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The Path to Eagle Scout

ath to Eagle

A question that many scouts will have as they begin to progress in their advancements, is how do I become an Eagle Scout?  Eagle Scout is the highest advancement rank in Boy Scouting. The title of "Eagle Scout" is held for life, thus giving rise to the phrase "Once an Eagle, always an Eagle". Not every boy who joins a Boy Scout troop earns the Eagle Scout rank; only about 5 percent of all Boy Scouts do so. This represents more than 2 million Boy Scouts who have earned the rank since 1912. Nevertheless, the goals of Scouting—citizenship training, character development, and personal fitness—remain important for all Scouts, whether or not they attain the Eagle Scout rank.  Every Scout is unique in his personality, interest, capability, and drive, and will have his own path to Eagle.  Troop 502 has a long history of preparing our scouts to obtain the rank of Eagle Scout, and you can see our "Wall of Fame" of our past Eagle Scouts here. 

If you are interested in becoming an Eagle Scout, Troop 502 will provide you with the tools and a path, but you must have your own plan, and the perserverance and commitment to fulfill all of the requirements in order to get there.  There are some basic steps that you should take in order to be sure you are doing the right things now.  Our troop has an Eagle Advancement Coordinator (Mr. Dick) who you will be speaking with once you reach the rank of First Class, but you should know what the basic steps are and begin planning now if you are interested in obtaining the Eagle Scout rank.  For example, there are 12 specific Eagle-required merit badges and you can begin working on those badges no matter what rank you currently are.

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As a first step, be sure to download and review the following important documents, which have been recently updated:

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1. The Life to Eagle Guide, an instruction book that explains how we do the Eagle process in Rose Bowl district.

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2. The Eagle Resume form, a tool that helps us organize applications and create meaningful boards of review.

 

3. The Eagle Application Tickler List (12/3/2018 updated version), a checklist that helps scouts and troop leaders be sure that application materials submitted to Smiser are complete and correct.

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4. An updated Merit Badge Counselor Directory is available to help find counselors for those last few merit badges.

 

These are important planning documents that will walk you through the Eagle project, application and board of review process, and include some of the forms you will need.  

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What Merit Badges are Required for Eagle?

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Eagle Scouts must complete a minimum of 21 merit badges. While that may seem like a lot, it's only 10 more badges than a Life Scout already has, and chances are, you have already completed many of the badges on the required list (especially if you have been planning ahead).

 

The list of the Eagle-required merit badges include:

 

  • First Aid

  • Citizenship in the Community

  • Citizenship in the Nation

  • Citizenship in the World

  • Communications

  • Personal Fitness

  • Emergency Preparedness or the Lifesaving badge

  • Environmental Science

  • Personal Management

  • Swimming, Hiking or the Cycling badge

  • Camping

  • Family Life

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These requirements sometimes change, so be sure to always consult your Boy Scout Handbook and review your plan with the Eagle Advancement Counselor.  Some of these badges are very time consuming.  Personal Fitness, for example, is not difficult, particularly for anyone involved in high school athletics, but it is a 3-month time commitment that requires planning.

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