer project workday requires more planning and preparation with respect to food and beverages. It also requires a higher level of motivation to get helpers for an entire day, than it does for a few hours. A long workday may also necessitate scheduling workers in shifts.
1 ---- 3 hours or less
2 ---- 4-6
3 ---- 7-9
4 ---- 10-12
5 ---- More than 12
A longer project workday requires more planning and preparation with respect to food and beverages. It also requires a higher level of motivation to get helpers for an entire day, than it does for a few hours. A long workday may also necessitate scheduling workers in shifts.
1 ---- 3 hours or less
2 ---- 4-6
3 ---- 7-9
4 ---- 10-12
5 ---- More than 12
10. Location of the Project
The less convenient the location of the project the more planning and coordination that is required to insure workers are available.
1 ---- Less than 15 minute drive
2 ---- Less than a 30 minute drive
3 ---- Up to an hour drive
4 ---- Up to a two hour drive
5 ---- More than a two hour drive
The less convenient the location of the project the more planning and coordination that is required to insure workers are available.
1 ---- Less than 15 minute drive
2 ---- Less than a 30 minute drive
3 ---- Up to an hour drive
4 ---- Up to a two hour drive
5 ---- More than a two hour drive
11. Total Hours Spent on the Project
There is no minimum number of hours required for a project, and one project that requires twice as many hours as another project is not necessarily twice as good a project. However, the fewer number of hours required to complete the project, the fewer opportunities to demonstrate leadership.
1 ---- Less than 50
2 ---- 50-75
3 ---- 76-100
4 ---- 101-150
5 ---- More than 150
There is no minimum number of hours required for a project, and one project that requires twice as many hours as another project is not necessarily twice as good a project. However, the fewer number of hours required to complete the project, the fewer opportunities to demonstrate leadership.
1 ---- Less than 50
2 ---- 50-75
3 ---- 76-100
4 ---- 101-150
5 ---- More than 150
13. Source of Funds
The scout is not required to raise funds to pay for his project. He (or his family) is permitted to pay for the costs associated with the projects completion. Such method does not allow the scout to demonstrate leadership. The scout is encouraged to seek funding from the benefiting organization if possible, or from some other charitable organization.
1 ---- Self / family funded
2 ---- Benefiting organization funded
3 ---- Funded by another charity
4 ---- Combinations of sources
5 ---- Funds raised from multiple individuals
The scout is not required to raise funds to pay for his project. He (or his family) is permitted to pay for the costs associated with the projects completion. Such method does not allow the scout to demonstrate leadership. The scout is encouraged to seek funding from the benefiting organization if possible, or from some other charitable organization.
1 ---- Self / family funded
2 ---- Benefiting organization funded
3 ---- Funded by another charity
4 ---- Combinations of sources
5 ---- Funds raised from multiple individuals
14. Opportunity for Media Coverage
Scouts are expected to take pictures before during and after the completion of their project. At least one of those pictures and a brief story about the project should be send to the local newspapers. The likelihood of the story and picture running is due in part to how interesting the project is to the community at large. An interesting project does not guarantee that it will run in the paper, but an uninteresting project is certainly guaranteed NOT to run.
1 ---- No media interest
2 ---- Neighborhood news letter
3 ---- Weekly newspaper
4 ---- Daily newspaper
5 ---- Television
Scouts are expected to take pictures before during and after the completion of their project. At least one of those pictures and a brief story about the project should be send to the local newspapers. The likelihood of the story and picture running is due in part to how interesting the project is to the community at large. An interesting project does not guarantee that it will run in the paper, but an uninteresting project is certainly guaranteed NOT to run.
1 ---- No media interest
2 ---- Neighborhood news letter
3 ---- Weekly newspaper
4 ---- Daily newspaper
5 ---- Television
15. Permanence
While a project does not have to be of a permanent nature, the more permanent the project, the more important it is that it be carried out in such a way that the scout can be proud of it for as long as is practical. A project that literally is carved in stone has to be as close to perfect as possible because it is going to be around for a long time.
1 ---- No performance
2 ---- Likely to require maintenance after the project
3 ---- Likely to require maintenance within a year
4 ---- Wood construction
5 ---- Metal/steel/Stone
While a project does not have to be of a permanent nature, the more permanent the project, the more important it is that it be carried out in such a way that the scout can be proud of it for as long as is practical. A project that literally is carved in stone has to be as close to perfect as possible because it is going to be around for a long time.
1 ---- No performance
2 ---- Likely to require maintenance after the project
3 ---- Likely to require maintenance within a year
4 ---- Wood construction
5 ---- Metal/steel/Stone
What makes a good Eagle Project
12. Project Cost
The more expensive the proiect is to complete, the more responsibility the scout must demonstrate in executing the proiect.
1 ---- Less than $ 100.
2 ---- $ 100-$ 250.
3 ---- $ 251-$ 500.
4 ---- $ 501-$ 1,000.
5 ---- More than $ 1,000.
The more expensive the proiect is to complete, the more responsibility the scout must demonstrate in executing the proiect.
1 ---- Less than $ 100.
2 ---- $ 100-$ 250.
3 ---- $ 251-$ 500.
4 ---- $ 501-$ 1,000.
5 ---- More than $ 1,000.