Life to Eagle Scout – A Scout & Scouters Resource

Eagle Scout Steps

Attaining Eagle can be daunting but is also very rewarding! There are plenty of materials and resources to guide Scouts on their journey. The Scout Handbook, Scoutbook Plus, your Scoutmaster, this website, and the District Advancement Committee are all excellent resources to help you through your final steps. Scouts should also feel welcome to attend any of the monthly Chicora District Roundtables to ask for help and guidance. 

Life to Eagle Preview

The purpose of the Life to Eagle Preview is to provide the resources and information that all Scouts, parents, and leaders need to know to make the Eagle process as seamless as possible. It is strongly recommended that you download the Life to Eagle Preview slide presentation listed under the important links section to help guide you along this journey

Eagle Scout Service Project

The Eagle Scout Service project is one of the most recognizable parts of earning the Eagle Rank. While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. (The project must benefit an organization other than Scouting America.) A project proposal must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your unit leader, the unit committee, and the district advancement team before you start. It is highly recommended that you use the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook in meeting this requirement. You can download the most recent edition by clicking on the Eagle Scout Project Workbook link under the Important Links menu. Please note: all proposal approvals and project fundraising form approvals are done by your local district advancement team.

Steps for Success in Downloading and Using the Eagle Project Workbook

1. Download the Eagle Project Workbook and save it to your computer or cloud drive before editing.
2. Rename the Eagle Project Workbook file to include your first and last name and close the file.
3. Open Acrobat Reader (available free from adobe.com).
4. Open the renamed Eagle Project Workbook file with Acrobat Reader.
5. Make a few changes, save, close, then reopen the file to make sure it saved properly.
6. After verifying the updated file is saved properly, it is safe to make more extensive changes.
7. Be sure to save your work!
8. After you complete the Proposal Section of the Eagle Scout Project Workbook and get permission to proceed from your Scoutmaster, request your Eagle Scout Project Approval Meeting.

Confidential Reference Letters

The Scout is responsible for requesting references from the four people listed on the Eagle Scout application – this is a valuable life skill. Requested references may be returned to the Scout in a sealed envelope, or sent to a designated unit, district, adult. Please make sure the Scout’s name is written on the outside of the envelope.    Parents, and other relatives are strongly discouraged from serving as references. The current unit leader and committee chair are not eligible to serve as references; their signature on the application is their endorsement. Editable Reference Request Letters and Editable Sample Return Envelopes can be downloaded from the “Important Links” menu.  

What to Complete Before Turning 18

Be Prepared! Six requirements must be completed before a Life Scout turns 18.

1. Be active in your Troop for at least six months as a Life Scout
2. As a Life Scout, demonstrate Scout Spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
3. Earn a total of 21 merit badges (10 more than required for the Life rank), including the 14 required merit badges.
4. Complete six months of leadership while a Life Scout in an approved leadership position. See the Scouts BSA Handbook or Eagle Scout Rank Application for approved positions.
5. Eagle Scout Service Project.
6. Scoutmaster Conference.

What to Do After Completing All Requirements

1. Confirm that all requirements are completed. 
2. Confirm that your Eagle Project Workbook is completed in its entirety. 
3. Make sure you have reference letters sealed in their envelopes. 
4. Write your Ambition Statement — a 1-page personal essay outlining your journey through Scouting, your future goals and life purpose, and reflect on how your Scouting experiences have prepared you for those ambitions. 
5. Download your Eagle Scout Rank Application – visit Scoutbook Plus, click on your profile, click on “Eagle Scout Rank”, click on “Open Eagle Application”. Once downloaded, fill out the references section, make sure your position requirements are input, and complete the project information. The Eagle Scout Candidate, Scoutmaster, and Troop Committee Chair need to sign and date this application before the Candidate sends it to the Council Registrar for verification. This verification must be completed before requesting the Eagle Scout Board of Review
6. Request the Eagle Scout Board of Review