Fishawack District Eagle Rank Advancement Process

Revised September 2023

  1. It is the responsibility of the Eagle candidate to find and develop a project which is Eagle worthy in discussion with his Unit Leader, Eagle Project Mentor/Coach assigned by the Unit or other appropriate individuals. Follow the process of your Troop.  Feel free to contact the District Advancement Chair for any clarifications.
  2. The Eagle candidate needs to make sure that the Benefiting Organization will let the Scout do the project and has proper jurisdiction. At the conclusion of the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook are two pages entitled Navigating the Eagle Scout Service Project. The Scout and his Unit leaders should be familiar with this document, and the Scout MUST provide a printed copy for review by the proposed Project Beneficiary who may not be familiar with Eagle Projects. Note that on Page H of the Proposal section, there is provision for the Beneficiary to check off on receipt of this document.
  3. The candidate must use the current version of the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook.  All documents should be located through https://ppcbsa.org/committees/advancement/eagle
  4. If during the project development process the Scout is not sure whether the project is appropriate, the Scout should, early in the process, contact the District Advancement Chair for guidance.
  5. Upon completing the Proposal section of the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, the Eagle candidate must contact his District Advancement Chair for initial acceptance of the concept. It is recommended that the completed Proposal Section of the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, including a scan of the signature page containing the signatures of yourself, the Scoutmaster, Committee Chair and Beneficiary Representative be emailed in PDF format. The Scout must copy their parent, Scoutmaster, and Unit Advancement Coordinator:

Fishawack District Advancement Chair:
Bob Weber, 99 Summit Ave, Chatham, NJ  07928
email: 
[email protected] Telephone: (973) 769-3035

The District Advancement Chair will then assign you a District Eagle Advisor.

(Caution: Do not start working on the project until you have your District Eagle Advisor’s approval in Step 6!)

  1. When assigned the District Eagle Adviser will read your proposal and make suggestions for your consideration and when satisfied will sign off on your project. This is the final signature on Page H of the Workbook.
  2. Once the District Eagle Adviser has signed off on the Eagle Scout Service Project Proposal, you may then start working on the project.
  3. Successful projects are those that have a detailed plan, see Final Plan Pages A through F of your Workbook for guidelines. Your District Advancement Committee strongly suggests that you consult with your Unit Eagle Coach or Unit Leader to review your plan before you schedule the start of your project.
  4. If the “public” is to be asked to assist with funding the project (e. outside of the Unit, chartering organization, beneficiary or Scout’s family), there MUST be a Fundraising Application completed.If it is anticipated that there will be Fundraising in excess of $2500, the District Advancement Chair must sign your Fundraising Application in the Authorized Council Approval section.If it is anticipated that there will be Fundraising NOT in excess of $2500, approval is delegated to the candidate’s Unit Committee or Unit Committee Chair, according to Unit policy, in the Authorized Council Approval section.For more information, see Fundraising Application Pages A & B.
  5. The Eagle candidate MUST contact the District Eagle Adviser if there are substantive changes which were not anticipated in the initial write-up and which may affect the outcome or scope of the project. (Do not wait till after the project is completed – if in doubt, contact your District Eagle Adviser).
  6. Once you have completed the project, complete the Project Report section of the workbook.  The District Advancement Committee strongly recommends that you ask your District Eagle Advisor to review the report. This will keep your advisor informed of any changes or issues related to the project and will help to make your Eagle Board of Review go more smoothly.  Your advisor may recommend edits to your project report; it is your decision whether or not to incorporate them.
  7. Once you have completed the project and have done the final write-up, you will need to sign and obtain the signatures of the Benefiting Organization rep and your Scoutmaster on Project Report Page C.
  8. Fill out the Eagle Application including Merit Badges earned (cross out as needed for MB #8, 9 and #11) and Position of Responsibility including accurate dates. (It is recommended you obtain a report from BSA Internet Advancement to check all merit badges which are recorded by Council to check for any discrepancies prior to filling out the application.) Your Unit Advancement Coordinator should be able to assist you with obtaining this information and may review the Application.
  9. The Unit Leader (Scoutmaster) and Committee Chair will need to review and sign the Application.
  10. It is recommended (but not required) that the Eagle Candidate write his letter of Life Purpose prior to having his Unit Leader (Scoutmaster) Conference – see Requirement 6 on the Eagle Rank Application.
  11. The Eagle Candidate will turn in a printed copy of each of the completed and signed Eagle Scout documents as per Patriots Path Council Policy.  See: https://ppcbsa.org/committees/advancement/eagle/paperwork-policy/ for a list of the required documents.
  12. Council will check the original documents, scan them into a PDF document, return them to the Scout and then notify the Scout, the District Eagle Advisor, and the District Advancement Chair that the paperwork has been checked and approved for scheduling a Board of Review.
  13. At this point, the Unit will request confidential letters of recommendation for the Eagle Candidate from the list of references on the completed Eagle Rank Application. While the Scout may request these letters, the sealed letters must be sent to another authorized adult in the Unit, who will assure that they are available for the Board of Review.
  14. Once these letters are requested, the unit will contact the District Eagle Advisor to arrange for the Board of Review, which will be chaired by the District Eagle Advisor. It is recommended that the Eagle Candidate be the interface between the Unit and the District Advisor.  Note: A Board of Review should not be delayed due to unreturned letters of recommendation – See GTA 9.0.1.7. (Updated 9/2023)
  15. For the Board of Review, the Unit will invite a minimum of (2) and a maximum or (5) Scouters who are at least 21 years of age from its own Unit Committee or it may invite others from the community who are familiar with the Eagle rank.  NOTE: Boy Scouts may NOT select the individual members of any Board of Review. Unit leaders, Unit Leader assistants, parents and guardians of the Eagle Candidate may not participate in the Board.  The Unit will provide an appropriate location for the Eagle Board at a date and time agreeable with the District Eagle Advisor.
  16. The Eagle Candidate will provide a PDF of the Eagle Project Report, Eagle Application, and Life Statement for each person sitting on the Board. This should be provided one week in advance so that all participants may review the materials and the Board can start promptly.  Printed copies should be available at the Board for all participants.
  17. The Eagle Candidate will bring the original completed Eagle Application and any supplementary media/documents he wishes to bring. The Eagle Candidate should be dressed in full uniform for his Board of Review.
  18. At the successful conclusion, the District Eagle Advisor signs the Eagle Application and the completed Advancement Reporting Form (BSA #34403). The other Board members sign the Reporting Form.  Documents are submitted to Council per item 14 above. It is recommended that the Eagle Candidate retain a copy of the signed documents being submitted to Council.

For further information, refer to the current Guide to AdvancementBSA RequirementsEagle Rank Application and Eagle Project Workbook