How to Become an Eagle Scout
Join a Scout troop., Familiarize yourself with the Scout Handbook., Earn the ranks that come before Eagle Scout., Complete merit badges, keeping in mind requirements for Eagle Scout., Be an active Life Scout for at least six months., Get the...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Join a Scout troop.
Join a troop that you like and that fits with your personality.
It’s a good idea to choose a local troop.
Boys can join Cub Scouts as early as the first grade.
Once a boy is older than 10, or has completed the fifth grade, he can join Boy Scouts.
You can join Venturing for ages 14 through
20.Eagle Scout requirements must be completed before the Scout’s 18th birthday, so it’s best to join the Scouts young, when you’ll have plenty of time to complete all the requirements. -
Step 2: Familiarize yourself with the Scout Handbook.
The Scout Handbook is the official handbook of the Scouts derived from Robert Baden-Powell’s original Scouting for Boys.
It contains all the requirements to earn your ranks.The handbook has great tips on camping.
Get Scoutbook and go digital! It’s an easy web application to track progress that’s fun for Scouts and easy for unit leaders to track., To become eligible for the rank of Eagle Scout, you must first earn Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, and Life Ranks.
These ranks require accomplishments in camping, cooking, navigation, nature, aquatics, first aid, fitness, leadership, safety, citizenship, and Scout spirit.These ranks take time to earn and cannot be done in a rush.
Make sure you join Scouts with enough time to accomplish these ranks.
Part of advancing in the ranks is accomplished by earning merit badges, which signify a Scout’s knowledge and skills in a particular area.
By the time a Scout completes Life Rank, they’ll have 11 merit badges that they’ve earned. , As you move up the ranks completing your merit badges, you should think about the merit badges you’ll have to complete for the Eagle Scout rank.
While you only have to get an additional 10 merit badges for Eagle Rank, 13 badges of the cumulative 21 badges must be in certain areas.
So you should keep those in mind as you work towards this goal.
It’s best to try to get the more difficult merit badges done before moving on to your Eagle Scout requirements, since you’ll want to devote your time to your Eagle Scout service project. , To become eligible for the Eagle Scout rank, you must first have been an active Scout at the Life Rank for at least six months.Make sure you’ve got these six months to spare before your 18th birthday! , To achieve Eagle Scout Rank, you must complete an additional 10 merit badges, bringing your cumulative number of badges up to
21. 13 of these total 21 badges must be from specific categories.The 13 required merit badges must include the following:
First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communication, Cooking, Personal Fitness, Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving, Environmental Science or Sustainability, Personal Management, Swimming or Hiking or Cycling, Camping, and Family Life., In order to meet the Eagle Scout requirements, you’ll need to serve your troop in a leadership capacity for six months.
You can serve your own troop, the Varsity Scout team, the Venturing crew or Sea Scout ship, or serve as a Lone Scout.For example, you can serve your troop by acting as a patrol leader, troop guide, chaplain aid, or junior assistant Scoutmaster.
You could be captain or squad leader for your Varsity Scout team.
Be a boatswain, storekeeper, or quartermaster for Venturing crew or Sea Scout ship.
A Lone Scout serves in a leadership capacity outside of the Scouts in a school, religious, or community setting. , The aspiring Eagle Scout must participate in a Scoutmaster conference, which is a conference between the Scoutmaster and the Scout.
Topics of discussion include your ambitions, future goals, and how you are doing in the troop.This is a useful time to talk out the final hurdles the Scout will undergo to get their Eagle Scout Rank- the Eagle Scout service project and the board of review. , To become an Eagle Scout you’ll need to plan and execute a service project that benefits a religious institution, school, or your community.
The project must be approved by your unit leader and the institution it’s benefitting.If you’re stumped on project ideas, consult community, Scout, or religious leaders to see what projects they may need help with.
Most Eagle Scout service projects are construction based.
For example, many Scouts build bridges, decks, or playgrounds for an institution in need.
Other more unique project ideas include hosting a free football camp for low income kids or collecting shoes to send to earthquake victims., You need to submit your project proposal for your Eagle Scout service project; this is the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook.
The proposal includes the scope of your project and its timeline.
The project is evaluated based on the following: feasibility, safety issues, the steps of the plan for execution, and whether the project is one that will give the Scout a positive experience., After your project is approved, you will complete your Eagle Scout service project by fundraising and soliciting volunteers along the way to help you.
To successfully complete your project, rely on the schedule you created for your project approval.
Take advantage of the internet and crowdfund to raise money for your project.One of the goals of the Eagle Scout service project is to demonstrate your leadership, so refrain from doing the entire project yourself.
Enlist and delegate tasks to volunteers to demonstrate your leadership abilities.
Recruit volunteers from school, church, or your neighborhood., The final step in becoming an Eagle Scout is to present and submit all your materials to the board of review.
This includes your Eagle Scout Application, a statement of your ambitions and life purpose, a list of all positions dealing with leadership, and a statement of any honors or awards received.Part of the Eagle Scout Application includes six references who can speak to the Scout’s character.
These can include parents, relatives, Scout leaders, or other Scouts and friends.
However, the references must be be 21 or older.The board of review must happen before the 18th birthday of the Scout.
It’s only with special permission that the review can happen within 3 months of the Scout’s 18th birthday. , After successful completion of all the requirements for Eagle Scout Rank, go to the Eagle Court of Honor Ceremony, where you can proudly accept that handshake and smile from your Scoutmaster as he reads out your name aloud. -
Step 3: Earn the ranks that come before Eagle Scout.
-
Step 4: Complete merit badges
-
Step 5: keeping in mind requirements for Eagle Scout.
-
Step 6: Be an active Life Scout for at least six months.
-
Step 7: Get the required 10 additional merit badges.
-
Step 8: Serve your troop for six months as a leader.
-
Step 9: Participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
-
Step 10: Think about your service project.
-
Step 11: Submit the proposal form for your project.
-
Step 12: Complete the service project.
-
Step 13: Prepare for the board of review.
-
Step 14: Go to your Eagle Scout ceremony.
Detailed Guide
Join a troop that you like and that fits with your personality.
It’s a good idea to choose a local troop.
Boys can join Cub Scouts as early as the first grade.
Once a boy is older than 10, or has completed the fifth grade, he can join Boy Scouts.
You can join Venturing for ages 14 through
20.Eagle Scout requirements must be completed before the Scout’s 18th birthday, so it’s best to join the Scouts young, when you’ll have plenty of time to complete all the requirements.
The Scout Handbook is the official handbook of the Scouts derived from Robert Baden-Powell’s original Scouting for Boys.
It contains all the requirements to earn your ranks.The handbook has great tips on camping.
Get Scoutbook and go digital! It’s an easy web application to track progress that’s fun for Scouts and easy for unit leaders to track., To become eligible for the rank of Eagle Scout, you must first earn Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, and Life Ranks.
These ranks require accomplishments in camping, cooking, navigation, nature, aquatics, first aid, fitness, leadership, safety, citizenship, and Scout spirit.These ranks take time to earn and cannot be done in a rush.
Make sure you join Scouts with enough time to accomplish these ranks.
Part of advancing in the ranks is accomplished by earning merit badges, which signify a Scout’s knowledge and skills in a particular area.
By the time a Scout completes Life Rank, they’ll have 11 merit badges that they’ve earned. , As you move up the ranks completing your merit badges, you should think about the merit badges you’ll have to complete for the Eagle Scout rank.
While you only have to get an additional 10 merit badges for Eagle Rank, 13 badges of the cumulative 21 badges must be in certain areas.
So you should keep those in mind as you work towards this goal.
It’s best to try to get the more difficult merit badges done before moving on to your Eagle Scout requirements, since you’ll want to devote your time to your Eagle Scout service project. , To become eligible for the Eagle Scout rank, you must first have been an active Scout at the Life Rank for at least six months.Make sure you’ve got these six months to spare before your 18th birthday! , To achieve Eagle Scout Rank, you must complete an additional 10 merit badges, bringing your cumulative number of badges up to
21. 13 of these total 21 badges must be from specific categories.The 13 required merit badges must include the following:
First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communication, Cooking, Personal Fitness, Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving, Environmental Science or Sustainability, Personal Management, Swimming or Hiking or Cycling, Camping, and Family Life., In order to meet the Eagle Scout requirements, you’ll need to serve your troop in a leadership capacity for six months.
You can serve your own troop, the Varsity Scout team, the Venturing crew or Sea Scout ship, or serve as a Lone Scout.For example, you can serve your troop by acting as a patrol leader, troop guide, chaplain aid, or junior assistant Scoutmaster.
You could be captain or squad leader for your Varsity Scout team.
Be a boatswain, storekeeper, or quartermaster for Venturing crew or Sea Scout ship.
A Lone Scout serves in a leadership capacity outside of the Scouts in a school, religious, or community setting. , The aspiring Eagle Scout must participate in a Scoutmaster conference, which is a conference between the Scoutmaster and the Scout.
Topics of discussion include your ambitions, future goals, and how you are doing in the troop.This is a useful time to talk out the final hurdles the Scout will undergo to get their Eagle Scout Rank- the Eagle Scout service project and the board of review. , To become an Eagle Scout you’ll need to plan and execute a service project that benefits a religious institution, school, or your community.
The project must be approved by your unit leader and the institution it’s benefitting.If you’re stumped on project ideas, consult community, Scout, or religious leaders to see what projects they may need help with.
Most Eagle Scout service projects are construction based.
For example, many Scouts build bridges, decks, or playgrounds for an institution in need.
Other more unique project ideas include hosting a free football camp for low income kids or collecting shoes to send to earthquake victims., You need to submit your project proposal for your Eagle Scout service project; this is the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook.
The proposal includes the scope of your project and its timeline.
The project is evaluated based on the following: feasibility, safety issues, the steps of the plan for execution, and whether the project is one that will give the Scout a positive experience., After your project is approved, you will complete your Eagle Scout service project by fundraising and soliciting volunteers along the way to help you.
To successfully complete your project, rely on the schedule you created for your project approval.
Take advantage of the internet and crowdfund to raise money for your project.One of the goals of the Eagle Scout service project is to demonstrate your leadership, so refrain from doing the entire project yourself.
Enlist and delegate tasks to volunteers to demonstrate your leadership abilities.
Recruit volunteers from school, church, or your neighborhood., The final step in becoming an Eagle Scout is to present and submit all your materials to the board of review.
This includes your Eagle Scout Application, a statement of your ambitions and life purpose, a list of all positions dealing with leadership, and a statement of any honors or awards received.Part of the Eagle Scout Application includes six references who can speak to the Scout’s character.
These can include parents, relatives, Scout leaders, or other Scouts and friends.
However, the references must be be 21 or older.The board of review must happen before the 18th birthday of the Scout.
It’s only with special permission that the review can happen within 3 months of the Scout’s 18th birthday. , After successful completion of all the requirements for Eagle Scout Rank, go to the Eagle Court of Honor Ceremony, where you can proudly accept that handshake and smile from your Scoutmaster as he reads out your name aloud.
About the Author
Laura Torres
Writer and educator with a focus on practical crafts knowledge.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: